InStyle

Hair

The 8 Best Shine Sprays for All Hair Types and Textures, Tested & Reviewed

 

With strands so shiny, you could star in a hair commercial.

Some people are just blessed with naturally glossy hair. Unfortunately, we can’t relate. Our hair tends to look awesome when we step out of the salon, but after that, we need all the help necessary to achieve that lustrous look at home. Luckily, there’s a shortcut that doesn’t involve blowing all our money on blowouts: shine sprays. They’re a quick fix to keep on rotation in your styling routine to keep your hair fresh and luminous. “Shine sprays make your hair look healthier because of the reflection of the light,” explains Raven Hurtado, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. “They also make hair color look more vibrant.”

The trick is to find the best shine spray for your hair—because not every head can handle the same formulas. To help you out, we spent four weeks testing 12 shine sprays on various hair types and textures, evaluating the performance, finish, ease of use, and longevity of each. Keep reading to learn which formulas gave us the sleek, dreamy strands of our dreams.

Best Overall

Color Wow Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray

Why We Love It: “This is my number one favorite—it’s a game changer,” says hairstylist Brandi Voorhees. Extra Mist-ical features mullein flower extract, which grabs onto UV light, blocking your hair from damage, then converts it into full-spectrum light for hair that truly sparkles. Our tester Mariza loves it as a great touch-up product for when you’re running out the door and need a refresh. “It goes on nice and light, and doesn’t get too greasy or too heavy,” says Voorhees. “It’s the perfect finishing spray for most styles to add some shine and brightness.” This spray also provides heat-protecting properties, adds Hurtado. “Because of this, you can use it before blow-drying or apply it on dry hair for an extra glossy finish,” she says. This formula is featherlight and works well for most textures.

Who It’s For: Featherlight and great for all textures, our tester raves that this spray is super easy to use and brings hair back to life. If you use hair oil and it makes your hair feel too weighed down, this is a brilliant replacement. For those sensitive to scent, keep in mind this product is heavily fragranced, similar to the sweet gourmand aroma of vanilla cake. Though many may appreciate the opportunity to smell like a bakery, the scent may be strong enough to compete with your perfume (or replace it, if you’d prefer).

Key Ingredients: Mullein extract, glycerin｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Heat protection, UV protection｜Size: 5 oz

Mariza, tester: “A few sprays on this product and my hair felt and looked so much better! This gave my hair a bit more life and shine which is what I need having dry, thick hair.”

Best Budget

Mielle Rice Water Shine Mist

Why We Love It: One spritz of this rice water and yuzu peel-infused spray refreshes and defines curls with a major boost of shine and hydration. Our tester Kelsey appreciated that the spray bottle dispersed the perfect amount of product—not too much or too little. It didn’t make her roots feel oily or greasy, but still somehow enhanced her curls with a luminous, natural shine on her lengths and ends. It also left her hair more hydrated and smooth all day long—and the next day.

Who It’s For: Anyone who wants a lightweight shine enhancer that also doubles as a hair perfume will love this shine spray. Our tester loves that it’s affordable, so you really get your money’s worth, but it delivers amazing results. It’s also brilliant for anyone who wants some extra nourishing benefits for their hair—the main ingredient in this spray is rice water, an ingredient renowned for hair health.

Key Ingredients: Rice water, coconut oil, citrus junos peel extract｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Tames flyaways, controls frizz, boosts shine｜Size: 5.07 oz

Kelsey, tester: “This product was very light and provided a subtle shine on my hair without weighing my hair down or making it oily. It has a nice fresh scent that was not overpowering, but I could smell it throughout the day which was a very nice added benefit.”

Best Splurge

Oribe Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray

Why We Love It: Part hairspray, part texturizing spray, and part finishing gloss, this hybrid spray delivers hold and shine without weighing hair down. While it took our tester, Rebecca, a few tries to find the perfect distance and ratio of spray to use when applying, she loves the shiny, texturizing effects she saw from this spray. You can use it on both wet and dry hair. On wet hair, our tester found that her curls held better after drying and styling her hair. On dry hair, she saw beautiful, piecey waves without added styling at all.

