13 Best Hair Glosses to Add Shine, Color, or Blend Grays
Not even sure what hair gloss is? I’ve explained that, too.
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When I was approaching my 30th birthday a couple of months ago, I noticed that my handful of gray hairs had spread at an alarming rate. I used to fasten a ponytail and think nothing of it, but recently when I went to pull my hair up, I instantly panicked at all the grays on full display around my temples.
As someone who isn’t quite ready to commit to permanent hair dye, I went looking for a more convenient solution that could at least make them look a little less startling against my dark strands. And that is how I came across hair gloss. Ali Sherry, a colorist at Serrano Salon in Los Angeles, says that hair gloss can be used as a beginner step to help blend in those grays. But there are also so many other benefits. Keep reading to decide if the treatment is speaking to you, then shop some tried-and-true hair glosses below if you want to try it out at home.
SO, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUt hair glosses?
➼ FAQs
➼ The Best Clear (Non-Pigmented) Glosses
➼ The Best Color (Pigmented) Glosses
➼ Our Experts
Clear (Non-Pigmented) Glosses
Best for Deep Conditioning
dpHUE Glossy Glaze
Massage this glaze into your hair after shampooing, leave it in for a couple minutes, then rinse out for the silkiest hair. The tip applicator makes it easy to saturate your locks as you glide it through the middle and ends of your hair before blending it into your roots. Ceramides and mullein-flower extract moisturize and add shine, while the sheer pigment will simply enhance your natural hair color.
Best for Smoothing Frizz
Dae Stargloss Shine Hair Gloss Treatment
If frizz is your main enemy (same), use this gloss on your unwashed dry hair for a minimum of 20 minutes before washing it out to see all the moisturizing benefits. You can even sleep with it as a mask if your frizzy strands are really giving Heat Miser vibes. Warning: There is glitter in the formula to give even more of a sparkle, and although reviewers aren’t the biggest fan, many agree that the treatment itself does help smooth everything out.
Best for Color-Treated Hair
Kérastase Chroma Absolu High Shine Gloss Treatment
It might be a rare occurrence, but maybe you’re actually happy with the color you have? Surprising, I know. If you simply want added shine in between appointments, this clear gloss is gentle and formulated for color-treated hair. Lactic acid helps remove any buildup that can dull your hair and seals the cuticles for that soft, shiny feel you can’t stop touching.
Best for Color Protection
Redken Acidic Color Gloss Conditioner
Gentle formulas are important for color-treated hair to prevent more damage, but you also want something to make that expensive salon appointment last as long as it can. This affordable yet highly rated gloss helps avoid faded, dull hair and locks in shine. The instructions say to layer your conditioner over it to really ramp up the moisture before rinsing out. Say hello to your fresh-out-of-the-salon look when you use this once a week.
Best Cream Hair Gloss
R+Co Ultra Shine Glossing Treatment
Coat this cream on your post-shampoo wet hair, have it sit for five minutes, and let the magic happen. No conditioner needed! When you rinse it out, your hair will have an extra boost of UV protection, moisture, and satisfying softness thanks to hydrating guava butter.
Best for Brightening
Oribe Glaze for Beautiful Color
If your hair is duller than a conversation about cryptocurrency, this Oribe glaze is a weekly treatment you can use in place of conditioner to bump up your color. It’s formulated for both color-treated and non-color-treated hair, so there’s no damage done. You’re left with silky, vibrant locks that are now also UV protected.
Best for Instant Shine
Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Mask
For those who lack the patience for hair masks, this 60-second gloss is a lifesaver. The nozzle is ideal to help fully saturate thicker hair, and maybe wash your face in the meantime while it absorbs into your hair before rinsing it out. Et voilà! The compliments will start rolling in once you style your hair or if you just let it air dry. Just make sure you follow instructions because they differ depending on hair type.
Color (Pigmented) Glosses
Best for Blondes
Davines Heart of Glass Sheer Glaze for Blonde Care
A gloss and heat protectant all in one, this glaze is made for maintaining a brilliant blonde hue and repairing any previous damage. It works as a serum, so you can apply it to towel-dried hair before styling and get a long-lasting blowout. If you’re worried about your strands looking greasy after use, you’ll be pleased to know that it doesn’t weigh down thin or fine hair.
Best for Ashy Blondes
Kevin Murphy Cool Angel
Cooler tones can be difficult to maintain, but this top-rated gloss helps tone to counteract any brassiness and conditions hair to perfection. One reviewer said it “feels like a spa treatment” and keeps their blonde locks as ashy as when they left the salon. Natural ingredients such as green-tea extract, olive-leaf extract, and a blend of essential oils deliver moisture and ensure your color lasts.
Best for Light Brown
dpHUE Glossy Glaze In-Shower Conditioning Glaze
This brand has a great clear gloss as mentioned above, and the pigmented one is just as impressive. It comes in all shades, but this will give brunettes so much more dimension. The subtle tint will make medium brown, bronze, and caramel hair really stand out.
Best for Dark Brown Hair
Glaze Super Gloss Chocolate Gleam
This gloss has more than 1,500 reviews and, although it comes in many shades, the deep brown ones will really make your darker hair pop and give it some added luster. The formula is infused with babassu oil to give your mane some added softness, and your gorgeous head of hair will look like straight-up glass after using this top-rated gloss.
Best for Copper Tones
Kristin Ess Signature Hair Gloss
TikTok is all about the “Copper Penny” hue of this $15 product. For blondes or brunettes who want to accentuate their reddish or gold tints or refresh their copper-colored hair, this inexpensive gloss gives impressive results that last for three to four weeks. Leave it in your hair for 10 to 20 minutes depending on the vibrancy you want, then shampoo and condition like normal to reveal your new color.
Best for Deep Reds
Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Tone Hair Gloss
This shade is great for darker redheads and it’s even vivid enough to enhance red tones in dark brunette hair (think Dua Lipa’s new do). The combination of oat milk, olive oil, and camellia oil nourishes and smooths your strands, and it also happens to work wonders on unwanted brassy tones.
FAQs
Our Experts: