Causes of Dull Hair & How to Get More Shine & Vibrancy | Curlsmith Hair Makeup

This post is sponsored by Curlsmith. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used.

Do your curls often look dull and lack overall vibrancy and shine? Today we’re discussing some of the common causes of dull hair and how to fix it. I’m going to be sharing a step-by-step styling routine for shiny curls and sharing how to apply the Curlsmith Hair Makeup for a more vibrant hair color without damage.

Causes of Dull Hair

Build-Up

• Build-up is the most common culprit of dull hair and often comes from product residue such as:
  • Wax ingredients: isododecane, dodecane, paraffin
  • Dry shampoos
  • Hair spray

• Only using a co-wash as your main cleanser can lead to build-up overtime because co-washes are so mild it can be tough for them to remove product residue, especially silicones, polyquats, and waxes. Clarifying regularly is recommended to prevent build-up. I recommend the Curlsmith Detox Kit.
• Hard water is another common cause of dull hair. The water in your home may contain minerals such as magnesium and calcium that cling to the hair. A water softener system is the best way to fix hard water. Using a chelating shampoo regularly is needed to remove hard water build-up.

Dry Hair

• Moisturized curls are shiny and vibrant. Some people’s scalps naturally produce less oil, resulting in drier hair. If your skin is dry, you may also have a dry scalp.
• Skipping conditioner is a big no no for curls because curly hair tends to be much drier than straight hair. Conditioner is an essential step moisturize hair after shampooing. Leave-in conditioner and/or curl creams are also needed for moisturizing dry hair.
• Not deep conditioning regularly can also cause dry hair. I prefer to deep condition weekly, but some can go longer depending on how dry their hair is. Look for deep conditioners that contain penetrating oils, such as the Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher.
• A dry climate can also cause dry, dull hair. In the winter months, I like sleeping with a humidifier to prevent my hair from getting dry from the dry heat inside.

Drying Hair Products

• Products that are lacking humectants can cause the hair to appear dull. Look for film-forming humectants that help lock moisture in the hair and prevent it from drying out:
  • Aloe
  • Flaxseed
  • Pectin
  • Marshmallow root
  • Slippery elm
  • Guar gum
• Products that contain drying alcohols can also cause dullness. These ingredients are often found in mousses, hairsprays, volume sprays, dry shampoo, and gel. Drying alcohol ingredients include:
  • Denatured alcohol (alcohol dent.)
  • Ethanol
  • Isopropanol
  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Propanol
  • Propyl alcohol
  • SD alcohol 40

• Skipping refreshing can cause hair to appear dull after a few days if you have dry hair. Sometimes refreshing is needed to re-hydrate the hair with water add some more product to moisturize curls.

Poor Nutrition & Deficiencies

• Our health is often reflected in our hair and nails. Dull hair can be caused by a lack of nutrients and poor diet. The following nutrients are key for moisturized, vibrant hair:
  • Healthy fats and Omega-3s
  • Protein
  • Iron
  • Zinc
  • Vitamin A
  • B vitamins like biotin
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E

Damage & High Porosity Hair

• Damaged hair is often lacking shine and vibrancy. High porosity hair has a raised cuticle layer that causes a rough, tangly feeling and dull appearance. Damage can occur from:
  • Overbrushing when wet
  • Harsh sulfate shampoos
  • The sun
  • Chlorine
  • Heat styling tools
  • Bleaching and box hair dyes

The Curlsmith Hair Makeup is a damage-free way to boost your hair color or try out a fun color. It’s completely temporary, so it washes out with water/shampoo and won’t stain your hair, hands, or clothing. The Hair Makeup is actually a strong hold gel product, so it replaces your gel in your curly hair routine. They also contain shimmer which gives the hair incredible shine and depth to the color.

For this video, I used the Rose Gold color for a hint of pink. The Rose Gold shade is more of a cool tone and contains a silver shimmer. The more you layer on damp or dry hair, the more intense the color.

I shared an Instagram Reels here where I used the Ruby color, which is my favorite! I love the auburn tone it gave my naturally ash-brown hair that tends to look very dull.

Curly Hair Routine for Shine & Vibrancy

1. Clarify if you have build-up. It wasn’t time for me to clarify so I used the Curlsmith Vivid Tones Vibrancy Shampoo & Glow Perfecting Conditioner. These are gentle and help improve color vibrancy and shine with an acidic pH.
2. Deep condition for 15-20 minutes. I used the Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher because it’s rich in oils and moisture. Rinse and towel dry hair.
3. Apply a curl cream and/or leave-in for a moisture base layer. I used the Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm.
4. Apply a gel that contains film-forming humectants and oils for shine, such as the Curlsmith Styling Soufflé.
5. For a boost of color, use the Curlsmith Hair Makeup in place of your regular gel. Apply in sections to damp hair.
6. Diffuse until dry.
7. Finish with an oil like the Curlmsith Bonding Oil to scrunch out the crunch and add shine.

Products Used

• Curlsmith Vivid Tones Vibrancy Shampoo
• Curlsmith Glow Perfecting Conditioner
• Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher
• Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm
• Curlsmith Hair Makeup (used Rose Gold here)
• Curlsmith Curl Defining Styling Soufflé
• Curlsmith Bonding Oil
• Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler Brush
• HairRepear The Ultimate Hair Towel, 10% off with code GLAMMEUP