Get Thick, Shiny Hair
Everything you need to get the lustrous locks you've always wanted: new styling secrets and products that really work

The average woman spends hundreds of hours washing, drying, and styling her hair each year, and yet 81 percent of women report that they're not always happy with their coif. What are the most common complaints? Most of us wish our locks were either fuller or shinier (or both). It should come as no surprise then that more than half of all styling products sold are designed to make tresses either glisten or thicken up. Before you run out and buy another serum or spray, read on to learn the inside scoop: which products really work, the tools worth your investment, and the styling strategies used by the pros.

Shiny Hair Secrets

1. Go natural. Daily brushing and styling can take a toll on your tresses, robbing them of natural oils and leading to breakage. Trade in your plastic brush for one with natural bristles (look for boar), which redistribute oils throughout hair as you brush, boosting shine. "The only time I use anything but a boar-bristle brush is to detangle wet hair," says Harry Josh, creative consultant for John Frieda Collection. Natural bristles are also less likely to break hairs. Use them consistently for fewer flyaways. Try the Mason Pearson Sensitive Boar Bristle Brush ($130).

2. Avoid alcohol-laced products. "Alcohol, pollution, and humidity all rob hair of its natural shine," notes Arsen Gurgov, a top hairstylist at the Louis Licari salons in New York City and Beverly Hills, whose clients include Susan Sarandon and Melanie Griffith. "Most mousses contain alcohol, so if your hair is dry, try a cream or serum instead," adds Josh. All of the shine-enhancing products in Aveda's Brilliant line are blissfully alcohol free ($12-$23).

3. Wash the right way. Though many of us lather up daily, experts insist that washing a few times a week is sufficient. Skipping shampoo helps hair retain shine but can also leave it limp. "I tell my clients who wash every day to apply conditioner first, keeping it away from the roots," says Gurgov. "Then, without rinsing in between, apply shampoo just to the roots, lather, and rinse everything out," he instructs. "Your roots will be lifted, but the rest of your hair will retain its shine." Try L'Oréal Paris Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner ($4.99).

4. Rinse with cold. Rinsing hair with cold water closes the cuticle, leaving a smooth, shiny surface. Blasting with cold air after a blow-dry has a similar smoothing effect, and most dryers have a cold setting for this purpose.

5. Fight frizz. Hair is porous, absorbing moisture from the environment, which is what causes it to frizz in humid climates. To prevent midday flyaways, make sure your hair is dry before you head out; any water left in your locks can lead to frizzing later on. Gurgov recommends using a flatiron on the hair that frames your face after you blow-dry, which will remove any excess moisture.

6. Smooth with silicone. Products with silicones lie on top of the hair shaft to seal the cuticle and create a barrier between styling tools and hair, reducing friction and limiting heat damage. Try John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum ($9.99). But like many other things, silicone works best in moderation. "Use too much of it and your hair will fall flat or begin to look greasy," warns stylist Tommy Buckett, a spokesman for Kérastase Paris. Buckett advises his clients with thinner tresses, like Rachel McAdams, to use a misting of a silicone shine spray instead. Try Kérastase Paris Vernis Nutri-Sculpt ($29).

7. Try a heat treatment. "Many women think of heat as something that dries out hair," says stylist Orlando Pita of New York's Orlo salon. But used the right way, it can give your hair incredible shine, especially if it's damaged. "The reason stylists put clients under heat during deep-conditioning treatments is that it opens up the cuticle, allowing a mask or oil to penetrate the hair shaft at a deeper level," explains Pita. If you can't get to the salon, apply a mask or a hot-oil treatment at home once a month. "After you've applied the product, wrap a really hot towel around your head," instructs Victoria's Secret spokesman Italo Gregorio, who creates the hair for the brand's annual fashion show and has shared this tip with A-list clients like Gwyneth Paltrow. Try Rene Furterer Karité Intense Nutrition Oil ($36).

8. Invest in ionic tools. Dryers and irons that are worth the investment not only protect tresses from frizz and flyaways, they also improve hair health. While traditional tools get hotter as you work, ionic ceramic tools maintain constant heat and pump hair full of cuticle-smoothing negative ions, which improve strength and shine over time. Try the T3 Bespoke Labs Evolution Dryer ($300).

What is this thing you call a "brush" ?