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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, 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 glassy finish and live your best hair commercial life.
Here, we’ve compiled the best hair products for shine and luster so you can unlock your best-ever hair game.
Best Overall
Moroccanoil Treatment Original
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Sephora
Versatile
Nourishing
Multi-purpose
Expensive
Who else recommends it? StyleCraze also picked the Moroccanoil Treatment Original.
What do buyers say? 86% of 55,500+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 5 stars.
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.
Price at time of publish: $48
Key Ingredients: Argan oil | Size: 3.4 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Budget
OGX Renewing Argan Oil Of Morocco Weightless Healing Dry Oil
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Ulta
Great price
Very glossy finish
Too heavy for fine hair
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.
Price at time of publish: $10
Key Ingredients: Argan oil | Size: 4 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Paste
CHI Pliable Polish
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CHI
Non-sticky
Gives hair shape and hold
Could weigh down fine hair
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.
Price at time of publish: $12
Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed silk, panthenol | Size: 3 oz. | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Spray
Bed Head by TIGI Masterpiece Massive Shine Spray
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Amazon
Delivers serious shine and hold
Easy to use
Needs to be washed out
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.
Price at time of publish: $20
Key Ingredients: Wheat protein | Size: 10.3 oz. | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Textured Hair
Bread Hair Oil
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Bread
Light
Nourishing
Multipurpose
Glass bottle can be tricky to dispense
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. We also love that there are no silicones.
Price at time of publish: $24
Key Ingredients: Safflower, argan, castor seed oil | Size: 3.3 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Runner-Up, Best for Textured Hair
Pattern Argan Oil Hair Serum
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Courtesy of Ulta
Natural formula
Packed with nourishing, shine-boosting oils
Residue-free
Can be used as a scalp treatment
Relatively small amount of product
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.
Price at time of publish: $25
Key Ingredients: Argan, apricot, and sunflower seed oils | Size: 3.9 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Treatment
Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Gloss Mask
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Kohl's
Works in minutes
Has to be used on damp hair
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.
Price at time of publish: $26
Key Ingredients: Flaxseed, amino acid concentrate | Size: 6.7 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Oil
OUAI Hair Oil
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Sephora
Multi-purpose
Lightweight
Protects against UV damage
Expensive
Light, nourishing, and deliciously scented, this 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.
Price at time of publish: $28
Key Ingredients: African galanga, ama oil, Asian borage oils | Size: 1.0 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Multi-Purpose
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil
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Amazon
Smells incredible
Nourishes the hair
Expensive
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.
Price at time of publish: $87
Key Ingredients: Mirsalehi honey, argan oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil | Size: 3.4 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Fine Hair
Oribe Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray
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Courtesy of Oribe
Won’t weigh down fine hair
Creates movement and separation
Expensive
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.
Price at time of publish: $44
Key Ingredients: Safflower seed oil, marigold flower extract, wheat protein | Size: 8.5 oz. | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
What Our Testers Say
"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." — Ashley Rubell, Product Tester
Best for Damaged Hair
Crown Affair The Hair Oil
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Sephora
Lightweight
Nourishing
Quickly absorbed
Pricey
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.
Price at time of publish: $40
Key Ingredients: Japanese tsubaki seed, meadowfoam seed oil | Size: 1 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Heat Styling
ghd Straight On Straight & Smooth Spray
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Amazon
Offers heat protection
Expensive
This dual shine spray and heat protectant smooths and seals the cuticle for shinier strands and a longer-lasting style. “For the best results, use it before [heat] styling—it comes armed with the brand's heat protection system, which contains protecting polymers and conditioning agents that smooth the surface of the hair and shield it up to 220 degrees,” says Jordan Thomas, ghd's national education manager.
Price at time of publish: $25
Key Ingredients: Corn starch, castor oil | Size: 4.1 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Colored Hair
Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Clear Gloss
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Sephora
Works quickly
Can be used on colored hair
Expensive
If you’re between color appointments or simply want to refresh your hair before a big event, this clear 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.
Price at time of publish: $35
Key Ingredients: Oat milk, camellia extract | Size: 6.7 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
Your best overall product will certainly come down to your hair type and styling preferences, but Team Byrdie agrees that the Moroccanoil Original Treatment, Crown Affair's The Oil, and Oribe's Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray are a cut above the rest. We love Moroccanoil for its versatility, Crown Affair for its high-quality ingredients and nourishing formula, and Oribe because it delivers both shine and movement in one easy-to-use product.
Meet the Expert
- Rumbie Mutsiwa is a ghd creative artist and founder of Rumbie & Co., a salon and academy in Sydney that focuses on curly, coiled, textured, and afro hair.
- Jordan Thomas is a stylist and the national education manager at ghd.
What to Look For in Hair Products for Shine and Luster
Shine-enhancing 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.”
Avoid certain ingredients depending on your hair type
“For tighter curl textures, use butters instead of serums and stay clear of most petroleum-based hair products,” Mutsiwa explains.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
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.
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