How to Get Claudia’s Glossy Hair — Stylist Tips

Claudia’s glossy hair — photographed and styled for television — has prompted plenty of questions about how to create that same luminous finish at home. Ahead of The Traitor’s final, stylist Amy Short spoke to presenters about the approach she takes: a mix of targeted colour work, conditioning, careful heat styling and finishers that boost reflectivity without weighing hair down. Here’s a practical, salon-aware guide to replicating that glossy look with realistic steps you can follow at home.

Start with the foundation: cut, colour and the health checklist

Glossy hair starts with healthy hair. Colour and cut have a big part to play: fresh ends and a colour that sits well with your natural tone make light reflect more evenly. If you’re aiming for Claudia-style shine, consider a brief consultation with a colourist for a glossing service or tone adjustment rather than dramatic colour change.

Key health checks:

• Trim split ends every 8–12 weeks to prevent fraying that scatters light.
• Keep colour topped up with gentle toners or salon glossing treatments to maintain even tone.
• Use a protein-balanced approach — strengthening where hair is fragile, but avoiding overloading already-healthy hair with too many protein-only products.

Washing and conditioning: choose products that build shine

Shiny hair often starts in the shower. Shampoo and conditioner choices should depend on your hair type, but the principle is simple: cleanse without stripping, then lock in moisture. Sulphate-free shampoos can help preserve colour and natural oils, while conditioners with humectants and lightweight oils smooth the cuticle.

Weekly treatments such as a rinse-out mask or a salon-grade gloss will add temporary shine and reduce surface porosity. If your hair is fine, choose a shorter leave-in treatment; thicker hair benefits from richer masks applied mid-length to ends.

Styling technique: heat, tools and finishing moves

How you style makes a visible difference. Amy Short’s approach for television finishes is about controlled heat and soft, reflective shine rather than heavy product layers. Follow these practical steps:

• Always use a heat protectant with film-forming ingredients to prevent cuticle damage and produce a smoother surface.
• Blow-dry using a round brush (ceramic or boar-bristle hybrid for smoother results) and direct the airflow down the hair shaft to close the cuticle.
• Finish with a single pass of a flat iron or large-barrel curling iron on each section — low to medium heat on modern tools is usually sufficient for shine without compromise.
• Cool your hair with a brief blast of cold air from the dryer to set the cuticle and increase reflection.

Less is more: rather than applying multiple heavy products, opt for one light finishing oil or gloss spray, concentrating on mid-lengths and ends. Avoid the roots to keep movement and volume.

Weekly and nightly rituals to support long-term gloss

Maintaining shine is about regular care as much as styling. Create manageable rituals you can keep up:

• Use a clarifying wash once every 2–4 weeks to remove product build-up — build-up scatters light and dulls the surface.
• Apply an overnight oil or serum once a week to very dry ends; cleanse thoroughly the next morning.
• Brush gently with a wide-tooth comb or soft-bristle brush to distribute natural oils from scalp to ends. Avoid vigorous towel-drying; instead, blot with a soft T-shirt to reduce friction and frizz.
• Protect hair from environmental aggressors — UV filters in sprays help prevent colour fade and dehydration which reduce shine.

Products worth considering (practical guidance)

Rather than promoting specific brands, look for products with these characteristics:

• Shampoo: gentle surfactants, colour-safe, low foaming for delicate hair.
• Conditioner/mask: contains humectants (glycerin, panthenol), lightweight oils (argan, marula) and smoothing agents.
• Heat protectant: film-forming polymers plus thermal stabilisers.
• Finisher: light oil or silicone-based gloss spray for immediate reflectivity (apply sparingly).

Takeaway

Claudia’s glossy hair is the result of considered salon work and repeatable at-home habits: healthy ends, colour that reflects light evenly, protective styling and a finishing touch that enhances reflectivity. Focus on consistent trimming, a tailored conditioning routine, careful heat use and one clean finishing product — and you’ll notice a measurable lift in shine without heavy styling or over-processing.