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Byrdie / Alli Waataja
We’d be lying if we said we weren’t constantly lusting after that swishy, shiny, '90s shampoo-commercial kind of hair. But in real life, achieving shine isn’t always that easy. Faded color, textural differences, damage, weather, and other factors weigh in, zapping natural gloss and leaving the hair looking dull, flat, and a little lifeless. The good news? With a few quality products geared towards your hair type, you can achieve that glossy finish and live your best hair commercial life.
“Achieving shine is all about creating a light reflection," says hair stylist Jordan Thomas. "To do this, you need your hair fibers to align and your cuticles to lie flat. Lots of products claim to do this, but it’s important to find what is right for your specific hair type."
To help you find the products that will give you mirror-like shine, we spoke to experts and researched the best products from hair oils to sprays to creams. We also tested a few out ourselves and noted which gave us the best results.
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Versatile
Nourishing
Multi-purpose
Can make blonde hair brassy
Key Ingredients: Argan oil | Size: 3.4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Moroccanoil's OG (and arguably best) offering, this product is a versatile oil treatment that can be used in many ways and across multiple hair types. Rich in fatty acids, it's formulated to promote strong hair that reflects the light for unmatched shine. Try it as a pre-shampoo treatment or to smooth any flyaways after styling. Due to the golden shade, it can make blonde hair brassy, so consider trying the light version instead.
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Great price
Very glossy finish
Too heavy for fine hair
Key Ingredients: Argan oil | Size: 4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This drugstore oil has a dry finish so it sinks in quickly but still delivers on the promise of reflective shine. Its key ingredient is argan oil, and the mist format means it’s easy to apply to thick or long hair. We love to smooth it over a ponytail or a slick bun.
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Non-sticky
Gives hair shape and hold
Could weigh down fine hair
Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed silk, panthenol | Size: 3 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you prefer the flexible hold that a hair paste affords, this option from CHI is as good as it gets. The malleable formula contains silk molecules that can help to promote shine, while the non-sticky texture shapes and provides hold. Try it next time you’re attempting a sleek bun or ponytail hairstyle.
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Delivers serious shine and hold
Easy to use
Needs to be washed out
Key Ingredients: Wheat protein | Size: 10.3 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
We’re calling this mist from TIGI shine in a can. The fine spray gives the hair a glossy, silky look and a strong hold for a long-lasting finish. Great for nights out, tricky up-dos, or just anytime you want to channel Audrey Hepburn circa Breakfast At Tiffany’s.
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Light
Nourishing
Multipurpose
Glass bottle can be tricky to dispense
Key Ingredients: Safflower, argan, castor seed oil | Size: 3.3 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Like a lip gloss for your hair, this nourishing oil delivers glossy, glassy strands in seconds. Because Bread's entire line is designed with coily and curly hair in mind, this product is aces for softening coarse textures, though the formula is light enough for fine to medium hair types, as well.
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Natural formula
Packed with nourishing, shine-boosting oils
Residue-free
Can be used as a scalp treatment
Relatively small amount of product
Key Ingredients: Argan, apricot, and sunflower seed oils | Size: 3.9 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Another lightweight option designed for curls and coils is this hair serum from Pattern. Formulated with a blend of argan, sunflower, castor, sweet almond, apricot, and shea oils, this treatment provides deep moisture and a shiny boost, yet doesn’t leave behind any greasy residue. Also nice? It doubles as a nourishing scalp treatment, too. Just apply a few drops where needed and massage in.
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Works in minutes
Has to be used on damp hair
Key Ingredients: Flaxseed, amino acid concentrate | Size: 6.7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you want to dramatically improve your hair’s gloss factor in minutes, try smoothing this treatment through your strands after washing and before blow-drying. It instantly moisturizes, softens, and seals the hair cuticle, giving it a brilliant shine.
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Multi-purpose
Lightweight
Protects against UV damage
Can make blonde hair brassy
Key Ingredients: African galanga, ama oil, Asian borage oils | Size: 1.0 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Light, nourishing, and deliciously scented, this hair oil from Ouai provides ample nourishment and a healthy-looking gloss—all without weight or grease. Its formula protects against UV damage and prevents humidity-related frizz, as well.
