Beauty Hair Hair Products & Tools The Best At-Home Hair Gloss Treatments, According to Celebrity Hairstylists The Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Clear Hair Gloss is the top contender. By Rebecca Norris Rebecca Norris Rebecca R. Norris is a full-time freelance writer living in the DC metro area. She writes for a variety of publications, covering everything from beauty and wellness to style and celebrity news. When she's not writing, she can be found out and about with her Jack-Chi, Cash, sweating her way through an Orangetheory class, or taking it easy with family and friends. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on September 20, 2022 @ 11:58AM Pin Share Tweet Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews What to Keep in Mind Your Questions, Answered Why Shop With Us We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Sephora, Amazon There’s something so confidence-boosting about walking out of the salon with freshly-perfected color. Your hair looks shiny, smooth, and virtually flawless — and it feels good. Of course, without the proper upkeep, that stunning color can quickly fade. That’s why hair glosses exist. What started as in-salon treatments for neutralizing brassiness, enhancing tone, and ratcheting the shine factor up to 100, has since evolved into the at-home haircare market, too. Instead of investing your precious time researching dozens of hair glosses, you can count on us. With the help of celebrity hairstylists, we’ve come up with the 12 best hair gloss treatments. Hoping to make your red hair more vibrant? There’s a gloss for that. Or perhaps you’re looking to nix brassy undertones from your blonde mane? There’s a gloss for that, too. The point is: There’s a gloss for every hair color. That said, if color isn’t your goal but shine is, clear glosses exist for just that reason. “You can do a clear shine or what I like to call a ‘top coat’ that has no color but all the benefits of a gloss after your hair color service,” says celebrity hairstylist Sunnie Brook. “This will extend the life of your hair color and maximize shine.” Since shine and color are ultimately the goal for everyone, we dubbed the Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Clear Hair Gloss our overall top pick. But that’s just one of many. Ahead, uncover the 12 best hair gloss treatments to try at home. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Pureology Hair Gloss at Sephora Jump to Review Best Value: Kristin Ess Signature Hair Gloss at Amazon Jump to Review Best Shade Range: dpHue Gloss+ at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Bold Colors: Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Cristophe Robin Shade Variation Care Mask at Sephora Jump to Review Best Fast-Acting Gloss: Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Gloss Mask at Amazon Jump to Review Best Everyday: Bread Hair Oil at Sephora Jump to Review Best for Brass: Biolage ColorBalm Color Depositing Conditioner at Amazon Jump to Review Best Oil: Roz Willow Glen Treatment Oil at Andersenbeauty.com Jump to Review Best Spray: Miss Jessie’s Gloss So Good Natural Hair Oil Spray at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Tone Hair Gloss Sephora View On Sephora View On Ulta View On Beautyplussalon.com What We Love The clear option works on all hair colors and types. What We Don’t Love Some reviewers complain that it’s watery. If your ultimate hair goal is to achieve high-shine tresses, Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Gloss is a great option. The clear doesn’t contain any pigment, yet it’s designed to nix brassiness and enhance shine. It’s formulated to work on fine, medium, and thick hair, as well, so it’s truly universal. Color-treated hair may want to opt for one of the pigmented versions — like blue or purple for brassiness; or red, copper, or gold for amping up highlights and color. Price at time of publish: $35 Shades: 6 | Size: 6.7 fl oz. | Processing Time: 5 minutes Best Value Kristin Ess Signature Hair Gloss Amazon View On Amazon View On Target View On Walmart What We Love It’s a salon-quality gloss at drugstore prices. What We Don’t Love It can be difficult to wash out. Kristin Ess is a celebrity hairstylist and the founder of eponymous haircare brand, Kristin Ess Hair. Many of her products have earned cult-favorite status, and according to celebrity hairstylist Eddie Cook, her Signature Hair