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The 14 Best Shine Sprays to Make Hair Look Like Liquid Gold

 

Ever since we were kids, we’ve been mesmerized by hair ads. They’re the original source of the glass hair trend, in our opinion. Whether the strands featured in ads are pin-straight or coily ringlets, they portray thick, luscious hair that looks so shiny, they’re as reflective as window panes. We always used to wonder about how those women got hair like that, but now, as beauty editors that have actually met some hair models throughout our career, we know that 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 great 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, though, is to find the best shine spray for your hair type and texture—because not all hair can handle the same formulas.

Best Overall

COLOR WOW Extra Shine Spray

 

What We Love: This formula is featherlight and works well for most textures.

What We Don't Love: This mist has a fragrance that may be too strong for some.

“This is my number one favorite—it’s a game changer,” says Brandi Voorhees, stylist at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon. Extra Mist-ical features mullein flower extract, which grabs onto UV light, blocking your hair from its damage, then converts it into full-spectrum light for hair that truly sparkles. “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 on dry hair for an extra glossy finish,” she says.

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

Best Budget

Hair Proud Glass Hair Heat-Activated Smoothing Shine Spray

 

What We Love: This formula staves off frizz even in extreme humidity.

What We Don't Love: The shape of the bottle makes it somewhat inconvenient to use.

This styling multitasker is applied directly to damp hair and activated with hot tools—when you add tension during straightening, curling, or blowing out hair, it triggers the formula’s shine-enhancing properties. Once you’ve finished styling, you’ll see super glossy hair. It boasts impressive frizz-fighting benefits, keeping hair silky in extreme conditions (including the American South in summer). We also like the subtle coconut scent, which doesn’t linger after styling.

This is very nitpicky, but we’d prefer it if this product was packaged differently. The bottle has a broad and boxy shape that looks stylish on a vanity, but it’s not very functional and gripping it for too long gets uncomfortable in our hands.

Key Ingredients: Sodium hyaluronate, pomegranate extract, heat-activated polymers｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Heat protection, controls frizz, smooths, strengthens｜Size: 5.07 oz

Best Smelling

Davines This is a Shimmering Mist

 

What We Love: It delivers shine without ever adding greasiness.

What We Don't Love: It can leave hair feeling a little dry sometimes.

Of all the shine sprays we’ve tried, this one has the most addictive scent. The complex fragrance smells sweet and fruity, but in a sophisticated (and not saccharine) way. As it coats hair with glassy shine, it also protects against frizz, keeping strands looking smooth and polished. This formula is also one of the most lightweight shine sprays we’ve used; it doesn’t feature any oils, so there's no greasy residue, even on very fine hair.

On the flip side, the lack of oils in the formula means it's not nourishing. Those with parched or coarse hair may find it a bit drying, but it’s so lightweight, it’s easy to layer with a hydrating leave-in conditioner or even a hair oil.

Key Ingredients: Plant-derived emollients｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Controls frizz｜Size: 6.76 oz

Best for Frizzy Hair

Redken Shine Flash Shine Spray

 

What We Love: It softens and illuminates dry strands.

What We Don't Love: It may be too heavy for oily or fine hair.

Dry hair tends to suffer from frizz and flyaways, but this anti-frizz formula smooths hair, even in humid conditions. Vitamin B5 and camelina oil coat each individual strand with moisture while strengthening brittle, split ends. If your hair is heavily processed, you’ll love the way this finishing spray dials up the shine and vibrance for hair that just simply radiates expensive vibes. Its citrusy, fresh fragrance is subtle and pleasant, just like a high-end spa.

Because there’s oil in the formula, you’ll want to use a light hand if you have fine hair, and even more so for oily hair. It’s easy enough to prevent a glossy finish from veering into greasy territory—just concentrate your application from the mid-shaft to the ends.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin B5, camelina oil｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Controls frizz and flyaways, moisturizes｜Size: 4.4 oz

Best for Blonde Hair

Kenra Professional Shine Spray

 

What We Love: This acts like a topcoat to restore shine to dull and lifeless strands.

What We Don't Love: Overspraying can weigh down fine hair.

If your blonde comes courtesy of the salon, you know that lifting your natural color can come at the price of dryness and dullness, especially if you’ve gone platinum. This formula from Kenra delivers nourishment with a quick spritz while making hair shine like a diamond—and it’ll protect your hair from UV to preserve your salon color.

Vennela Chamarti, stylist at Oscar Blandi in NYC, likes to lightly mist this product all over hair; it’s an aerosol so the ultrafine mist goes on smoothly. You’ll see no flaky or greasy residue, and doesn’t make hair feel wet so it won’t negatively affect a finished style. It also boasts a cucumber melon scent that reminds us of our favorite body lotion from the ‘90s.

Though this shine spray is described as weightless and most users agree, there are silicones in it. Applying too much—which you’ll be tempted to do as it delivers a brilliant shine—could end up weighing down your style, especially if you have fine or thin hair.

Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed silk, helianthus annuus seed extract｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: UV protection, controls frizz and flyaways｜Size: 5.5 oz

Best Treatment

Kérastase Chroma Absolu High Shine Gloss Treatment

 

What We Love: This product is like rehab in a bottle for significantly damaged hair.

