You might think of them as a salon specialty, but it turns out some of the best hair glosses are available for at-home use, so it’s super easy to get glassy, gleaming strands from the comfort of your own shower. In addition to enhancing color and shine, they maintain color for longer and help extend time between dye jobs. This gives hair more time to heal and restore itself after the damaging dyeing process. Most glosses also include hydrating, nourishing ingredients like amino acids and conditioning agents to strengthen strands and even help reverse damage. Don’t get them confused with hair glazes, which create a similar shine effect but are usually clear. Glosses are often tinted to help adjust pigment and tone.
We spoke with pros and editors to identify the best of the best, plus tips and tricks for finding the right one for your hair type. (There are tons of options on the market that address a wide range of hair concerns, including shininess, color vibrancy, brassiness, softness, and heat protection, says hair stylist Jennifer Covington-Bowers.)
We landed on Ouai’s Hair Gloss as our top pick, because of its myriad benefits and the amount of mileage you can get out of a single bottle, but other options won accolades for the magic they worked on curly hair, brassiness, and grays.
The best hair-gloss treatments, at a glance
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Kérastase Chroma Absolu High Shine Gloss Treatment for Color-Treated Hair
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To uncover the best hair glosses, we polled editors, stylists, and colorists on their all-time favorites—and asked what makes a formula truly worth buying. We evaluated each pick on ingredient efficacy, shade range, and tonal effects, as well as the pros and cons of its features. The result: a curated roundup of high-quality glosses that pros and beauty lovers reach for time and time again.
Best Overall: Ouai Hair Gloss
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- Pros: Treats damage while protecting against color fading; lasts up to three washes
- Cons: Some users complain it leaves hair greasy
Ouai’s Hair Gloss does it all. A few of its talents? This all-in-one formula gives hair a glass-like effect, boosts color, reduces fading, cuts down on frizz, strengthens hair over time, and protects against heat damage. Better yet, it’s a product that comes highly recommended from two of our experts; Celebrity hairstylist Annagjid “Kee” Taylor appreciates the addition of nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and rice water, while Rogerio Cavalcante, stylist and owner of The Second Floor Salon in New York City, says that it’s “easy and practical” since it can double as a substitute for conditioner.
What our testers say: Glamour contributor Mary Honkus also gushes about the lustrous results, saying that people regularly ask her if she just came from the salon when she uses this. The gloss feels like a normal conditioner but immediately transforms into a rich, hydrating cream when applied to the hair. It also smells divine, thanks to Ouai’s classic North Bondi fragrance.
“This was my first rodeo with hair gloss, and it’s still my desert-island formula,” says contributing commerce writer Annie Blackman. “A little goes a long way, it looks stunning, and smells wonderful to boot.”
Best for Fine Hair: IGK Expensive Clear Gloss Top Coat
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Original photo from Danielle Cohen testing IGK Expensive Clear Gloss Top Coat
Original photo from Danielle Cohen testing IGK Expensive Clear Gloss Top Coat
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IGK Expensive Clear Gloss Top Coat
- Pros: Easy to use; suitable for all hair types; added UV protection
- Cons: Only comes in clear formula
A little goes a long way with IGK’s top coat, which amps up shine but won’t weigh down fine hair. The creamy formula is infused with rich botanical hydrators that protect against UV damage and breakage while boosting radiance. The gloss applies like a traditional conditioner, complete with a gel-ish cream texture, but, unlike other options tested, this jam-packed formula leaves hair glossy and bright without a bit of greasiness.
What our tester says: “I never knew it was possible for my hair to shine like a diamond until I used this quick and easy gloss,” says Honkus. “My hair is naturally frizzy, and regular coloring exacerbates the issue. One use instantly tamped down frizz, freshened up my auburn hue, and kept my strands smooth and silky for well over a week.”
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Kérastase Chroma Absolu High Shine Gloss Treatment
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Original photo from Danielle Cohen testing Kérastase Chroma Absolu High Shine Gloss Treatment
Original photo from Danielle Cohen testing Kérastase Chroma Absolu High Shine Gloss Treatment
Kérastase Chroma Absolu High Shine Gloss Treatment for Color-Treated Hair
- Pros: Quick results; multiple dosage options depending on hair type and thickness
- Cons: Pricey
When you want a dazzling boost on your color-treated hair, but the clock is ticking, this fast-acting Kérastase treatment will give you gleaming strands in just two minutes. “This is extremely easy to use, and you get immediate results,” says Tiffanie Richards, master colorist at Louise O’Connor Salon in New York City. “Not only does it create a healthy, glossy shine, it also preserves your hair color.” After shampooing, distribute the liquid treatment evenly from mid-lengths to ends.