Gloss is hard to beat. “The Kristin Ess Signature Hair Gloss would be for someone that likes doing their own hair because it comes in lots of shades to add color or tone. This product also seals the cuticle and adds shine,” he says. InStyle Senior Beauty Editor, Shannon Bauer, swears by it saying, “Finding products for my red hair can be tricky. Many shades skew toward burgundy or strawberry blonde, but the Copper Penny color is perfect for most redheads.” Price at time of publish: $15 Shades: 9 | Size: 2 fl oz. | Processing Time: 10 to 20 minutes Best Shade Range dpHue Gloss+ Semi-Permanent Hair Color and Deep Conditioner Dermstore View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Dermstore What We Love It has multiple options for each of the big three — blondes, brunettes, and redheads. What We Don’t Love Some reviewers say it only noticeably transforms color and shine if left on for the longer duration suggestion, so it’s not as fast-acting. Like the Pureology gloss, dpHUE Gloss+ Semi-Permanent Hair Color and Deep Conditioner is sold in clear, as well as 10 other shades targeted toward blondes, brunettes, and redheads. Celebrity hairstylist Kadi Lee is a big fan of this particular gloss given it’s formulated (and co-founded) by celebrity colorist Justin Anderson. “You just can [be] rest assured that factors such as timing (which is crucial) have been well thought out,” she says. “The glosses offered are specifically targeted, and thus a bit more foolproof.” Price at time of publish: $37 Shades: 11 | Size: 6.5 fl oz. | Processing Time: 3 to 20 minutes The Best Hair Products of 2022 Best for Bold Colors Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask Sephora View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sephora What We Love It’s sold in 10 colors, many of which are for bolder hair looks. What We Don’t Love It can stain your scalp — but the stain washes/fades away after the initial wash. Although the Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask comes in neutral colors like Cocoa brown and Champagne blonde, it’s also sold in bolder hues like Lilac, Rose Gold, Coral, Aquamarine, and Hibiscus (a Barbiecore hot pink). The brand makes it easy to see how the product will transform your natural hair color, thanks to its comprehensive color chart. Plus, the product itself has notes of the signature Moroccanoil scent, so it smells good, too. Price at time of publish: $30 Shades: 10 | Size: 6.7 fl oz. | Processing Time: 5 to 7 minutes Best Splurge Cristophe Robin Shade Variation Care Mask Cristophe Robin View On Sephora View On Christopherobin.com What We Love While more expensive, it’s the largest at-home hair gloss — and it offers fantastic results. What We Don’t Love Some shoppers say it doesn’t impart as much color as they’d hoped, even with the full processing time. Thousands of Sephora shoppers agree: Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask is well worth the splurge — and celebrity hairstylists agree. Brook loves the Ash Brown Mask for her brassy-prone brunette clients. “They can use this color depositing mask at home every two to four weeks and neutralize unwanted brass or yellow tones in their hair,” she says. Meanwhile, Lee applauds the product for its ability to noticeably shift, tone, and richen color. “The shades offered are also really rich in pigment, and leave hair incredibly shiny and reflective,” she says. “My personal favorites are the chestnut and copper shades. These two shades are notorious for fading quickly post-salon visit, and I often recommend these masks to my clients to keep their shades of warm brown, reds, and copper amplified and rich.” Price at time of publish: $40 Shades: 5 | Size: 8.33 oz. | Processing Time: 5 to 30 minutes The 10 Best Hair Masks of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Best Fast-Acting Gloss Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Gloss Mask Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Kohls.com What We Love It imparts incredible shine in 60 seconds flat. What We Don’t Love The scent could be better. Hoping for incredibly shiny hair as quickly as possible? Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask is a must. “It seals the cuticle while also softening the hair and adding shine,” Cook says, noting that it’s suitable for all hair types. This liquid mask contains amino acids to fight frizz and protect color, and flaxseed provides that enviable shine. Price at time of publish: $26 Shades: 1 | Size: 6.7 fl oz. | Processing Time: 60 seconds Best Everyday Bread Hair Oil Sephora View On Sephora View On Breadbeautysupply.com What We Love It doesn’t have to be rinsed out. What We Don’t Love It’s formulated specifically for curly hair, so it’s not universal. No time to perform an in-shower gloss treatment? Check out Bread Beauty Supply's best-selling Hair Oil Everyday Gloss. Designed to soften and smooth curls while imparting mega shine, this Black-owned beauty product has earned praise from over 18,000 Sephora shoppers. Although formulated specifically with curls in mind, this oil is worth a shot as it’s rich in kakadu plum and safflower oil to give that glossy finish. Price at time of publish: $24 Shades: 1 | Size: 3.3 fl oz. | Processing Time: Designed to be left in or used as a 2-hour mask The 10 Best Styling Creams for Juicy, Bouncy Curls Best for Brass Biolage ColorBalm Color Depositing Conditioner Amazon View On Amazon What We Love It works to neutralize brassiness. What We Don’t Love It’s not sold in a bunch of colors. Brassiness might be most associated with blondes, but it can happen with brunette and red shades, too. Thankfully, Biolage ColorBalm Color Depositing Conditioner works to neutralize brass while enhancing shine — and it happens to be one of Brook’s all-time faves. “Once every two to four weeks, I love mixing a pea-size amount of the lavender into a palm-size amount of the clear,” she says. “This makes my blondes have a soft creamy (no yellow) highlight in just 10 minutes.” Price at time of publish: $35 Shades: 7 | Size: 8.5 fl oz. | Processing Time: 5 to 10 minutes Best Oil Roz Willow Glen Treatment Oil View On Andersenbeauty.com View On Rozhair.com What We Love It smells fantastic. What We Don’t Love It can be a bit heavy for fine hair. Created by celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak, the Roz Willow Glen Treatment Oil operates much like a gloss. “It helps with dry scalp and can be applied all over either before a shower, overnight, or worn through a workout then washed out,” Cook says, adding that it pumps up the shine first and foremost. “This is good for all hair types.” Price at time of publish: $80 Shades: N/A | Size: 1.95 fl oz. | Processing Time: 10 minutes as a wash-out treatment or overnight as a mask We Tested 29 Hair Oils — These 11 Keep Hair Moisturized and Silky Smooth Best Spray Miss Jessie’s Gloss So Good Natural Hair Oil Spray Amazon View On Amazon View On Missjessies.com What We Love It’s lightweight and never greasy. What We Don’t Love This is a fairly heavy oil, so it may be too much for hair types 1 and 2. Craving daily glossing benefits? Miss Jessie’s Gloss So Good Natural Hair Oil Spray is here to help. Designed specifically for curls, this spray is infused with safflower seed oil, olive fruit oil, sesame seed oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, tamanu oil, and primrose oil, all of which work together to hydrate hair, lock in moisture, prevent frizz, and enhance shine. Price at time of publish: $28 Shades: N/A | Size: 6 oz. | Processing Time: Leave-In Best Glaze-Gloss Hybrid Glaze Super Gloss Glaze View On Glazehair.co What We Love The product works well and the packaging is so cute. What We Don’t Love It’s only sold on the Glaze website. If you have a neutral hair color — think blonde, brunette, or red — Glaze has a great gloss for you. Bonus points: It’s affordable and adorably packaged, too. The brand’s Glaze Super Gloss is formulated to drastically enhance shine while revving up color, and the results are said to last up to 10 washes (which could be quite a while if you’re a seldom washer). Not sure which color you want to move forward with? There’s a comprehensive hair quiz to help you figure it out. Price at time of publish: $18 Shades: 10 | Size: 6.4 fl oz. | Processing Time: 10 minutes The 6 Best Box Dyes for Natural Hair Best Demi-Permanent Clairol Natural Instincts Demi-Permanent Hair Color Amazon View On Amazon View On Target What We Love The results last for up to 28 shampoos. What We Don’t Love There aren’t very many red shades to choose from — mainly blonde and brunette. If you have dark blonde or brunette hair, celebrity hairstylist Jeremy Tardo says that Clairol Natural Instincts Demi-Permanent Hair Color is a great gloss option. “It’s vegan and has naturally-derived ingredients like