Hot styling tools, hair coloring, tight topknots, chemical styling – many of us put our hair through a lot, which often results in damage and loss of shine. Over time, this can lead to hair looking dull, frayed, and less defined. To combat this and help repair damage, deep-conditioning treatments and hair masks are typically the first port of call. But second to that are gloss and shine treatments.
Many hair gloss treatments were first offered in salons (and are still popular in-salon treatments) as add-ons for hair dyeing, but there are now plenty of at-home versions worth trying. For those without access to a salon, these at-home shine treatments can give your hair a new lease on life (think: healthy, glossy, vibrant) in a matter of minutes.
A gloss is a semipermanent treatment that adds vibrancy back into colored hair, evens out tone or brassiness, and adds shine. “If you have highlighted hair, what you’re trying to do is eliminate either yellow or orange tones,” Jack Howard, balayage expert and educator at Paul Edmonds salon in London, tells PS. “If your hair is generally looking washed out, you want to either enhance the color or add a bit of warmth in there. So, essentially, you either want to enhance your color or neutralize tones through it.”
Most gloss treatments are done in the salon, but there has been a spike in at-home versions, which often last four to six weeks. “The biggest difference between at-home and in-salon gloss treatments is simply the range of color possibilities,” says Steven Picciano, hairstylist and national artist for Goldwell. “The stylist has the ability to create your perfect color, achieving the best possible application. It is much easier for your stylist to apply evenly and saturate well – two things that impact the end result of a color gloss.”
If it sounds like your hair color could use some love, keep scrolling to shop the best at-home hair glosses on the market.
