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
New 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
Santiago 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
With 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.
Best for Humidity Control: Kenra Platinum Silkening Gloss
Frizz and flyaways are no match for this humidity-defying treatment. Apply two to three pumps all over damp or dry hair and add heat to activate the formula, which includes tons of moisture-retaining agents such as hydrolyzed silk and dimethiconol. An ingredient you might not expect is ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (commonly known as octinoxate), a chemical UV filter that will prevent light exposure from damaging your hair or allowing the product to deteriorate and destabilize. Goodbye, dry and dull hair, and hello, silky-smooth and shiny hair.
Widest Shade Range: L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss
We awarded the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss a 2022 Best of Beauty Award because of its deeply-nourishing coconut oil-infused base, which brings hair back to life by removing brassy tones and replenishing shine. The range includes an impressive 16 shades (including six silver shades), each of which gives that fresh-from-the-salon sheen to hair without breaking the bank.
Best for Damaged Hair: Kérastase Chroma Absolu Soin Acide Chroma Gloss
According to Toth, the Chroma Absolu Soin Acide Chroma Gloss is a high-shine hair gloss that strengthens and seals the surface of the hair fiber to protect color and leave a high-shine finish. To do this, amino acids, lactic acid, and tartaric acid work together to penetrate the hair cuticle and guard against color fading. “This gloss will extend the life of your post-salon hair color,” he says. “When the formula mixes with water, it transforms into a luxurious, creamy texture that fully coats and protects the hair.”
Best Customizable Treatment: DpHue Gloss+
DpHue’s Gloss+ is a “demi-permanent color and deep-conditioning treatment that provides killer nourishment and color,” says Santiago. Choose from 11 different shades to enhance your color — or mix any with Sheer for a more precise shade — and leave it on for anywhere between 3 and 20 minutes, depending on your desired intensity. Thanks to ingredients like moisturizing ethylhexylglycerin, a synthetic form of glycerin, and gloss-imparting dimethicone, this deep-conditioning treatment leaves your hair shiny and refreshed for days.
Allure Best of Beauty Winner: 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.
No-Fuss, Once-a-Week Treatment: Hally Fluffy G Foamy Glazey Hair Gloss
Leave this foaming Hally hair glaze in for 10 minutes before shampooing and conditioning per usual and prepare yourself to be wowed by the results. This sulfate, paraben-, and ammonia-free formula features chamomile, lavender, aloe vera, and ginseng root extract for much-needed nourishment and hydration. Premiere Clear is a colorless treatment that is ideal for all hair types; Brass-off Blonde is a cool neutralizer for blonde hair; and Bouncy Brown adds dimension to brown hair.
For a Glass-Like Finish on Natural or Colored Hair: John Frieda Luminous Glaze for All Shades
This John Frieda Glaze is a $10 steal that has earned Toth’s stamp of approval. It’s a clear-shine gloss so it works on all hair colors — whether you’re rocking your natural hair or boasting a vibrant hue — and types that desire a glass-like, frizz-free finish. The ingredient list, while short and sweet, is notably free of ammonia and peroxide.
Lightweight In-Shower Treatment: Rita Hazan Ultimate True Shine Gloss
According to Toth, the Rita Hazon Ultimate True Shine Gloss is formulated with vitamin B5, panthenol, and silk protein to maintain color, moisture, and shine for weeks on end. Choose between three shades — Clear, Breaking Brass, and Sunkissed — for a no-mess treatment in the shower. Rinse right away or keep it in for up to 20 minutes, depending on the results you’re aiming for.
Fastest-Acting Gloss: Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Gloss Mask
Impatient 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 one minute. How so? An effective team of hydrolyzed flax seed, red wine extract, and amino acids boosts shine, fights frizz, smooths hair, and ensures the vibrancy of your hair color stays intact for longer.