amika flash instant shine mask review
It’s no secret that I'm obsessed with hair glosses, and they’re one of my favorite at-home beauty treatments. Meant to add shine, softness, and make your hair glow like you just left the salon, hair glosses are a secret weapon for going longer between appointments, especially if you get a lived-in highlight look like I do.
As someone with fine, long hair that is frizz and tangle prone, I am pretty picky about what hair glosses I use and recommend. I also prefer low-maintenance products, so anything that requires a ton of steps and 30+ minutes is not worth it in my book. When I saw that the Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask only needed one minute and promised shine and softness for all hair types, I was so curious to try it. I’m a big fan of Amika, but some of their shine-specific products make my highlights a little brassy, so I was curious to see how the gloss would work on my hair.
Short answer: I loved this gloss. It made my hair soft, shiny, and bright, didn’t make my hair brassy, and was easy to use (no learning curve like a lot of other at-home glosses).
For my full review of the Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask, including a before and after, comparison to similar products, and tips to get the best results, keep reading.
amika flash instant shine mask review
amika flash instant shine mask before and after
how to use amika flash instant shine mask
First things first: the order of application varies by hair type. If you have fine or oily hair, use after shampoo in place of conditioner. For thick or dry hair, use after shampoo and conditioner. I have fine, dry, hair and what I like to do is shampoo, use a tiny amount (between the size of a dime and penny) of conditioner to brush out any tangles, then use the Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask.
Shampoo your hair like normal (I like this shampoo to help reduce frizz and damage).
Make sure all tangles are out of your hair - I finger comb, but you can also use a shower comb.
Tip: if your hair is super tangle/ breakage prone like mine, use a hint of conditioner here to help reduce breakage, but make sure to wash it out thoroughly before applying the gloss.
Remove excess water from your hair. You don’t have to towel dry, but the less water the better your results will be.
Twist the nozzle and fully saturate your hair with the Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask, focusing on mid-length to ends.
To conserve product/ not overdo it, you may want to apply the mask in sections. If you do, I like to do horizontal sections, rather than vertical (top, middle, bottom rather than left, right, center).
Let sit for 1 minute, and then rinse thoroughly.
Dry/ style your hair as usual.
You may notice your hair dries quicker after this mask; that’s totally normal and pretty typical of hair glosses.
This gloss does not function as a heat protectant, so make sure to use one if you heat style.
pros
Makes your hair super shiny (salon-like glow!)
Makes your hair softer
Makes your hair less frizzy
Brightens your color (but does not tone)
Easy to use
Only have to leave in your hair for 1 minute
Color-safe
Vegan and cruelty-free
Free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and mineral oil
Packaging - love the twist-nozzle top; it makes for easier application and storage (a lot of other glosses require you to cut the tip of the lid off)
cons
Does not tone your hair and will not replace purple/ blue shampoo in your regimen
Will weigh your hair down and leave a greasy residue if you use too much
Can make your hair feel a little dry immediately after use (but once your hair dries it feels SO soft and hydrated)
Can cause tangles in your hair if tangle-prone (I use conditioner and brush out my hair before the gloss to prevent this)
is amika flash instant shine mask worth it?
Truth be told, I’m obsessed with the Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask and think it’s one of the best at-home glosses on the market. Not only does it work fast (1 minute), but it’s easy to use, adds shine, and also makes your hair really soft and nourished. Other glosses need 15-20 minutes, have a harder learning curve, can weigh your hair down or make it frizzy, or smell strange. This gloss is effective and straightforward; I love that it’s safe for all hair types and genuinely works without being overpriced ($32).
The Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask makes your hair noticeably shinier and softer. A lot of other glosses add shine, but make your hair feel drier and you can get a little bit of extra frizz as a result, but the Amika gloss made my hair look and feel like glass. I thought I would need conditioner (or a leave-in) afterwards, but my hair looked and felt great once it air-dried.
It’s easy to use, even if you’re into low-maintenance beauty and don’t like to a lot of fussy treatments. It won’t replace your toner or hair masks, but if your hair tends to look dull or you want a salon-like boost before a special event, the Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask is worth it.
As I mentioned, the Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask is also fairly priced and on the lower end of what glosses typically retail for.
Price wise, the Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask is mid-range and fair. It retails for $32 and you get 6.7oz of product. I use a quarter-size amount around once a month, so one bottle will last me a really long time. When you spend a lot on highlights, a product that will make them glow and shine and stretch your time between appointments is definitely worth it to me.
And while I’m not as much of a stickler about packaging, I will say that it’s worth mentioning here. Many glosses require you to cut the tip off of the nozzle, which makes for annoying storage as you have to keep it upright (under the sink, can’t lay flat in a drawer). The Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask has a twist-nozzle, which also helps you apply the right amount - not too much or too little - so that gives it a few extra points compared to other glosses, too.
Overall, if you’ve been curious about hair gloss but worried about the learning curve, the Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask is beginner-friendly and safe for all hair types. Your hair will be shinier, softer, and brighter (not toned) - I highly recommend it.
FAQ
do you use amika flash instant shine mask before or after conditioner?
If you have fine or oily hair, use after shampoo in place of conditioner.
For thick or dry hair, use after shampoo and conditioner.
Just my personal experience as someone with fine, dry hair: I shampoo, use a tiny amount (between the size of a dime and penny) of conditioner to brush out any tangles, then use the Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask.
how often do you use amika flash instant shine mask?
As a general rule of thumb, you can use a hair gloss every 4-6 weeks on average. Hair glosses last a while, so they’re not a weekly treatment, per se. If you want a haircare TLC treatment you can do more frequently, stick to a hair mask or deep conditioner.
I personally use the Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask at the halfway point between my salon visits, which are every 8-12 weeks, so it’s on my schedule every 5 weeks.
does amika flash instant shine mask make your hair brassy?
No. I’ve noticed some of their other shine-specific products (like the mirrorball shampoo) can make my hair a little warmer, but this gloss did not.
