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Hair

The 13 Best Hair Products for Shine of 2023 That Give Supermodel-Level Luster

 

These conditioning products add instant sheen and hydration to dull, dry or damaged hair

From color treatments to cold weather, our hair takes a beating — and when strand strength goes, so does shine. If your hair is lacking a little glossiness, a shine-boosting product could be the solution to revive dull-looking strands and put you back to supermodel status.

Many shampoos and serums use plant-based oils, like jojoba, argan, and coconut to rebuild damaged hair for a healthier look. But don’t just reach for topical products to give your hair a glossy vibrance — the right hairdryer or pillowcase can mean the difference between perpetual bedhead and a flawless finish. 

If you’re looking for a multipurpose product that relieves dehydrated strands and leaves hair with a beautiful shine, the Oribe Super Shine Moisturizing Cream is our top pick. Oribe packs its formula with nutrient-rich natural ingredients that strengthen hair to create a glass-like finish. 
 

Best Overall
Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Hair Cream

What We Love: It uses a blend of amino acids and plant-based ingredients to hydrate damaged hair and increase shine for all hair types.

What We Don’t Love: The smell isn’t for everyone.

Think of this super moisturizing cream from Oribe as that big glass of water you chug post-spin class. If you have damaged hair from over-bleaching or excessive heat, you'll benefit from Oribe’s Signature Complex, which quenches dehydrated hair. It includes ingredients like lychee and edelweiss flower to protect hair’s natural keratin as well as wheat amino acids to seal in moisture. Since the late celebrity stylist Oribe Canales founded the brand, we aren’t surprised its vegan formula has our hair looking like we stepped off the catwalk after each use. 

Reviewers found a little goes a long way and say it feels light as a feather on their hair, but they ran hot and cold on the fragrance. So, if florals aren’t your preference, know the scent could come off a little intense. 

Key Ingredients: Amber extract, soy protein biopolymer, and wheat amino acids | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Budget
Dove Beauty Hair Therapy Ceramide Brilliant Gloss & Repair

What We Love: It uses a clean formula to nourish dry, frizzy hair and repair split ends. 

What We Don’t Love: The product design could be more user-friendly.

There’s nothing sad about heartbreak ballad-belter Olivia Rodrigo’s shiny hair, and we uncovered the secret to her gorgeous locks. 

Clocking in at less than a latte, this leave-in treatment rebuilds run-down hair using ceramides — yes, the same ingredient you find in your favorite face creams. Ceramides, a naturally occurring lipid in your hair, act as little glue sticks that work to keep cuticles closed. When added to hair products, they help strands retain moisture, kicking up the gloss factor. 

Getting celebrity-quality hair is a breeze with this low-maintenance product — simply apply it to wet hair and brush through. We only wish they’d switch the bottle's design to something more user-friendly, as the spray can get stuck in the nozzle and become hard to dispense.

Key Ingredients: Ceramide, coconut oil | Size: 5.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Splurge
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

What We Love: The flyaway attachment gives users sleek, shiny hair while protecting the strand’s integrity. 

What We Don’t Love: There’s an adjustment period while you learn to use the different attachments.

We have a suspicion that people who never seem to get flyaway hair are using the Dyson Supersonic. It works well on all hair types and, according to Faith Huffnagle Armstrong, Director of Education at Prose Custom Hair Care, by “regulating the temperature to prevent excessive heat damage and protect natural shine,” the dryer helps keep your hair safely intact, as opposed to other heat tools. 

Because the Supersonic dries hair at lightning speed, you will boost your hair’s health while reducing the risk of heat damage. Reviewers found it worked so well, you might have an excuse to drop all other treatments, making a case for spending more on this luxury item. 

If you’re unfamiliar with Dyson products, it’ll take time to learn how to use this dryer — we recommend checking out the infinite number of tutorials for your best results. 

Heat Settings: 4 | Speed Settings: 3 | Attachments: Flyaway attachment, concentrator, diffuser, gentle air attachment, wide-tooth comb

Best for Curly Hair
Kerastase Curl Manifesto Huile Sublime Repair Hair Oil

What We Love: The serum uses manuka honey and ceramides to hydrate and strengthen delicate curls.

What We Don’t Love: It’s unclear what step of your routine to use the oil, so it can take a couple of tries to find when it works best for your hair.

This hair repair oil gets us closer to those ‘90’s Julia Roberts curls we all envy, but only actually see during rom-com movie nights. 

Natural nutrients from manuka honey and ceramides moisturize even the most dehydrated of curls, and they soften hair for a noticeable shine. We love that this is a multi-purpose product you can use as a leave-in conditioner, pre-shampoo treatment, or even for a post-blowout shine. 

On the flip side, because of its many uses, it could take a couple of tries before perfecting when, exactly, it is best to apply to your hair. If at first you don’t see your desired results, try incorporating it into a different step in your routine.