Who It’s For: If you want great texture, good shine, with a fresh, beachy scent, this spray is for you. Our tester loved that, along with a good amount of glossy shine, it made her hair feel healthy. However, our tester did have a bit of a learning curve during application: Spraying too close to your hair instead of the recommended distance can result in a greasy, crunchy look.

Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed wheat protein, provitamin B5, amber extract｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Hydration, heat protection, increases shine｜Size: 8.5 oz

Rebecca, tester: “The shine spray worked well overall on my hair and noticed that it also sort of acted like a hair spray for me. It also worked better than my usual texture spray because it didn’t weigh my hair down.”

Best Hold

Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Strong Finish

Why We Love It: Part hairspray, part finishing gloss, this hybrid spray delivers both a medium hold without a crunchy finish. Our tester Carrie loved that the spray has a nice hold but doesn’t feel stiff, and she found the sweet, fresh scent to be the best-smelling hairspray she’s ever used. The star ingredient is argan oil—an oil rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and more to deliver nourishment. She even tested it on her kids during dance competitions—the spray delivered a long-lasting hold no matter what hairstyle she created.

Who It’s For: Our tester recommends this to anyone who wants a really amazing hairspray with a nice, flexible hold that leaves hair with some shine and movement. Because it’s a hairspray, our tester suggests looking for an alternative option if you only want shine and no hold.

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, hydrogenated olive oil｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Medium hold, defines｜Size: 10 oz

Carrie, tester: “I cannot imagine buying another hairspray now that I have tried this product. This is the best hairspray I have ever used.”

Best for Curly Hair

Kevin Murphy Shimmer Shine

Why We Love It: Curly hair is more vulnerable to dryness and dehydration than other hair types and needs extra moisture to make it shine. Packed with vitamins C and E, baobab, immortelle and bamboo, our tester Roselynn felt it left her hair moisturized with a nice, sheeny glow—and the shine lasted all day and night. It also texturized her curls, leaving them smooth and soft, into a beachy, wavy tumble. She found that applying a little at a time and then brushing it through her curls allowed her to deliver the optimal amount of the formula.

Who It’s For: This shine spray is brilliant for anyone who wants shine, softening, and frizz-fighting benefits. Our tester loved that the mist helped smooth out frizz and flyaways, helping her second-day curls look better than ever. With all the nourishing oils, our tester thinks those with thicker hair would love it too.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, baobab, immortelle｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Controls frizz, moisturizes, defines curls｜Size: 3.4 oz

Roselynn, tester: “My favorite thing about this spray was the misting nozzle formula. It comes out as a light, fine mist which is easy to spread out over hair. It took me a few tries to figure out how much to use, but once I got used to it, I found my hair felt moisturized with a really nice glow to it.”

Best for Hair Extensions

Kenra Professional Shine Spray

Why We Love It: For weightless shine and a super natural finish, this spray refreshes hair for a salon-styled look. InStyle writer Essence Wiley appreciated that she could thoroughly douse her hair with this spray without adding greasiness, an overwhelming smell, or a lingering cloud of product. She found it to be the perfect finishing touch for styling hair—it’s buildable, doesn’t contribute to product buildup, and left her clip-in extensions looking like they were professionally done when she spritzed it on after crimping and curling her hair.

Who It’s For: Essence likes this for reviving straight hair and adding a fresh, salon look after styling with heat. It's also great for anyone wanting something buildable—it’s easy to control how shiny you want your hair to look. However, because it's so lightweight, if you have dense, coarse hair, you may need a heavier-duty option.

Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed extract, hydrolyzed silk｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Adds shine, refreshes｜Size: 5.5 oz

Essence Wiley, writer: “This lightweight shine spray adds a finishing touch after styling your hair. The finish is super natural so that people wouldn't be able to clock that you've doused your hair in it.”

Best for Dry Hair

Drybar Soda Shine Mist

Why We Love It: This spray is incredibly easy to apply on dry hair without making a mess (or getting globs of product on your hands), leaving the most beautiful finish. It left our tester Roxanne’s hair with a gorgeous shine that made her hair look polished and healthy, and also helped smooth away frizz for a sleek, glassy smoothness that lasted all day. As a bonus, it made her highlights pop and added vibrancy to her hair. The results were noticeable to others, too: Our tester received multiple compliments with people asking what she was doing to her hair.