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Jana Marie Calaor/Design by Tiana Crispino
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Smells incredible
Nourishes the hair
Can make fine hair greasy
Key Ingredients: Mirsalehi honey, argan oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil | Size: 3.4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This deeply nourishing oil treatment can be used on wet or dry hair alike to hydrate, soften, and impart a healthy shine. Bolstered with sustainably-sourced mirsalehi honey, it works to rehydrate dry, stressed, or frazzled strands without weighing them down. Use it anytime to finish and smooth or overnight as a leave-in mask.
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Byrdie / Jessica Juliao
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Won’t weigh down fine hair
Creates movement and separation
Spray can get clogged
Key Ingredients: Safflower seed oil, marigold flower extract, wheat protein | Size: 8.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
When it comes to lustrous hair, there is a fine line between glassy and greasy, especially if your strands are fine. But Oribe’s Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray deliver both natural-looking shine and soft texture—truly the best of both worlds. Mist it into damp or dry strands and scrunch to create beachy (not crunchy) waves.
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Byrdie / Ashley Rubell
Ashley | Product Tester
"Oribe's Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray elevated my rushed curling efforts into perfectly piece-y beach waves. It softened my hair and gave it a healthier feel and appearance without the use of multiple products."
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Lightweight
Nourishing
Quickly absorbed
Pricey
Key Ingredients: Japanese tsubaki seed, meadowfoam seed oil | Size: 1 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you’re looking to simultaneously create shine and care for dry, brittle, or damaged hair, Crown Affair’s The Oil is for you. Formulated with Japanese tsubaki seed and meadowfoam seed, it's designed to mitigate frizz, as well as strengthen, rehydrate, and soften brittle hair. It’s also very gentle—in fact, there are only five ingredients.
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Offers heat protection
The heat protection could be higher
Key Ingredients: Corn starch, castor oil | Size: 4.1 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This dual shine spray and heat protectant smooths and seals the cuticle for shinier strands and a longer-lasting style. It contains protecting polymers and conditioning agents that smooth the surface of the hair and shield it up to 220 degrees.
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Works quickly
Can be used on colored hair
Works best on medium to dark hair colors
Key Ingredients: Oat milk, camellia extract | Size: 6.7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you’re between color appointments or simply want to refresh your hair before a big event, this hair gloss helps to seal the hair and reflect light for a fresher, healthier finish. Its formula—which is rich in oat milk and camellia oil—is also designed to soften strands for that post-salon feeling at home.
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Byrdie / Katherine Fuller
What to Look For in Hair Products for Shine and Luster
- Ingredients: “I would recommend antioxidants such as acai extract, camu extract, urucum extract, and amodimethicone—these have deep conditioning properties, protect hair from thermal damage, and impart shine,” says Thomas. “Pro-vitamin B5 also attracts and holds moisture in the hair.”
- Hair type: "There is a fine line between hair that has a healthy shine and hair that looks a little greasy and ready for a wash," says Thomas. For those with fine hair, he recommends light sprays and mists. "When it comes to wavy, curly, and afro hair that is dry or frizzy, hydration is key," says Rumbie Mutsiwa, founder of Rumbie & Co., a salon and academy in Sydney that focuses on curly, coiled, textured, and afro hair. "You’ll find the solution in leave-in conditioners, creams, sprays, gels, defining creams, and butters. These are better designed for tighter hair textures and will support hair health for a shiny finish."
Why Trust Byrdie
Emily Algar is a journalist based in Sydney, Australia, who covers beauty recommendations for Byrdie. She has seen new hair product launches come and go and always takes note of the ones worth using for shine. For the purpose of this roundup, she also consulted with two hair experts.
- Rumbie Mutsiwa, founder of Rumbie & Co., a salon and academy in Sydney that focuses on curly, coiled, textured, and afro hair
- Hair stylist Jordan Thomas
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