The best at-home hair glosses for shinier locks in 2025
Whether you want to give your hair a refresh between dyes, or your natural locks need a little extra shine, the best at-home hair gloss treatments could be the answer.
When it comes to our beauty routines right now, it’s a case of the glossier, the better. From the quiet luxury of a slicked-back bun to healthy, dewy skin, it’s all about that expensive-looking sheen.
But how do you get high-shine, red carpet-ready locks when you don’t have an A-list budget? That’s where hair glosses come in – these treatments can help revive colour and add extra lustre at home in between salon appointments.
Looking to keep your colour topped up from home too? Check out our guides to DIY dye: best blonde hair dyes | best black hair dyes | Josh Wood blending brush review
To help you find the right one for your hair, we spoke to the experts and put the best products on the market to the test at the Good Housekeeping Institute. These are our top-rated glosses at a glance but scroll on to find out more about these shiny new hair treatments.
What is a hair gloss?
Think of them like a lip gloss for your hair. “The aim of a hair gloss is to add shine,” says Anabel Kingsley, brand president and trichologist at Philip Kingsley. “There are many different types and formulations, but most are used as a treatment during the wash process vs. a post-wash styling serum.
“A traditional hair gloss is typically an in-salon treatment that acts as a colour glaze to improve colour vibrancy and add high-shine. However, at-home formulations now promise salon-worthy results, with ingredients that boost radiance and smooth for reflective glossy shine.” They can be clear or tinted.
Can you use a hair gloss instead of hair dye?
Yes, you can. But bear in mind that a hair gloss isn’t permanent and while it can help tone and condition hair, it won’t lighten it or completely change the colour like a dye can. Glosses are more about fine-tuning your shade.
“Hair glosses are semi-permanent or demi-permanent, meaning they don’t penetrate the hair in the same way a dye would. They’re a temporary treatment that washes out after anywhere between 12-24 washes, depending on the formula, your hair porosity and condition,” explains Taylor Taylor colour director Sian Wood.
Are hair glosses damaging?
Unlike regular hair dyes, pigmented hair glosses don’t contain any active peroxide, so won’t damage the hair. In fact, both clear and coloured glosses have conditioning properties that can help repair dull and damaged hair.
As it’s a non-invasive, conditioning treatment, hair stylist Michael Douglas says you can use them as often as you like, but he recommends saving it until “your hair starts to look dull.”
Are hair glosses suitable for all hair types?
“Yes, they are suitable for all hair types,” says Douglas. “They’re particularly good on curly hair, which absorbs the light, making it difficult to achieve a glossy finish. A hair gloss or glaze is a great way to get it to shine.”
How to use a hair gloss
Always follow the instructions on the packaging. However, as a guide, you should apply the treatment to pre-shampooed hair, just as you would a conditioner. Then leave on for between 10-20 minutes, depending on the intensity of colour you are trying to achieve. Once rinsed out, you should be left with refreshed glossy locks.
How we test
We put a range of leading hair glosses to the test over a four-week period with the help of over 130 panel members.
We asked them to give feedback on a range of areas, including ease of use, design and performance, telling us whether it made any difference to their hair colour, shine and softness, and whether the product left any residue. You'll find the winners marked with the GHI Approved logo below.
We’ve also added a couple of editors’ picks at the bottom because we couldn’t resist. They’re the buzzy new treatments that are keeping our beauty team’s locks glossy and healthy at the moment.
Glycolic Gloss 5 Minute Lamination Treatment
Score: 88/100
Glycolic acid is known for its hydrating benefits in skincare, and it does a similar job in this hair gloss. It penetrates deep into hair cuticles to improve shine, while also working to seal and strengthen strands.
Our testers were impressed with this speedy hair gloss treatment. After leaving it on for just five minutes (the perfect opportunity to squeeze in a leg shave), it delivers super glossy and hydrated hair, according to our panel. In fact, one tester said their hair felt softer immediately after application.
Another praised the “lovely fragrance that stays even once dry.” In other words, this is a triple threat – it leaves your hair looking good, feeling good and smelling good.
Care Color Fresh Semi-Permanent Colour Mask
Score: 88/100
If you're looking for a quick refresh between salon visits, or a temporary change, then Wella’s colour mask is a great place to start. It combines both conditioning care with semi-permanent colour, meaning you can top up your tone and add gloss at the same time. Our panel liked how it left their hair feeling “vibrant and shiny”, without any tackiness or residue.
