This Kristin Ess Gloss Gave My Hair Shine I Thought I Could Only Get From a Salon

If the volume and length of hair was directly proportional to the number of secrets it held, mine would rival that of Gretchen Wieners. One of my secrets to keeping it looking shiny is getting a gloss at the salon every few months. Between these treatments, my hair loses its sheen, and when you add the harsh cold weather of Winter, you get my dull, frizzy ends. To restore its luster, I decided to skip my salon visit and try the new Kristin Ess Signature Gloss Temporary Hair Color in Crystal Quartz ($14) — her version of an at-home, clear gloss — and the results were unbelievable.

This product comes in two parts: the shine-boosting potion and its activator. To use it, I hopped in the shower, mixed the two, and combed it through from the root to the tip of my hair. I waited twenty minutes before washing it out and going about my regular hair cleansing routine. As it slipped through my strands, I noticed that they felt heavier than they normally did and had slightly more grip, which made it feel like it was impossible to wash it out completely. Once I was finished, I blow dried and styled my hair with a tapered curling wand.

The treatment didn't affect the texture of my hair at all (it didn't strip nor moisturize my hair), but left it looking like it would if I'd gone to the salon to get it professionally done. I immediately ran to my roommate's room — who is also a beauty editor — and she told me that my hair's luster was so brilliant, it looked like I was wearing a wig.

Ahead, see the results, and be wow'd at the impact of this $14 treatment.