Who It’s For: This airy mist offers a healthy-looking, frizz-free shine and vibrancy that never feels sticky or heavy. The nozzle emits a super delicate aerosol mist every time, so even fine hair types can mist without it weighing down. Our tester recommends it for anyone who wants a noticeable shine and smoothed-out frizz, for sleek, polished hair all day long with added hydration and softness. However, while you’ll want to apply it without abandon, we suggest a "less is more" approach to avoid adding any heaviness.

Key Ingredients: Brazilian Pracaxi Oil, vitamin C, UV protectant complex｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Protects from color fade, tames frizz, adds UV protection｜Size: 4.1 oz

Roxanne, tester: “This worked so well with my hair type and texture (prone to frizz) and also enhanced the vibrancy of my highlights, making them pop more...It also hydrated my hair a bit too, as it felt softer and more nourished after application.”

Best for Fine Hair

Amika Top Gloss Hair Shine Spray

Why We Love It: Many shine sprays weigh down thin or fine strands, but this formula delivers a lightweight shine, full stop. Our tester Jillian, who was initially nervous to try a shine spray because she’s struggled with oily hair in the past, found it left her hair with just a beautiful softness and glossiness, and zero grease. There was no buildup or film coating on her hair, and as a major bonus, it offers UV protection to help protect hair from color fade.

Who It’s For: Anyone who wants a lightweight finishing touch to their hair routine will appreciate this spray. Our tester loved that it was superfine, so it leaves even thin, fine hair softer and smoother without heaviness. It does have a scent, but it wasn’t too overpowering and left her hair smelling great the rest of the day.

Key Ingredients: Sea buckthorn｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Adds softness, glossiness, UV protection｜Size: 4.8 oz

Jillian, tester: “I love how lightweight this spray feels and the beautiful scent. It does a great job at smoothing and leaving hair feeling soft without it feeling oily.”

Our Testing Process

To find the best shine sprays, we asked testers with all different hair types and textures to try some of the most popular shine sprays over four weeks. They tested each formula, recording their overall experience using the product—what they liked about it, what they would change about it, how it performed, and how it compared to other products they’ve tried. We then evaluated and compared the results, and only the most highly rated shine sprays made this list.

ARGAN OIL: Rich in fatty acids, argan oil helps smooth frizz and add moisture to the hair for soft, manageable shine. 

JOJOBA OIL: With vitamin E, jojoba oil protects hair from free radical damage and harsh conditions and helps seal the cuticle to prevent breakage. 

CASTOR OIL: Infused with ricinoleic acid, castor oil moisturizes, conditions, and adds a beautiful shine and luster to hair. It also nourishes the hair follicle, helping minimize hair fall and split ends over time. 

SEA BUCKTHORN OIL: With vitamins and essential amino acids, sea buckthorn oil not only provides moisture to hair, but it also improves shine, elasticity, and strength by smoothing the hair cuticle.