As with all pigmented products, we'd recommend being careful around the hairline and using gloves for application to avoid any unwanted staining. With 13 assorted colours to try (at an affordable price point too), Wella has covered all bases here, from toning and adding depth to natural shades to ensuring your pink stays popping.
Lamellar Shine Cream
Score: 84/100
This newly developed hair gloss from TRESemmé impressed our panel, leaving their hair less frizzy, and feeling soft for days.
It uses TRESemmé’s patented Lamella Technology, which essentially wraps each strand of hair in a ceramide- and amino acid-rich formulation, for smooth, silky hair. This also helps keep locks tangle-free and allows for maximum light-reflection, creating extra shine from roots to ends.
This is a leave-in option, so you can skip the rinsing required with many other hair glosses. Simply apply three pumps after your shampoo and conditioner and wait for the magic to happen.
Heart of Glass
Score: 82/100
To keep the bombshell in your blonde for as long as possible, look no further than Davines’ Heart of Glass gloss. When you take the bleach route, it’s easy for hair to appear dull and dry, but this serum is designed to leave your coloured locks glossy and fresh.
Featuring a formula enriched with biacidic bond complex and illuminating amino concentrate, it promises to strengthen and repair hair fibres, leaving your hair extra shiny. It also contains UV protection, combatting any risk of dull, yellow tones from exposure to sunlight, and instead helps prolong colour intensity and brightness.
Not only did our panel praise this luxurious product for adding gloss and shine to their locks, but they found it also helped tame frizz, and left hair feeling “stronger and renewed.” The easy-to-apply treatment can be used in every wash to achieve a fresh-from-the salon look and feel.
Gemstone Ultra Shine Glossing Treatment
Score: 80/100
Hydrated, healthy hair with a glossy mirror shine is something we all want, and luckily for us R+Co has bottled it. Its gemstone gloss can be used in place of conditioner once a week, and the rich formula will work to hydrate and seal cuticles, leaving your hair with a beautiful reflective shine that’s UV protected.
One tester loved how “full and bouncy” the treatment left their locks, while another noted how it “brought out the highlights.” A few testers did note that the serum left their strands feeling slightly heavy, which may not be ideal for those with finer hair. However, most of the panel agreed that their hair looked glossier and shinier after use.
Pop & Lock serum
Score: 78/100
Promising to smooth flyaways, seal split ends and prevent colour fading, this Colour WOW Pop & Lock serum is a friend to frizzy hair. The brand set out to create a product that combines the conditioning benefits of an oil and the shine-enhancing power of a serum, and it seems to have succeeded, based on the positive feedback received from our testers.
They said it helped control frizz and smoothed any escaping strands – with one panel member noting how it passed the weather test, as their hair stayed sleek even on a rainy, windy day.
Not only is this product suitable for vegans, but it’s also free from any harmful parabens and sulphates. However, if your hair is on the finer side, you may want to consider an alternative product (such as the Aveda Colour Renewal treatment below), as our testers with thinner hair did notice a slight sticky residue after use.
Acidic Colour Gloss Activated Glass Gloss Treatment
Score: 77/100
This clever gloss uses science to put the shine back into your strands. The formula contains citric acid, which works to restore the hair’s optimum pH levels (between 4.5-5.5 according to the brand). Cuticles are also wrapped in a blend of enriching amino acids and conditioners, with one tester saying it left their hair “soft, manageable and with less flyaways.”
Apply the treatment to wet hair, working from mid-lengths to ends and leave on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing out. Some testers found this extra step in their haircare routine a little inconvenient, but it’s standard procedure for hair glosses. And hopefully the extra shine is worth it.
Colour Renewal Colour and Shine Treatment
Score: 77/100
Though suited to all hair types, our testers with thinner hair were particularly pleased with this Aveda gloss. They praised its non-greasy formulation, which didn’t weigh hair down, making it “perfect for fine hair.” Ingredients include fruit oils and shea butter, both key for intense conditioning and shine enhancing.
It also boasts colour renewal for both natural and dyed hair. You can choose between cool and warm tones in either blonde or brown, which our panel said were “very pigmented.” This may suit those looking for a richer colour, but perhaps not one for those wanting a more subtle refresh.
