It may sound odd, but hair color is like nail polish in a lot of ways. It looks fresh and shiny when you walk out of the salon, but dulls fast, leaving you jonesing for a refresh after just a few weeks. There’s only one problem: Salon appointments are pricey and time-consuming. You can (and probably should) opt for the recommended Olaplex treatments and fancy color-safe shampoos, but there’s an underappreciated way to live in the fresh color space for a lot longer. Enter: DIY hair gloss.
Most salons offer quick glossing treatments, which are amazing for rebooting the vibrancy of your dingy highlights or all-over color, but that requires time and extra cash. Luckily, in talking to a few hair experts, we discovered that that an at-home hair gloss can be just as effective at extending the life of your color. Think of it like a top coat nail polish for your hair.
The pros break down the best hair glosses on the market, ahead.
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Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care
“I always recommend Christophe Robin’s Shade Variation Care glossing masks to my clients,” says Elisabeth Lovell, the co-founder of Brooklyn’s Whiteroom Salon. “Every shade offering — from warm chestnut to chic red to baby blonde — is rich in tone and will keep your hair color looking fresh and warm, effectively keeping those hollow, brassy strands at bay.”
Good For: Any color and texture, but best for those with blonde hair looking to ward off brassy tones.
Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care Nutritive Mask, $, available at Sephora
Schwarzkopf Igora Vibrance Clear 0-00
To keep hair color vibrant, NYC-based colorist Brian K recommends clients commit to regular in-salon glossing treatments. At home, he says it’s important to use a shampoo that’s free of sulfates, to always rinse with cold water in the shower, and to grab this gloss by Schwarzkopf. It instantly amps up shine on all hair types, and it’s especially gentle on curls.
Good For: Curly, color-treated hair. It comes in a few different shades, so make sure you get the tone closest to your color.
Schwarzkopf Igora Vibrance Clear 0-00 500Ml, $, available at Amazon
Rita Hazan Ultimate Shine Gloss
To extend the lifespan and vibrancy of her clients’ color, Rita Hazan (who’s worked with Beyoncé, NBD) formulated her own gloss. “Use this foam gloss in-between shampoo and conditioner, focusing on the ends, and you’ll see a vast improvement in the lifespan of your color and your shine,” Hazan explains. “It’s works on every hair color because the base shades are neutral, meaning it won’t ever look orange-y or brassy.” The best part about this one is there’s no wait time, it activates right away, so you’re not standing soaking wet for 5 minutes waiting to wash it out.
Good For: All hair textures and colors, but the trick is to find the right shade for your tone. This one comes in clear (which anyone can use), Blonde (to revive highlights), Breaking Brass (which directly combats brassiness), Brown (for brunettes), and Red (to enhance red tones). Whichever you chose, use it as often as you shampoo.
Truhair Revive & Style – Instant & Temporary Color Mousse
Color expert Chelsea Scott swears by this mousse gloss by TruHair. “It’s a great option if you’re feeling like your hair color needs a quick reboot,” she explains. “It works to both tone your color and boost volume, so it’s a godsend between salon visits.”
Good For: Fine hair that needs a boost of shine and a little volume. This one is also colored, so you should chose the shade that best matches the tone of your hair.
Color Wow Pop & Lock Gloss Treatment
This isn’t your typical gloss — it’s better. Color Wow’s pro-approved products are made to make your strands look HD-ready, and this unique gloss treatment seriously delivers on mirror-like shine. Unlike most formulas, you can use it as a styler on dry hair, or on wet hair as a deep treatment.
Good For: If you don’t necessarily have time for a half-hour gloss, or need instant shine without having to wash your hair first.
Color Wow Pop & Lock Gloss Treatment, $, available at Amazon
dpHUE Gloss+
Stephanie Brown, the NYC-based colorist who turned us onto “cold-brew” hair color, also loves a good hair gloss. For at-home treatments, she recommends this one by dpHue, which adds shine and a hint of fresh color when your’s starts to fade.
Good For: Any color and texture, but works especially well with boosting the vibrancy of blonde highlights. Longer processing time is recommended for darker hair color.
dpHUE Gloss+, $, available at DermStore
Moremo Water Treatment Miracle 10
This is a liquid glossing treatment that actually transforms into a creamy consistency when you rub it in — and Scott says it’s a real game changer for color treated hair. “In just 10 seconds it restores split ends and completely eliminates frizz,” she explains. “After your color appointment, apply this after your shampoo, each time you shower, to restore the hair protein and make your color last longer.”
Good For: Dry, over-processed hair. This gloss is infused with keratin protein, which means that it helps rehab breakage. Those with oily scalps might not find much success with this heavier formula.
moremo Water Treatment Miracle 10, $, available at Amazon
Oribe Glaze for Beautiful Color
Quinoa protein, passion fruit, and cupuaçu help this clear, subtly shimmering glaze do its thing, resulting in nothing but vivid color and mega shine.
Good For: If you’re happy to invest in a luxury product, this is as luxe as it gets. If covering up grey or white hair is a main concern, then look for a tinted formula; otherwise, this is a great option if you’re searching for a shine boost and a color refresh.
Oribe Glaze for Beautiful Color, $, available at Amazon
Shu Uemura Color Lustre Hair Mask
Alexis Antonellis, colorist at Eddie Arthur Salon in New York City believes in a glaze mask, which is essentially a hair gloss/deep conditioner hybrid. “This both nourishes your hair and protects the color,” she says. “Especially coming out of summer, now is a great time to add this to your regimen and continue using it once a week throughout winter.”
Good For: Any hair color or texture looking for extra softness and shine. This one is colorless, so it can work for everyone. On finer hair, it should be used as a weekly treatment, while thicker hair types benefit from daily application in lieu of conditioner.
Shu Uemura Color Lustre Brilliant Glaze Treatment, $, available at Sephora
Bumble and bumble Bb. Color Gloss
A slightly cheaper option, this color gloss by Bumble & bumble is one that Antonellis recommends to those who want to invest in the health and longevity of their color, but don’t have $70 to spend on a fancy glaze mask.
Good For: Those on a budget. For $34 you can boost your color with any of the tones in this line: Clear, Cool Blonde, Brunette, Warm Blonde, and Red.
John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss
“John Frieda’s Color Refreshing gloss both hydrates the hair and extends the life of the color,” Antonellis says (adding that the brand’s color-focused shampoo and conditioner are also great). Plus, this bad boy’s just $12 at Ulta.
Good For: Those on a drugstore budget. This one can be used weekly, just leave it on the hair for 3-5 minutes. Pro tip: Focus on the mid-shafts and ends, then rinse it out and follow with routine shampoo and conditioner.
John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss, $, available at Amazon
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