Key Ingredients: Manuka honey, ceramides | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Humidity 
Kenra Platinum Silkening Gloss

What We Love: It only takes a small amount of product to increase shine and reduce frizzy flyaways for all hair types.

What We Don’t Love: Some reviewers say the smell is too strong.

If you’ve been personally victimized by a humid climate, this silkening gloss is your ultimate umbrella. It works as well as the name promises to smooth down flyaways and provide a near-reflective sheen. 

We tip the hat we no longer have to wear to hydrolyzed silk, which helps prevent breakage and locks in moisture. Note that a little, especially since the smell is slightly strong, goes a long way. 

Stephanie Angelone, Master Stylist at RPZL Hair Extension & Blowout Bar in NYC, recommends using just a pea-sized drop in your hands post-blowout to create the best shine and enhance your style. 

Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed silk | Size: 2.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Treatment
Moroccanoil Treatment Original

What We Love: Antioxidants and vitamin E strengthen hair in this formula.

What We Don’t Love: It could be too intense for thin or fine hair.

In an industry where there’s a new “It” brand every season, Moroccanoil has defied trends for over a decade. 

This cult favorite packs its formula full of shine-enhancing antioxidants, like vitamin E and flaxseed. Since the latter ingredient is full of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, it’s also an excellent resource for strengthening hair. 

While the results leave us with an undeniable shine, when it comes to providing long-term moisture to the hair, we’d choose another on this list with more hydrating properties.

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, linseed extract | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Hot Tool
Trademark Beauty Speedy Blo

What We Love: The hair dryer includes a nozzle for smoothing and it works well on all hair types.

What We Don’t Love: It doesn’t have as many heat settings as others on the market.

If you’re not quite ready to invest in the Dyson Supersonic, but are still looking for a blow dryer that promotes shine, Angelone recommends the Speedy Blo from Trademark Beauty. 

“For a tool, it is always key to look for a blow dryer that's powerful, but protective,” explains Angelone. With nearly 2000 watts of power and advanced technology which she says “helps seal the cuticle for shinier, healthier hair,” this dryer fits the bill.

While it doesn’t offer as many heat settings as similar dryers, we think its speedy dry time makes up for it, especially because of its lightweight design. Weighing in at just over a pound, this hairdryer is light enough for travel, ensuring shiny hair in all of your vacay Instagram posts.  

Heat Settings: 3 | Speed Settings: 2  | Attachments: 2 concentrators, 1 diffuser, 3 nozzles

Best Pillowcase
Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase

What We Love: Using the pillow over time prolongs blowouts, reduces frizz, and promotes shine as you sleep.

What We Don’t Love: Washing it requires extra care and time.

We assume (because let’s face it, they mostly do) that celebrities' flawless hair requires hugely time-consuming routines with a team of stylists. But with this celeb-approved tip, you can do it in your sleep. 

Kristen Bell, Kelly Ripa, and other celebs with great hair, have raved about the Slip Silk Pillowcase, and stylists are big fans, too. “It helps to reduce friction overnight that typically leads to split ends and dullness over time,” says Armstrong. 

Plus, you won’t need to replace the pillowcase as often as other products, so we think it’s worth the investment. Although it will require a little more TLC during laundry days, what extra time you spend washing, you’ll save on hair styling.

Material: Silk | Dimensions: 20” x 30” (Queen) | Colors: 15

Best Brush
Tangle Teezer Original Detangling Hairbrush

What We Love: Different teeth height work to gently detangle and make hair shinier.

What We Don’t Love: The brush can feel uncomfortable if you’re used to one with a handle. 

Turns out, it’s not so much how many times you brush your hair as the type of brush you’re using. And this pocket-sized tool is the trick to a super shiny finish, thanks to its patented two-tier teeth design. The longer teeth detangle knots, while the shorter teeth work to smooth hair. The results? Less breakage and more shine. The brush also places bristles further apart, making it easier to clean. 

Holding the pear-shaped brush for the first time might feel a little odd, but we promise you won’t even notice the missing handle. 

Bristle Material: Polypropylene | Hair Type: All | Size: 3 x 2 x 5 inches

Best Oil
Prose Custom Hair Oil

What We Love: The brand lets you customize the oil based on your specific hair type and needs.

What We Don’t Love: Since each formula is crafted specifically for you, it takes longer to receive your product. 

The couture of haircare, Prose, customizes each formula to your exact hair needs using an online consultation quiz. One of the fairy godmothers in a white lab coat behind each concoction is Armstrong. 

Prose formulates the hair oil using plant-based ingredients, like pine nut oil, she says, so it’s non-greasy and adds shine to all hair types. 

“Each formula considers your hair type, density, length, hair goals, environment, and more to combine a blend of cold-pressed oils that deliver amazing results and is free from silicones,” explains Armstrong. 

Good hair comes to those who wait, so practice patience while the chemists mix up your perfect blend.

Key Ingredients: Grapeseed, cucumber, and shea oils | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Shampoo
L'Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Shampoo

What We Love: It balances the pH value of hair using a vegan and gluten-free formula.