coconut oil and aloe vera that help to nourish and protect your hair,” he says. “This makes it a great option for hair types that get easily dehydrated from other hair color.” Plus, there are over 30 shades to choose from and the results last for up to 28 shampoos, he points out. Price at time of publish: $8 Shades: 32 | Size: One application | Processing Time: 20 minutes What to Keep in Mind Verbiage A hair gloss is designed to add shine, neutralize brassiness, and enhance color. That said, not all products that do those things are called glosses — some are glazes, masks, leave-in conditioners, sprays, and oils. The point is, you can’t get fully hung up on verbiage. That said, Lee points out that, generally speaking, a ‘glaze’ pumps up the shine, while a ‘gloss’ adds shine plus tone-shifting properties. Your natural hair color According to Lee, pigmented at-home gloss applications are safest for brunettes, redheads, and darker blondes. “Pale blondes are trickier, and it’s easy for this to go sideways,” she admits. “When in doubt, I would leave it in the hands of professionals, as most colorists offer some variation of a gloss or toner service that can be done in between colorings to lengthen the life of your color.” You could also opt for a clear gloss — all of the sheen with none of the risk. Your hair texture Your hair texture can play a role in how well a gloss can penetrate your strands. With that in mind, Tardo suggests having a colorist assess your texture and condition of your hair. “While gloss color is not considered permanent hair color, if your hair is very porous, gloss colors could stick to your hair for longer than expected,” he says. “A clear gloss is a safe option for all hair textures if you want to benefit from the added shine without any color commitment at all.” Pre-gloss prep Since most glosses add slight color, Lee says that fast application is paramount for even coverage. That said, before starting the process, make sure you have all your materials in one place so that you can complete your gloss as quickly as possible. Additionally, she suggests pre-conditioning your hair prior to the glossing, as doing so balances texture, moisture, and porosity, which will help the product process more evenly. Your Questions, Answered What is a hair gloss treatment? A hair gloss treatment is one that imparts temporary hair color and/or shine, Brook says. “It benefits the overall health and softness of your hair,” she adds. “It can also replace the amino acids that your hair may have lost from a chemical service.” While hair glosses are traditionally in-salon treatments designed to close the cuticle of the hair to enhance shine, deepen color, and adjust the tone of the hair, Cook admits that more and more at-home glosses are entering the market. These at-home glosses are typically deposit only and do not contain ammonia. “This means that the gloss lays more on the surface layers of your hair and washes out over time,” Tardo explains. “A gloss can be done as a clear coat of color which won’t affect your current hair color at all, or pigment can be added which gives a toner effect to your gloss. A pigmented gloss (often referred to as a toner) can be used to shift the tone of hair or to darken hair, but not to lighten hair.” How often can you do an at-home hair gloss? It depends on the product you’re using, as well as your hair texture, lifestyle, and care routine, Brook says. In that way, Cook says that at-home hair glosses can be applied on an "as needed” basis. “If your color or hair feels dull, then it may be time for a little glossing,” he explains. “No more than twice a month, but once should be plenty.” Some glosses even last up to six to eight weeks depending on how often you wash your hair. Less shampooing = longer amount of time between treatments. Why Shop With Us Rebecca Norris is a full-time freelance writer. She writes for a variety of publications, covering everything from beauty and wellness to style and celebrity news. For the best hair gloss treatments, Norris scoured the web for all of the options for different hair types and colors before consulting hairstylists for their opinion. Hairstylists Eddie Cook, Sunnie Brook, Kadi Lee, and Jeremy Tardo gave product recommendations as well as advice on how to use the product at-home. and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.Sign up for our InStyle newsletterLove a great deal?