If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that no one knows how to achieve shiny hair quite like a celebrity hairstylist. Sure, they’re equipped with some of the buzziest (and often the priciest) products on the market, but a lot of the time, the styles they’re able to produce are based solely on the skills they bring to the table. Thankfully, many of them take to Instagram to share their favourite behind-the-scenes styling tips so the rest of us can try them out at home.
Hot on the pursuit of that high-sheen, expensive-looking celeb hair, we dug through the feeds of some of the hottest hairstylists in the game to figure out exactly what they’re using to get their clients’ hair looking so luminous. From Yara Shahidi’s quenched curls to Scarlett Johansson’s luminous blonde tresses, we found the products to help ladies of all textures get the look. Read on for the deets.
When it comes to achieving lustre for her largely curly-haired celebrity clientele, Johnson is known to reach for DevaCurl products, which are formulated specifically for curls, coils, and kinks.
Yet another staple Johnson regularly posts about, this Kérastase lotion uses a heat-sensitive microwax technology that protects hair during heat styling, resulting in seriously shiny strands.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a celebrity hairstylist whose kit doesn’t include a brush or two from the renowned Mason Pearson brand. A quick scan of Johnson’s feed turns up countless appearances as well. There may or may not be some sort of sorcery at play with these beloved boar bristles.
Scarlett called out this product as a key part of his awards-season kit, and judging by the looks of Margot’s luminous, piecey bob, it’s the perfect finishing spray to hold a style and boost shine at the same time.
Scarlett became an ambassador for Moroccanoil in 2017, and maybe that has something to do with the ultra-shiny coifs he’s constantly churning out for his A-list clients. For mirror-like shine, try Morrocanoil’s cult hair treatment. Not only does it moisturise, but it also leaves your hair with a silky finish.
Adding texture doesn’t have to mean sacrificing shine. Scarlett agrees, saying in a recent post, “[I] love this product. It gives you tons of movement and volume while leaving the hair touchable and soft.”
Cho’s feed is an actual gold mine of shiny-hair tips, including this tidbit that we learned from Instagram: Apply an argan oil–infused styling oil to towel-dried hair for an easier blowout or to add shine to dried hair.
Speaking of easier blowouts, Cho has posted this sleek blow-dryer as part of her styling arsenal. It’s definitely an investment piece, but it just might be the drying tool we’ve all been searching for. It infuses the hair with tiny water molecules as it dries to lock in moisture for added shine.
“Styling tip: Add a dime/quarter size of anti-frizz cream on towel-dried hair, scrunch, twist, and let the summer breeze bring out your best summer waves,” Cho writes in another Instagram post. Sadly, her favourite from Suave Professionals isn’t available in the UK, but this one from Redken is a great alternative.
Polko credits the handy T3 flat iron for creating soft, satiny waves on her celeb clients.
Polko’s list of clients includes some of the glossiest girls in the game, and Polko said in a press release that she preps their awards-season hair with a leave-conditioner by Pai-Shau. Though the product is currently discontinued, Pureology’s Color Fanatic Leave-in Conditioner is just as effective. Plus, it goes the extra mile and preserves added hair colour.
Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s mousse! Polko swears by one from Pai-Shau which isn’t available in the UK, but this Shu Uemura one is brilliant for adding shine.
This lightweight oil can be applied to wet or dry hair at any stage of your regimen (even before shampooing) to smooth cuticles, reduce frizz, and boost shine.
Mist your way to glistening locks with this finishing spray. It contains a combination of moisturizing factors that help infuse water into the hair shaft so your tresses are left looking extraordinarily shiny.
This curl-enhancing oil is infused with vitamin C, fatty acids, and capric triglycerides to care for your hair from root to tip. Plus, it’s silicone-free, so you won’t have to worry about pesky build-up weighing down your strands.
This heat-activated spray functions like a mini keratin treatment, minus the salon visit. Once you hit it with the blow-dryer, its sophisticated polymers form an invisible, water-repelling shield that keeps hair super shiny and frizz resistant for up to four shampoos.