What to Keep in Mind

• Your Hair Type: “If you have fine hair that gets oily fast, I recommend using a very small amount, only on the mid-lengths and ends,” says Voorhees, adding that a shine spray should feel as lightweight as possible. Hairstylist Vennela Chamarti recommends choosing a shine-boosting product housed within an aerosol spray, as this specific packaging “makes it so a light, even coat can be applied all over.” But sometimes, even the lightest, airiest mists may not be in the cards for fine or thin hair types, says Shelly Aguirre, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. “It can weigh the hair down very quickly.” On the other hand, curly, coily, or thicker hair textures, including natural hair, along with any other hair type prone to dryness, you’ll “need a spray with more weight to make an impact on the hair,” says Gretchen Friese, trichologist and stylist at BosleyMD. These textures can handle heavier ingredients without getting greasy—in fact, they need them. “​​Thicker hair needs thicker ingredients to keep it manageable and help with frizz,” says Hurtado.
• Additional Benefits: It makes sense that shine sprays really focus on adding shine to hair and tend not to have many other benefits. That said, sometimes you’ll find formulas with moisturizing and frizz-control properties, which are especially useful for those with dry and textured hair types. That said, there are also shine products that double as a heat protectant—“It’s always beneficial to avoid damage and splitting ends,” says Voorhees—or UV protectants, which may not be necessary for everyone, but Friese says they definitely are if you regularly spend time in the sun.
• Application: On wet hair, Voorhees recommends starting with a small amount of product, working it into your mid-lengths and ends, then blow-drying or air-drying as normal. If hair is dry and styled, it’s best to mist slowly, holding the bottle a few inches away from your head, says Hurtado, especially for fine hair. “Spray lightly,” she advises. “You can always add more if needed.” But for those with really fine hair, Friese says to “spray the product into your hands first, and then apply it to your hair to avoid oversaturation.”
• Your Hair Routine: Shine spray can definitely give hair an immediate gloss, but “it can only do so much,” says Aguirre, adding that truly shiny hair comes from a well-balanced hair care routine overall. “Smooth hair is shiny hair—light reflects better off a smooth surface—so smoothing products and an ionic blow dryer can help,” says Chamarti. Just make sure you’re using the lowest heat when styling hair with any hot tool—straightener, hair waver, curling wand—to protect hair from excessive exposure to too-hot temperatures, and no more than twice a week—both scorching hot temps and daily use will turn healthy, shiny hair into dull and damaged in a blink.

Your Questions, Answered

What is the difference between glass hair and liquid hair?

According to Friese, the glass hair look is a “sleek hairstyle with a high-gloss, mirror-like finish.” To achieve it, blow dry your hair in a straight style then finish with a flatiron for an extra smooth, pin-straight look—but make sure to support your hair’s shininess at every step of the routine. Keep in mind that your hair color will affect how glassy your hair looks: “Darker hair will be shinier than lighter hair,” says Chamarti. Blonde hair absorbs light, while dark strands reflect it.

Do you use shine spray on wet or dry hair?

“Finishing shine sprays are applied after the style is dry,” says Voorhees. “A finishing shine spray is similar to hairspray, but it’s lighter and has less hold, but it will prevent frizz, and leave your hair with a silky, touchable finish.”

Is shine spray the same as hairspray?

Generally not; the goal of using a hairspray is to control or hold a style in place for an extended period of time. “Shine spray typically doesn't have any hold,” explains Hurtado. “Some hairsprays do enhance shine.”

How can I add shine to my dull hair?

Your entire hair regimen—shine spray included—contributes to your strands’ shine, from your shampoo and conditioner to your hot tools. In most cases, hair needs a clean scalp and more moisture in order to naturally shine. "You can also use a clarifying shampoo to remove buildup and oils from the scalp and hair,” says Hurtado, who adds that a regular deep clean usually has a major impact on shininess.

Will shine spray make my hair look greasy?

It certainly can, especially if you apply too much. Both Chamarti and Voorhees recommend starting with a small amount and applying more as needed. “Apply mostly, if not only, at the ends of hair,” says Chamarti. Hair is naturally shinier closer to the root, as excess grease and oil sit on the scalp, and it's the drier, duller ends that need the most moisture.

Why Shop With Us

Emily Orofino is a writer and consultant with nearly 15 years of experience in the beauty industry. Since her first blowout from a celebrity stylist, she has been trying her darndest to achieve the ultra-glossy look at home by building her hair arsenal.

Brianna Peters is a beauty writer and consultant with over a decade of experience in the industry, writing for outlets like Goop, Vogue, Marie Claire, Brides, and more. For this story, she compiled data from new test results on the best shine sprays, some of which she’s tried herself, to update this piece with the most recent picks.

InStyle spoke to the following experts for this story:

• Brandi Voorhees is a stylist at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon.
• Gretchen Friese is a trichologist and stylist at BosleyMD.
• Raven Hurtado is a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
• Shelly Aguirre is also a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
• Vennela Chamarti is a stylist at Oscar Blandi in NYC.