Hair is Too Shiny

Older woman with shiny blonde hair
Photo: Bigstock
Q: This is a question that I cannot find the answer to anywhere as most people WANT shiny hair. However, my hair is too shiny. It looks like nylon doll hair. I am 60, gray (almost white) and have my hair highlighted every 8 weeks. My hairdresser is very knowledgeable, and we cannot figure out why my hair is so shiny.
 
She has used different products on me, and nothing changes. Maybe it's my own chemical reaction to products, but this is a relatively new issue so I'm not sure why it is happening. Healthy, shiny hair is one thing. Mine looks unnaturally "bright" shiny. Have you ever heard of this problem? Thanks for any advice.
 
A: This “problem” is actually more common than you’d think. I’ve had a few clients who have complained that their hair is so shiny that it looks fake. They’ve even complained that people will come up to them and ask them if they’re wearing a wig or extensions. As far as I can tell it is this that bothers them the most. It irks them that people might think that their hair is fake, especially in this era where everything from women’s nails to their breasts are “fake”.
 
I can’t visit you personally, so I won’t be able to pinpoint your problem. But in my experience, the easiest solution is to find resolutions that curb the hair’s shine instead of trying to find out why it is so shiny.
 
Shine in hair is a sign of health, so it would be seriously counterproductive to do unhealthy things to healthy hair just to keep it from looking “fake". For example, you can fry your hair with 40 vol bleach, and it won’t be shiny anymore, (over-processed hair is dull because the cortex of the hair is destroyed), but you’ll also have horribly ruined hair.
 
In any case, it’s interesting that your light-colored hair is this shiny… It’s usually naturally black or dark brown hair that has this problem. You could think about incorporating different colors into your hairstyle to add a bit of color-dimension. This will keep the color-surface from being reflecting a “one-toned shine.”
 
You can also try to use a dry shampoo more often instead of normal shampoo. You can also pour a bit of baby-powder into your hands and brush it over your hair. Dry shampoo and baby powder absorb oil and make hair more bouncy but less shiny.
 
You should also stay away from any silicone-based products or hairspray, and obviously any products labelled “for healthy, shiny hair”, as these have ingredients that enhance shine and reflection.
 
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See also:
 
Causes for dull hair
 
How to get glossy pin straight hair
 
Shiny clothes and shiny hair