Not only will this gloss make your hair look fresh and feel silkier, but our testers also praised the “divine scent”, which gave them that salon-fresh feel.
Chroma Absolu Hair Gloss
Score: 76/100
All colour treated hair could do with some extra TLC from time to time, and this is exactly what Kerastase had in mind when it created the Chroma Absolu gloss. This high-shine treatment is enriched with three acids (amino, tartaric, and lactic) that wrap around hair fibres to seal cuticles and lock in colour vibrancy.
The nozzled tip makes it easy for an all-over application, but due to the liquid consistency you’ll need to take care not to spill it. Testers found it made their hair instantly smoother, easy to comb and noticeably shinier – especially for one tester who said it transformed their “lacklustre” bleached hair.
Colour Conditioning treatment
Score: 75/100
This is another tinted gloss, but this one can be applied to dry or damp hair, which adds a layer of convenience. Acting as a conditioning mask, it promises to deliver a layer of shine – or a glazed effect – as well as a colour refresh. This was the case for one of our testers who applauded how it left hair looking “glossier and vibrant.” Another praised its “pleasant scent”, which was an added bonus.
However, although our testers agreed this gloss was easy to incorporate into their routines, many said the packaging made it tricky to dispense. That said, it’s what’s inside that counts, right?
Hair Gloss
Score: 74/100
From peach blush to chestnut brunette, these pigmented glosses by Josh Wood promise to not only to add a layer of shine and deep conditioning to your hair, but also refresh colour with a semi-permanent, tinted finish. Weaker than a hair dye, but as one tester noted, still enough to add a “subtle glow and lift,” they are a great option between salon trips. Due to the pigment, however, we’d advise wearing a pair of gloves to apply.
“Glossy” was a word used to describe the product by multiple testers, which is thanks to the shea butter and pequi oil included to keep hair healthy. Another tester commented that their hair felt “smoother, softer and shinier” after use – the holy trinity when it comes to hair. What more could you want from an at-home treatment?
Editors' picks
Colour Miracle Glossing Water
Celebrity hair colourist Josh Wood knows the importance of keeping coloured hair looking, well, the right colour. A large part of keeping it fresh in between salon visits is at-home maintenance. The brand’s new glossing water spray is the handy, liquid solution. Simply spritz over freshly washed hair and comb through. It gives your hair a protective UV shield, helping to preserve colour for longer. You won’t have to work as hard with your brush either, as it also works to detangle knotty ends.
Some hair products have added silicone to make hair look extra shiny, which sounds good in practice but leads to build-up and flaking. You’ll be pleased to know that this one is silicone-free and uses moisture-locking murumuru butter and high protein Chenopodium, which is said to reduce hair fallout.
Hair Gloss
A leave-in gloss that both treats hair and protects it long after application? Take it away, Ouai. Used in place of conditioner, the brand claims that this hair gloss provides shiny results that last up to three washes.
The magic ingredients? Hydrating hyaluronic acid and rejuvenating rice water. Though rice water has only gained popularity in the UK in recent years, it’s been used in Asia for decades for its healthy hair-inducing properties. It’s full of natural antioxidants that strengthen the hair and is said to even stimulate growth, too. Who knew?
Verdict: Which hair gloss if for you?
Our winning hair gloss on test, the L’Oreal Paris’ Glycolic 5 minute treatment proves that effective hair products don’t need to be extortionately expensive. It’s a fast-acting and affordable option for smoother, sleeker hair.
If you want to add shine and pigment at the same time, then look to our runner-up, Wella’s Colour Fresh mask. Looking for plenty of colour options so you can change up your tone every time? Then the Josh Wood Hair Gloss range has a wide variety of shades to choose from.
Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?
Since opening our doors over 100 years ago, the Good Housekeeping Institute has tested thousands of products to help readers find the best on the market – from the best hair straighteners and best niacinamide serums, to the best stick vacuums and best robot lawn mowers. Each product is tested against strict protocols by our team of experts.
Nora Merik, our beauty and grooming tester, has a master's degree in cosmetic science and a vast amount of expert knowledge on the latest beauty products and devices on the market, which she used to analyse all the hair glosses in our list against their claims.
Our lifestyle writer, Madeleine Evans has written about and reviewed hundreds of beauty and haircare products. She worked with the testers to analyse all the feedback and lab results and turn them into easy-to-read reviews.
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