We can’t think of a better feeling than walking out of a salon with bouncy and shiny blown-out hair that feels like pure silk. While we don’t always have the luxury of being able to pop into a salon every time our hair is looking dull, we do have the option to pick up one of the best hair glosses on the market for similar, in-salon results. Now don’t be scared — gloss treatments are not the same as boxed hair dyes. They won’t permanently change the color of your hair. In fact, according to Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City, hair glosses deposit a lasting amount of concentrated shine and pigment. To add to that, cosmetic chemist Erica Douglas previously told Allure that glosses seal and smooth the surface of the cuticle layer by filling abrasions so that the hair surface is smoother and can reflect light better — giving off that super shiny look. If you’re looking to ward off dullness or give your natural or color-treated hair a little refresh, you came to the right place. Below, we’ve rounded up the best hair glosses — a.k.a. a variety of drugstore and high-end picks — that’ll give your in-salon treatments a run for their money (and time), as recommended by hairstylists, colorists, and Allure editors.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Tone Hair Gloss, $36
- For a High-Shine Finish: Drybar Liquid Glass Instant Glossing Rinse, $34
- Allure Best of Beauty winner: L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss, $16
- Best Customizable Treatment: DpHue Gloss+, $37
- The TikTok Darling: Kristin Ess Signature Hair Gloss, $15
- Best for Wavy or Curly Hair: Oribe Curl Gloss, $42
- Fastest-Acting Gloss: Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Gloss Mask, $28
Best Overall: Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Tone Hair Gloss
Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Tone Hair GlossNew York City- and Ohio-based hairstylist Mia Santiago says that Pureology’s Color Fanatic Top Coat + Tone Hair Gloss is one of the best at-home hair glosses — and it lasts for up to eight washes, so color us impressed. As far as the formula goes, oat milk and camellia oil work quickly to soften and conditioner hair from the root down to the ends. Each bottle smells like a rose garden and comes in one of five shades: purple (neutralizes yellow tones), blue (neutralizes orange tones), red (restores brighter red tones), copper (revives copper and copper-red tones), and gold (boosts warm, sunny and strawberry blondes).
For a High-Shine Finish: Drybar Liquid Glass Instant Glossing Rinse
Drybar Liquid Glass Instant Glossing RinseSantiago also approves of this neroli oil-spiked formula, which acts as a top coat for your hair, leaving behind a glossy sheen. Did we mention it only takes 10 seconds to work its magic? Yeah, we’ll take two. (This step happens post-shampoo, by the way, so just be sure to squeeze out any excess water before applying.)It uses advanced Reverse-Micellar Technology to smooth hair and leave behind a silky, high-shine finish in just 10 seconds. An amino acid complex helps fill in porous gaps in the hair’s lipid layer to instantly smooth and provide a shiny finish, while neroli oil creates a high-shine glossy top coat. The rinse features Drybar’s Noir scent with notes of ginger, mint and sandalwood.
The TikTok Darling: Kristin Ess Signature Hair Gloss
Kristin Ess Signature Hair GlossWith eight gorgeous tints to choose from — including a clear gloss called Crystal Quartz — there’s an option for just about everyone wanting to try these TikTok-viral Signature Hair Glosses. This in-shower, water-based treatment, which comes with an activator and toner you mix together, helps your color stay fresh and healthy-looking between salon appointments.
Best for Wavy or Curly Hair: Oribe Curl Gloss
Time to give your curls a boost with this chic Curl Gloss, which smells like a summer spent in southern France as it’s accented with notes of bergamot, white butterfly jasmine, and sandalwood. Apply a few dollops of this lightweight gel to damp hair before diffusing or air-drying and let the deeply-hydrating blend of passionflower extract, capuacu, Brazilian jicama and nut, and aloe vera do its thing. Hello, bounce and sheen.
Fastest-Acting Gloss: Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Gloss Mask
Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Gloss MaskImpatient people, Amika’s Flash Instant Shine Hair Gloss Mask is for you. According to Santiago, this fast-acting gloss adds immediate shine and revives your color in just a few minutes.
Best for Dull Hair: Madison Reed Color Reviving Gloss
Spiked with elasticity-restoring keratin as well as hydration-boosting ginseng and argan oil, Madison Reed’s Color Reviving Gloss is another color-depositing formula that Toth loves. “This nourishing gloss refreshes faded color, corrects tone, and adds brilliant shine with sheer, semi-permanent hair color,” she says. If you don’t have colored hair, the shade Glassa is a clear option that adds instant shine to all hair types.
Source: https://www.allure.com/gallery/best-hair-glosses