Why is luster important?
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Luster describes the amount of light reflected by hair. The luster of the hair depends upon the makeup of the hair cortex (the protein core). The cortex is made of ortho cortex and para cortex. Para cortex is strong, durable and shiny. Ortho cortex is more porous, less durable, more bendable and possesses a sheen. The more ortho cortex the hair has, the less luster it has and the more fragile it is.

The tighter the curl or wave pattern of the hair, typically the more ortho cortex the hair possesses. As a result, the looser the wave or curl pattern, the less likely its availability in a lower luster. But with hair, the exceptions are proven more often then the rules. You may have straight hair that contains more ortho cortex than para cortex, and as a result, has more sheen than shine. Or you might find curly hair that possesses more para cortex than ortho cortex, resulting in silky curls.

Clients have advised that low luster hair requires greater maintenance than high or medium luster hair.

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