The Best Glosses for Gray Hair Restore Softness and Vibrancy
If you’ve ever seen silver tresses gleaming like moonlight, one of the best glosses for gray hair may have had a hand in it that lustre. “Gray hair tends to be more porous, dry, and lacking in shine,” says Temur, colorist, stylist, and owner of Manhattan’s Temur salon. “A gloss helps seal the cuticle, creating a smoother surface that reflects light to give gray hair that beautiful, reflective finish that can be difficult to achieve naturally.”
Vogue’s Favorite Glosses for Gray Hair
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A good gloss can also work wonders on color—and fast. “When I only have a short time to enhance hair color for the red carpet or a photoshoot, I’ll use a temporary color gloss to add lowlights and dimension,”celebrity stylist Sacha Quarles adds.
Though any top-notch gloss will boost softness and vibrancy, they can also target more specialized concerns. So when it comes to finding one that will elevate your gray hair-care routine, “Choose the one with the claims you’re looking for,” Quarles instructs. For taming frizz, flyaways, restoring moisture, counteracting brassiness, and more, find seven stylist-approved hair gloss treatments up for the job, below.
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Best Overall: Oribe Mirror Rinse Glass Hair Treatment
- Why We Love It: “I love Oribe’s Mirror Rinse Glass Hair Treatment because it gives gray and silver hair that reflective, youthful shine that’s often lost as natural pigment fades,” says Linda Gatt, colorist and Equo Co. salon owner. “It seals the cuticle, smooths frizz, and adds a light, healthy slip without weighing the hair down.” Gatt adds that the product makes gray strands feel silkier and amplifies their natural luminosity. Celebrity hairstylist Jay Small is also a fan. “Oribe makes high-performance hair products that are really easy to use,” he says. “This [gloss] spreads evenly through the hair, and it’s great for finer textures or anyone noticing thinning.” Schmidt adds a third endorsement. “Formulated to protect hair from oxidative stress, photoaging, and natural keratin deterioration, this treatment is super hydrating and leaves the hair with a beautiful shine,” he says. “For coarser gray hair, plant-derived humectants and conditioning agents give the hair that reflective appearance.” Pro tip: “For thicker hair, I recommend using this product alongside conditioner instead of as a replacement,” Schmidt says. Temur adds to the chorus of praise. “This is one of my favorite treatments for gray hair because it delivers that glass-like shine without any heavy residue,” he says.
- Key Ingredients: Oribe Signature Complex, Glass Hair Technology, plant-based hydration complex
- Type: Semi-permanent, lasts several washes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
- Shades: 1
- Size: 5.9 fl oz
Best for Dullness: R+Co Gemstone Ultra Shine Glossing Treatment
- Why We Love It: True to its name, R+Co’s treatment has a reputation as a true gem. “This is one of my favorites because it does what it says it does—provides ultimate shine,” Quarles shares. “Because gray hair is porous, it can dull quickly. This ultra-shine formula seals the cuticle, rather than depositing color, giving the hair a beautiful reflection.” According to Jacob Schmidt, senior colorist at Ollin Salon NYC by Johnny Ramirez, “This gloss will make gray hair appear more vibrant.” Made with a proprietary ChromoHance complex, “The formula neutralizes yellow tones and prevents any purple cast,” Schmidt explains. He adds that the formula offers UV protection to prevent color-fading and sun damage, while guava butter hydrates and repairs minor damage.
- Key Ingredients: ChromoHance Complex, guava butter, phytoshine complex, vitamins C and E
- Type: Semi-permanent, lasts several washes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
- Shades: 1
- Size: 5 oz
Best for Frizz: Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue
- Why We Love It: “Essence Absolue is my favorite for gray hair,” says Hillary Clinton’s hairstylist, Antonio Velotta. “It’s a gloss you can apply to wet or dry hair, and your hair just eats it up!” The formula is enriched with Japanese red camellia oil, a lightweight, fast-absorbing ingredient that douses the hair in antioxidants. Lightly scented with notes of grapefruit, camellia flower, vanilla, and musk, the essence protects the hair from breakage and UV damage while reducing frizz. As a bonus, “It quickly hydrates, softens, and adds shine,” Velotta says.
- Key Ingredients: Japanese red camellia oil
- Type: Temporary, can be applied daily
- Cruelty-Free: No
- Shades: 1
- Size: 5 fl oz
Best on Wet or Dry Hair: BioSilk Silk Therapy Original
- Why We Love It: “BioSilk is an oldie but goodie,” Velotta says of this strengthening formula, which launched in 1986. Not only is it tried-and-true, but, according to Velotta, the gloss is ideal for all hair types. Infused with strengthening silk bonds, “it provides incredible shine for gray hair,” he continues. Velotta recommends shaking the product well before use, then placing a small amount of it into the palms. “Apply from the scalp to the ends, on wet or dry hair,” he instructs. “You can use this as often as necessary.”