What We Don't Love: The scent is very strong.

One of the leading causes of dull hair is damage. Regular chemical processing—dyeing, bleaching, straightening, and perming—roughs up the cuticle, making hair look flat and more vulnerable to breakage. This weekly in-shower treatment dramatically repairs damage, sealing and smoothing the cuticle to add lasting shine. It only needs to sit for two minutes, but in that time, it’s able to reduce porosity, improving the health of hair overall.

To counteract the naturally occurring, slightly chemical scent, the formula veers in the other direction with a heavy floral fragrance. It does mask the unappealing science project scent, but if you’re sensitive to fragrance (of any kind), this may not be for you.

Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, tartaric acid, centella asiatica extract｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Treats damage, strengthens hair, preserves color｜Size: 7.1 oz

Best Heat Protectant

Verb Glossy Shine Spray with Heat Protection

 

What We Love: It can be used on damp or dry hair.

What We Don't Love: The nozzle is inconsistent.

Whether you’re air-drying, heat styling, or simply giving next-day hair a refresh, this moisturizing serum from Verb will add luster while protecting hair from temperatures up to 425 degrees. Moisturizing squalene nourishes and smooths dry strands without weighing them down. The spray doesn’t leave hair crispy or greasy, just soft and silky. It also features a mild (and unique) grapefruit-oatmeal scent.

This bottle is a regular mister, not an aerosol can, meaning the occasional clog is par for the course, turning the light mist into a heavy stream. If this happens, run the nozzle under hot water and pump a few times to release buildup.

Key Ingredients: Squalane, peach kernel oil, rosehip oil｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Heat protectant, hydrates｜Size: 6.5 oz

Best for Shine and Hold

Aveda Brilliant Medium Hold Hair Spray

 

What We Love: Part hairspray, part finishing gloss, this hybrid finishing spray delivers both a medium hold without a crunchy finish.

What We Don't Love: The pump design needs work.

The majority of shine sprays don’t offer hold, and a lot of hair sprays designed to control shape can leave strands looking a little flat. This iconic formula from Aveda keeps hair in place while delivering dazzling shine. Though it offers medium control, it doesn’t deposit any crunchy or sticky residue, and it brushes out easily when you want to reset your style. Plus, the hairspray works as a protective barrier between your hair and the humidity in the air to defend your finished look from poofing out midday, making it a staple within any summer haircare routine—and its fragranced with Aveda’s signature herbal mix of clove, jasmine, and rose.

This product is packaged in a non-aerosol bottle, which may be a plus for some. (Aerosols contain ingredients that can be hazardous to the environment.) However, this also means it can be harder to spritz out. To make it easier, you can decant the formula into a different bottle or keep the misting mechanism free from buildup by running warm water through it every few uses.

Key Ingredients: Chamomile extract, calendula extract, aloe leaf juice｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Medium hold, blocks humidity｜Size: 8 oz

Best for Grey Hair

One 'n Only Shiny Silver Ultra Shine Spray

 

What We Love: Grey hair is often dehydrated and this emollient-rich gloss replenishes moisture.

What We Don't Love: A little of this shine spray goes a long way.

Grey hair is susceptible to dryness as well as brassiness, but the Ultra Shine Spray from One ‘n Only combats both with ease. With its unique purple tint, this spray also works as a gentle toner, combating warm tones to restore vibrance to grey hair for a whiter and brighter finish. (This characteristic means it’s also a good pick for blonde and highlighted hair.) It’s very moisturizing, too—a few sprays softens hair into a silky, touchable finish with a natural luminosity.

We should note that the nozzle emits a rather heavy mist, and it’ll take you from a glossy finish to grease territory in a flash if you aren’t careful. With one quick preventative measure, you can avoid the trouble altogether—simply mist it into your hands and comb through mid-length to ends.

Key Ingredients: Citrus extracts, lavender extract｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: UV protection, moisturizes, color corrects｜Size: 4 oz

Best for Curly Hair

PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Shine Spray

 

What We Love: This formula is excellent at making hairs look glossy and defined.

What We Don't Love: The nozzle needs work.

Curly hair is vulnerable to dryness and dehydration than other hair types and it needs extra moisture to make it shine. Pattern’s Shine Spray is formulated specifically for curly, textured hair, with a blend of oils that nourishes and douses hair in a mirror-like finish, but doesn’t weigh down curls and coils, even those of finer textures. Instead, it makes curls pop, even if you’re on day three of a wash-and-go style. It also has a soft, delightful floral scent, likely due to the inclusion of plumeria.

While this is one of the best formulas for curly hair, the nozzle, like so many other shine sprays, is problematic. It clogs very easily, making it a challenge—or near impossible—to get a nice, even mist. The easiest solution we’ve found is to decant the serum into another bottle.

Key Ingredients: Abyssinian seed oil, castor oil, plumeria extract｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Protects against humidity, controls frizz, moisturizes, detangles, defines curls｜Size: 4.75 oz

Best Clean Shine Spray

Rahua Color Full Glossing Mist

 

 

What We Love: It tones hair color while boosting all-over vibrance.

