As someone who primarily relies on heat styling, I’ve noticed that my ends are getting a bit rougher than I’d love and the shine in my hair has been fading away, leaving me with a dull, lackluster finish. Although I don’t color my hair, I have to admit it can use a splash of vibrancy. Enter, at-home hair gloss treatments. Initially, they were thought to be only for color-treated hair, but in recent years, plenty of brands have created clear options that everyone can use. Ouai just came out with its Hair Gloss ($34), and as a long-time fan of the Detox Shampoo, I had to give it a try.
Ahead, keep reading for my full review of the new at-home treatment and how to best use it in your routine.
About the Ouai Hair Gloss
- It’s a treatment that helps enhance shine, provide color and heat protection, smooth frizz, and strengthen the hair.
- The formula contains sugar beets to help with color protection, as well as rice water, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol, which are supposed to help with overall damage and dryness.
- It has the brand’s North Bondi fragrance, which has notes of bergamot, Italian lemon, rose de Mai, and violet.
- It’s suited for all hair types and textures, including fine, thick, straight, wavy, curly, and coily.
- It is vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, phthalate and SLS/SLES-free, and color and keratin-safe.
What I Like About the Ouai Hair Gloss
Ouai’s Hair Gloss is exactly what my dull hair needed. It significantly enhanced the shine and vibrancy of my hair, giving it that glass-like appearance that every celebrity seems to have. Styling my hair was easier than ever, as well. I got smoother, frizz-free results with fewer passes of my blow-dryer brush without compromising on volume. My hair also felt softer, especially at the ends; it went from a rough straw-like texture to silky almost immediately. I highly recommend using this strategically right before a big party or important event to give your hair that extra oomph.
Another thing that I adore about this hair gloss is its divine fragrance. The brand is known to have high-quality, perfume-like scents, but this one made my shower smell luxurious. The scent is Ouai’s North Bondi, inspired by Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. It’s alluring and fresh with a floral and white musk scent profile.
How to Use the Ouai Hair Gloss
The Hair Gloss is best used after shampooing. Note: a little goes a long way. As directed, I split my hair into four sections, separating my bottom layers from the top and the left side of my head from the right. You should wring out your hair to remove any excess water before applying a pea-sized amount of product from mid-shaft to ends. (I concentrated on the bottom of my hair because it needed the extra love.) Although it’s tempting to drench your hair in product, the brand strongly cautions against this because it can weigh your hair down. Once it’s evenly distributed, allow it to sit for about five minutes to work its magic, then rinse it out. If you have thin hair or an oily scalp, you may find it best to skip your traditional conditioner but if your hair is on the thick, curly, or coily side, you can finish your hair-washing routine as normal.
After the shower, you can also apply a leave-in conditioner if hair needs an extra boost of hydration or to detangle. You can use this while air-drying your hair, but to truly see that mirror-like shine, it’s best to heat style.
What to Consider Before Trying the Ouai Hair Gloss
The Ouai Hair Gloss is a treatment meant for damaged hair, whether it’s from excessive heat styling or coloring, and is supposed to supplement your existing routine. It’s not designed to completely replace your traditional conditioners, hair masks, or heat protectants. It’s also worth emphasizing that you can overuse the product, so it’s best to assess your hair’s needs and use it accordingly. The effects last up to three washes, so consider this a treatment you can do every other week or monthly, depending on how often you wash your hair.
If you like using the brand’s Detox Shampoo, it’s recommended that you pair the Detox Shampoo with the Hair Gloss so that the former won’t pre-maturely strip away the effects of the gloss.
Where Is the Ouai Hair Gloss Available?
The Ouai Hair Gloss is available on the brand’s site and Sephora.
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