The 30-Second Shower Hack For Shinier Hair

Want shinier hair without adding another product to your routine? Try turning down the temperature. Finishing your hair wash with a quick shot of cool water is one of the easiest at-home tricks for making hair look smoother and glossier – and it takes all of 30 seconds.

While you might have heard that cold water “closes” the hair cuticle, that’s not strictly true – hair doesn’t open and close in response to temperature. What is true is that very hot water can strip away natural oils and exacerbate dryness, leaving the hair looking duller and feeling rougher. A cooler final rinse is gentler on the hair and can help it retain the moisture and conditioning benefits from your wash.

You don’t need to stand shivering under an ice-cold shower, either. Once you’ve rinsed out your conditioner, simply turn the temperature down and run cool water through the mid-lengths and ends for around 20 to 30 seconds. Less dryness and frizz means a smoother surface for light to bounce off – which translates to hair that looks noticeably shinier.

For even more gloss, gently squeeze rather than rub hair dry, then work a small amount of Almost Everything Cream through the lengths and ends. Great hair, minimal effort.