What We Don’t Love: The shampoo works best as a set, which means buying more products.

Do we dare say this $8 shampoo works just as well, if not better, than the worshipped Olaplex? Between being vegan, sulfate-free, paraben-free, dye-free, and gluten-free, the only thing this shampoo doesn’t leave behind is shine. 

Argan oil, the multitasking ingredient full of antioxidants and vitamins, is responsible for making strands stronger and glossier. The shampoo’s pH-balancing formula is ideal for those looking to hydrate chemically treated hair because it won’t strip hair of the natural oils it needs to stay healthy. 

If you want to pare down on products, we suggest checking out another product on the list since the shampoo is one of a three-part treatment kit. 

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, salicylic acid | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Blow Outs
BlowPro Time to Shine 3D Illuminating Mist

What We Love: It prolongs blowouts and increases shine without using chemicals or fillers.

What We Don’t Love: Some reviewers say it can feel a little heavy on thin hair.

BlowPro launched the world’s very first blow dry bar in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, so they definitely know the key to a shiny finish. 

The tea behind the glossy results is using it — the primary benefits of the mist come from the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties of white and chamomile tea. Both ingredients help enhance the hair’s color and vibrance. 

Angelone recommends spraying it over your finished blowout and again after hairspray for the “best, most luscious gloss.” 

Yet, as tempting as it might be to saturate your hair with endless spritzes, start with just one so it won’t cause your hair to feel heavy. 

Key Ingredients: White tea and chamomile extracts | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Mask
Aveda Nutriplenish Treatment Masque

What we love: It uses a blend of natural ingredients to leave hair with a noticeable shine after one use.

What we don’t love: If you have porous hair the mask could make it look a little oily.

This mask’s ingredients might sound similar to your favorite smoothie, but these superfoods work just as well in your hair. 

Fatty acids in coconut oil and mango butter are super hydrating and provide hair with a beautiful sheen. Vitamin C-rich pomegranate oil offers the added benefit of preventing hair loss. 

These oils provide many benefits to help improve our hair’s health, but if yours tends to be on the finer side, we suggest using a small amount to lessen the likelihood of an oily appearance. 

Key Ingredients: Pomegranate seed and coconut oils, mango butter | Size: 6.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

What to Keep in Mind

Ingredients

Natural oils like jojoba, argan, coconut, or olive are responsible for adding shine while also providing other strengthening benefits to amp up hair health. 

To increase shine without feeling greasy, Armstrong tells us to look for apple cider vinegar. Or, she adds, you can check the ingredient list for fermented rice water, as it “helps to smooth the outer cuticle, allowing strands to become more reflective to light.”

Hair Type

No one wants to waste time or money using a product that’s not right for their hair type. Angelone recommends a serum, like the Kenra Platinum Silkening Gloss, for fine hair that tends to become greasier faster. She tells us, “people who have fine hair are scared of serum. Trust me, this one is amazing for everyone.” 

Those with type 3 or 4 who have denser hair will benefit from a leave-in conditioner to keep frizz at bay, like the Super Shine Moisturizing Cream from Oribe. Leigh Hardges, a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, adds that high porosity hair (one that doesn’t retain moisture super well), “thrives with oils.” So, consider trying a product like the Moroccanoil Original Treatment if you fall into this category. 

Your Questions, Answered

What causes hair to lose shine?

Heat and chemical damage will dry out hair and cause dullness, affecting its natural shine. “It's always important to regularly do conditioning treatments and use heat protection to help nourish your hair so it doesn't cause damage, which will affect the integrity of your hair,” says Angelone. 

What’s the best way to increase shine based on hair type?

Applying a leave-in conditioner before styling or adding a few drops of oils after using hot tools are confirmed ways to achieve shine no matter your hair type. However, if your hair is on the finer side and needs more shine post-styling, Armstrong recommends opting for a custom hair oil created specifically for your hair type and density, so strands won't end up looking greasy. 

For denser hair types, she suggests using a leave-in conditioner when styling and following with an oil or serum, which will “lock in shine for days to come.” 

Angelone tells us it’s also a good idea to rough dry hair before applying a product to prevent it from diluting. 

Will adding oil to my hair make it look greasy?

Like any hair product, too much of a good thing is not great. Coating your hair in cream or oils will veer you into slic, not shiny, territory. 

To avoid a greasy look, apply only a pea or dime-sized amount, depending on the directions. Since low-porosity hair has a hard time absorbing moisture, Hardges, tells her clients with fine hair to avoid oils. “They’re hard for them to absorb and can make the hair look stringy,” she says. Instead, finer haired-users should seek out dry oil sprays. 

Why Shop with Us

Irene Richardson is a writer with over five years of experience covering fashion and beauty trends. For this story, she researched dozens of shampoos, read reviews, and consulted expert hairstylists Faith Huffnagle Armstrong, Leigh Hardges, and Stephanie Angelone.