I don’t know about you, but I constantly wish my hair was shinier. Can you blame me? First, the shine-centric beauty craze was glass skin, and now, I feel like everyone wants “liquid hair,” or silky, ultra-reflective strands. Thank stars like Zendaya and Kim Kardashian for that one since they’ve both been seen rocking glassy strands.
As many of us know, this kind of sleek style just isn’t always possible with simply a blowout and a leave-in conditioner (though it certainly doesn’t hurt). I wanted to figure out the secret to super-shiny hair, so I tapped pro colorists for the lowdown. It turns out, the key to tons of shine is treating your hair to a gloss or a glaze.
If you’re wondering what the difference is between a hair gloss and a hair glaze, the answer is not much. In fact, many stylists use these terms interchangeably. According to Kérastase global pro club color expert Shelley Gregory, there’s technically a slight difference. “A hair gloss is pure shine. It can be achieved using color or using some products,” she says. “A hair glaze is a way to add shine and even tone out unwanted color in your hair.” Typically, glosses penetrate the hair’s cuticle, while glazes add a coat of color or shine.
“A professional, in-salon gloss or glaze can be clear for shine, or it can deliver color and tone to the hair if it needs more definition,” says Lorena M. Valdes, colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. When looking for an at-home product, Valdes recommends going for a gloss or a glaze that’s marketed as a shine conditioner so that you only get shine. This way, you can avoid adding in any unwanted color or tones to your hair.
Gregory and Valdes both highly recommend this gloss treatment. “Kérastase Chroma Absolu High Shine Gloss Treatment is the best in the market and my go-to treatment for special events or photo shoots,” says Valdes, noting that it’s easy to apply and gives quick results. “I love that it can be an in-salon treatment to use after color devices to seal in your color and add shine, but I can also send my clients home with it to keep their hair as shiny as it was when they left the salon,” adds Gregory.
For just $13, this glazing treatment does the trick. It will boost shine and smoothness on every hair color while making hair feel weightless and soft.
This innovative rinse only takes 10 seconds to work. It uses reverse-micellar technology, which helps replenish hair’s lipid layer for high-impact shine.
You use topcoat to give your nails shine, so why not do the same for your hair? Oat milk and camellia oil give hair shine and softness.
This adds tons of shine while also getting deep into the hair shaft to condition and repair. You can also buy this in 10 other shades if you’re looking to deposit color.
Saturate your hair with this mask for a full minute after you use shampoo and conditioner for instant liquid hair. Amino acids and UV filters work together to smooth hair’s cuticle, which leads to tons of shine.
Not only does this prickly pear oil–infused gloss add tons of glassy shine, but it also works as a heat protectant, so it’s ideal for using before you heat-style.
This clear mask gives hair shine while also acting as a deep conditioner. You can mix it with the brand’s color-depositing mask if you’re looking for a boost of color and shine.
Leave it to Oribe to have the crème de la crème of at-home glazes. Not only does this treatment deliver tons of gloss, but it also conditions, detangles, and protects hair from UV damage.
This glaze is formulated specifically with blondes in mind. It gives hair temporary dyes to even tone and boost the vibrancy of your blonde.
You guessed it—this gloss will give you expensive-looking hair thanks to amla oil and sea kelp extract. It will make your hair feel silky soft.
Think of this as a sealant for your hair. It locks in moisture, shine, and color. Hydrolyzed whey protein and panthenol work to give hair strength, while shea butter deeply nourishes.
If you’re brunette and want your color and shine amplified, this is the gloss to reach for. It also comes in blonde and red.
