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 favorite 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 luster 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 cream 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 be some sort of sorcery at play with these beloved boar bristles.
Scarlett called out this product as a key part of his SAG Awards kit last year, and judging by the luminous, piecey bob Robbie rocked that night (above), 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. Despite it being currently discontinued, try Hairfinity’s Botanical hair oil. Not only does it moisturize, but also keeps your hair with a silky finish. Plus, the hair oil is completely organic and free of silicone or sulfates.
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 about Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil that we learned from Instagram: Combine the styling oil with argan oil and add to towel-dried hair for an easier blowout or to add shine to dried hair.
And 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 might just 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 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.
Polko credits the handy T3 flat iron for the soft, satiny wave she gave to Steinfeld, pictured above.
Polko’s list of clients includes some of the glossiest girls in the game, including Steinfeld. When creating the actress’s VMAs look this year, which was quite similar to the shiny style pictured above, Polko said in a press release that she prepped the hair with this leave-in 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 color.
Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s mousse! Polko also said that Steinfeld’s dreamy VMAs hair was prepped with this tea-infused styling mousse.
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 capryl 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 state-of-the-art tool may look like it would impart heat, but it actually drops to below-freezing-cold temperatures to help transfer moisture from the air directly into the hair shaft and align your strands for a smooth, silky finish. It can be used on wet or dry hair.
This heat-activated spray functions like a mini keratin treatment, minus the salon visit. Once you hit it with the blow dryer, it’s sophisticated polymers form an invisible, water-repelling shield that keeps hair super shiny and frizz-resistant for up to four shampoos.