- Key Ingredients: Silk bonds
- Type: Temporary, can be applied daily
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
- Shades: 1
- Size: 5.6 oz
Best for Brassiness: Kristin Ess The One Signature Gloss
- Why We Love It: For yellowing gray hair, celebrity hairstylist Mia Santiago recommends this drugstore gem. The formula is available in eight colors, but for gray hair in particular, Santiago recommends the Platinum shade (though there are seven additional options for blonde hair, brunette hair, and even black hair). She describes it as an “icy, translucent” hue that handily neutralizes brassiness. Made with hydrolyzed pea protein and castor seed oil, the formula can also boost overall hair health by strengthening, smoothing, and boosting shine and moisture. The brand recommends using it every three to four weeks as a way to keep color fresh between salon appointments.
- Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed pea protein, castor seed oil, propylene glycol
- Type: Semi-permanent, lasts several washes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
- Shades: 8
- Size: Activator 2 fl oz; Gloss 2 fl oz
Best for Fine Hair: Gisou Honey Gloss Ceramide Therapy Hair Mask
- Why We Love It: Made with strengthening ceramides, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and Gisou’s signature, farm-sourced honey, “This hair mask has a great ingredient profile for fine to medium hair,” says Small. “It gives a nice hit of hydration without leaving residue or buildup.” The mask has a lightweight texture that makes it suited for more frequent use; in fact, the brand recommends using it with every wash. Small affirms that using it regularly will help gray hair stay healthy and smooth.
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, Mirsalehi honey
- Type: Temporary, lasts weekly
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
- Shades: 1
- Size: 7.8 fl oz
Best Hair Mask: Moroccanoil High Shine Gloss Mask
- Why We Love It: According to celebrity hairstylist Kimberly Gueldner, “Anything that has nourishing oils, proteins like keratin, or amino acids can help moisturize and strengthen the hair. For gray hair, you definitely want something that will moisturize and smooth, and ingredients like argan oil can be really good for that.” Infused with argan oil and an amino acid blend, the High Shine Gloss Mask is a clear gloss, and it adds luster to hair of any color. The same formula is also available as a color-depositing mask, and Schmidt recommends the Platinum shade for gray hair in particular. “It neutralizes yellow tones and adds some subtle, temporary color if that’s what you’re looking for,” he says. “At the same time, it acts as a deep-conditioning treatment for the hair, leaving it especially soft and shiny.”
- Key Ingredients: Argan oil, Abyssinica seed oil, panthenol, amino acid blend
- Type: Temporary, can be applied periodically
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
- Shades: 7
- Sizes: 2.5 oz, 6.8 oz
Everything You Need To Know
Can you use gloss on gray hair?
Not only can gloss be used on gray hair—stylists recommend it. “Gray hair can often look dull or coarse,” Santiago says. “A gloss restores shine, smooths texture, and enhances brightness by sealing the cuticle and toning out unwanted yellow hues.”
In between glosses, Santiago suggests using sulfate-free shampoos and violet or silver toning products to keep gray hair looking shiny and healthy.
What to Look for in a Hair Gloss
“Look for a hair gloss that’s formulated with nourishing ingredients like amino acids, lightweight oils, or keratin,” Temur says, which can improve the way hair feels. “These help smooth the cuticle and restore shine without weighing the hair down.” For tone-correcting, he says that glosses with violet or silver pigments work well to keep gray hair bright and neutralize any yellowing. On the other hand, “Steer clear of formulas with harsh alcohols or high ammonia,” Temur warns. “Gray hair tends to be more fragile, so gentler products are ideal.”
Which is better for gray hair: A gloss or a glaze?
For gray hair, “I usually recommend a gloss or a mask over a glaze,” Small says. He explains that hair glaze sits on top of the hair and can block the strand from absorbing moisturizing ingredients from other products, while glosses and masks actually penetrate the hair fiber to repair and hydrate from within. “There’s no single product that will solve everything long-term,” Small admits. “But using formulas that truly absorb and nourish will make the biggest difference in how gray hair looks and feels over time.” Those interested in more long-lasting hair dyes for their natural hair, can turn to demi-permanent and and permanent hair color options by Madison Reed and IGK.
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity hairstylists—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to hair glosses for gray hair, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, weight, finish, and the hair-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
