Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss Review
I love a hair gloss, and I think they’re one of the most underrated hair products out there. Designed 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.
There are tons of hair glosses out there, including those with tints, but I personally love the clear glosses the most. They’re universal, easier to use, and work on pretty much all hair types. I have fine, long hair that is frizz and tangle prone, so I am pretty picky about what hair glosses I use and recommend. When I was recommended the Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss by an Ulta employee, I was instantly intrigued. I’ve seen the Pureology brand around, but always that it was a salon-only brand. After realizing you can get their products at Ulta, Sephora, and Amazon, the convenience sold me and I decided to try out their hair gloss.
For my full review of the Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss, including a before and after, comparison to similar products, and tips to get the best results, keep reading.
pureology color fanatic top coat clear hair gloss review
pureology color fanatic top coat clear hair gloss before and after
how to use pureology color fanatic top coat clear hair gloss
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 combed, but you can also use a shower comb.
Tip: if your hair is super tangle/ breakage prone, use a hint of conditioner here, 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.
Apply a dime to quarter size amount of the Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss to your hair; it can be applied from root to end, but if your hair gets weighed down easily, stick to mid-length to ends.
I saw the Sephora website says to apply the product in zigzag motions from mid-length to ends, but that resulted in too much product for me. I just applied it like normal conditioner and that worked best!
Comb throughout your hair to ensure it’s evenly coated.
Let sit for 5 minutes (I threw my hair in a claw clip and did the rest of my shower routine).
Rinse thoroughly.
The bottle’s instructions say you can then follow-up with conditioner. I personally did not the first few times because I wanted to get the full results of the gloss, but if you are prone to lots of frizz, I recommend using a lightweight conditioner.
Dry/ style your hair as usual.
Glosses can be a little harsh (they add softness and shine, but ends can feel a little dry), so I like to use a leave-in conditioner on my ends to reduce frizz and add extra hydration (this one also doubles as a detangler and is great if you share hair products with your kids).
pros
Makes your hair super shiny (salon-like glow!) and brightens
Makes your hair softer
Easy to use
Only have to leave in your hair for 5 minutes (directions say 5-10 total)
Color-safe
Vegan and cruelty-free
Free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and mineral oil
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
Mild scent (kinda floral, kinda chemical - very “salon scent” if you know what I mean)
Can leave your hair a little frizzy if you don’t condition after
Can cause tangles in your hair if tangle-prone (use conditioner after to prevent this)
is pureology color fanatic top coat clear hair gloss worth it?
Full, unsponsored, unfiltered review: The Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss is great; it takes a try or two to get used to, but it’s worth it. I personally don’t use the Pureology brand much, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that the full line (including the gloss) is available at Amazon, Sephora, and Ulta - it always seemed like a salon brand to me, and the convenience of being able to order or pickup without making a separate trip to the salon is key.
The Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss absolutely makes your hair shiny and soft. It’s easy to use, even if you’re into low-maintenance beauty. It won’t replace your toner or hair masks, but if your hair tends to be dull or lifeless, the Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss is so worth it.
Like all glosses, it does take a little finesse to get used to. Make sure you’re using a hydrating shampoo and following up with a leave-in conditioner on your ends to prevent the frizziness like some experience after using a gloss, and you’re all set.
Price wise, the Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss is mid-range and fair. It retails for $38 and you get 6.7oz of product. I use a quarter-size amount 1-2x a month, and one bottle will last me at least 6 months, so I think it’s a great deal. 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.
pureology color fanatic top coat clear hair gloss vs purple shampoo
One of the most asked questions regarding Pureology’s Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss is how it compares to purple shampoo. Truthfully, they’re two separate products that do different things. The Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss adds shine, softens hair, and restores color vibrancy, but it doesn’t tone or cancel out brassiness like purple shampoo does.
The Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss is safe for all hair colors, whereas purple shampoo works best on blondes or highlights (if you have brown hair and notice orange tones, try blue shampoo instead - view my comparison of blue vs purple shampoo for more info).
Instead of comparing them, see both products as complimentary and consider adding both to your haircare routine. Use purple (or blue) shampoo every 7-10 washes to tone unwanted brassiness, and use the Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss every 2-4 weeks (or before special occasions if you want the product to last longer).
pureology color fanatic top coat clear hair gloss vs ouai hair gloss
Comparing the Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss to another popular hair brand’s gloss, the Ouai Hair Gloss (check out my full review with before and afters), they’re pretty similar, but I surprisingly prefer Pureology’s.
Price wise they’re dead even when you break it down per ounce: $38 for 6.7oz Pureology, and $34 for 6oz Ouai ($5.67 per ounce for each).
I find that Ouai’s gloss is a little fussier; if you use too much, your hair is kind of a mess the next day - it’s weighed down, frizzier, and much more prone to tangles, whereas Pureology’s is a little more forgiving and beginner-friendly. The scent for the Ouai gloss is their signature floral; I prefer it over Pureology’s woodsy-chemical scent, but if you are sensitive to fragrance, Pureology’s is much subtler.
If you have frizzy or tangle-prone hair that is fine or can feel weighed down easily, definitely get the Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat Clear Hair Gloss.
pureology color fanatic top coat clear hair gloss vs davines oi liquid luster
Another favorite gloss of mine is the Davines Oi Liquid Luster (I have a separate post that goes into a full review with pros and cons). This is probably the most lightweight gloss; it’s a watery texture, whereas Pureology’s is more of a creamy conditioner consistency. That said, the watery aspect can be messy in the shower; you have much more control of the Pureology gloss and are less likely to waste product or use too much.
While I like that Davines’ gloss is instant (you don’t have to let it sit for 5 minutes), the scent is strong and overpowering and not my favorite. Both glosses give you tons of shine. I find that my hair feels a little drier after the Davines gloss, but is less frizzy and tangle prone - think sleek and glassy - whereas the Pureology gloss feels more hydrating but leaves me frizzier if I don’t follow-up with leave-in conditioner.
Shockingly, the Davines gloss is a better deal when you compare price per ounce, but you do spend a lot more up front: $38 for 6.7oz Pureology ($5.67 per ounce), $57 for 10.14oz Davines ($5.62 per ounce).
I’d recommend getting the Davines gloss if you enjoy the scent, don’t mind spending more up front, and want something truly instant. It’s also my go-to for special events when I want my hair to GLOW. For a regular monthly gloss treatment, I like Pureology’s and find it a little easier to use.
pureology color fanatic top coat clear hair gloss vs redken acidic color gloss activated glass gloss treatment
Probably the most requested comparison, I am going to be blunt with you and tell you to skip the Redken Acidic Color Gloss Activated Glass Gloss Treatment. My main reason: One of the top 5 ingredients is hydrogen peroxide, which can lighten/ mess with your hair color at best, dry out your hair at worst. This should be a big deal breaker if you have color-treated hair or highlights, but even if you have natural hair, the hydrogen peroxide strips your hair of its natural oils, so it’s just not worth it.
The Redken gloss is cheaper ($44 for 8oz, breaking down to $5.50 per ounce), but the damage you can get as a result makes this a costly product. I have heard others rave about it making their hair frizz-free, but you’re trading instant results for long-term hair health. Please get the other glosses I’ve mentioned instead!