What We Don't Love: The bottle is somewhat small.

While the majority of shine sprays feature ingredient lists full of hard-to-pronounce synthetics, this Glossing Mist from Rahua is entirely plant based. It’s loaded with antioxidant-rich plant oils and botanical extracts that condition strands, calm and balance the scalp, and protect against UV damage, and of course, next-level radiance. What’s especially unique about this spray is the combination of rahua oil and Amazonian lilac clay; together, they work in tandem to naturally tone down brassiness while pushing dye pigments into each strand, extending the life of your hair color.

A little goes a long way here, which is fortunate because the small bottle doesn’t hold very much product. That said, because it’s under three ounces, it’s travel friendly, which is kind of a bonus!

Key Ingredients: Rahua oil, blue tansy flower oil, Amazonian lilac clay｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Enhances color, protects color, moisturizes, balances scalp, controls frizz｜Size: 2 oz

Best Shine Spray for Dry Hair

Eva NYC Just Glisten Hair + Body Shine Mist

 

What We Love: This multitasking oil delivers serious nourishment.

What We Don't Love: The scent isn’t universally appealing.

This genius formula can be used to moisturize hair and the body, too, which is a true testament to how nourishing it really is. Regardless of where you choose to apply it, the serum-like mist offers generous moisture that never feels sticky or heavy. Formulated with cactus flower to smooth the cuticle, lock in moisture and softening strands to create glassy shine. And to our delight, the nozzle emits a super delicate aerosol mist every time, so even fine hair types can mist with abandon without it weighing down. It’s especially great for making curls pop.

While Eva NYC is known for carefully blended fragrances, this scent is divisive. With notes of vanilla, rose, cedar, and anise, it’s a stronger scent than you’d likely expect, and tends to be a polarizing, love it or hate it kind of thing.

Key Ingredients: Aloe leaf, cactus flower, grapeseed oil｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Can be used on face and body, smooths cuticle｜Size: 4.3 oz

Best Shine Spray Oil

NatureLab Tokyo Shine Oil Mist

 

What We Love: It makes hair look extra healthy and lustrous.

What We Don't Love: Avoid getting it anywhere near your roots—it can make even thick hair look greasy.

If your hair is dry, damaged, or just a little dull, a spritz of this conditioning mist will soften strands. Pair that touchable lushness with a super shiny finish, and you’ll wonder how you lived without it. In addition to its incredibly moisturizing properties, the antioxidant-rich plant oils in this formula protect the hair from UV damage and hyaluronic acid pulls water into each strand, causing it to swell and appear thicker, while pearl extract adds extra luminosity.

Because it features many different plant oils, its texture feels quite rich. Start with one or two sprays, concentrating on the mid-length to ends, and go from there so as not to overload your hair.

Key Ingredients: Pearl extract, baobab oil, hyaluronic acid｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Heat protectant, UV protectant, moisturizes｜Size: 4 oz

Best for Fine Hair

R+Co Trophy Shine + Texture Spray

 

What We Love: It comes in a travel-sized bottle, so you can bring it on the go.

What We Don't Love: It’s not recommended for white hair.

Many shine sprays weigh down thin or fine strands, but this formula from R+Co pumps up fine hair with Fuller’s earth, a type of clay that simultaneously adds texture and absorbs excess oil and impurities. This ingredient is a nice pairing with sweet almond oil, which imparts lightweight moisture and infuses hair with strengthening vitamins and nutrients, including a hearty dose of shine-enhancing sea kale. Overall, you’ll get a cool, lived-in look, and the fragrance notes of bergamot, fig, and tonka are a nice bonus.

Unlike most others, this one has a yellow tint to it, and while it disappears into most hair colors, it can be unpredictable with white or grey hair, sometimes leaving a brassy tinge. You’ll do better with this formula if your hair is medium blonde or darker.

Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, sea kale extract, Fuller’s earth｜Color-Safe: Yes｜Benefits: Texturizes, volumizes, adds light hold｜Size: 6 oz

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. 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, coarse 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.

Ingredients: “Look for a line made with healthy ingredients and not too many chemicals,” says Aguirre, who adds that sulfates and parabens are super drying and should be avoided.

Universally beneficial ingredients that condition hair and protect it from free radical damage are plant oils, like argan, jojoba, and castor. “It is a good idea to use a shine spray that has moisturizing properties because hair that lacks luster often is a bit dry,” says Friese.

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 spend time in the sun regularly.

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 says. “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 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 haircare 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, 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.

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Emily Orofino is a writer and consultant with nearly 15 years of experience in the beauty industry. Ever since her first blowout from a celebrity stylist, she has been trying her darndest to achieve the ultra-glossy look at home by building out her hair arsenal. For this story, she got the insights of experts Brandi Voorhees, stylist at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon; Gretchen Friese, BosleyMD trichologist and stylist; Raven Hurtado and Shelly Aguirre, stylists at Maxine Salon in Chicago; and Vennela Chamarti, stylist at Oscar Blandi in NYC.