Garnier Olia Gloss Old Money Blonde Review: Is It Worth It for Dull Blonde Hair?

I didn’t need another hair product. I really didn’t.

But I kept seeing the Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask in Old Money Blonde everywhere, and the idea of a hair gloss that adds a hint of colour without actually committing to dyeing your hair again… I was sold pretty quickly.

I’ll be honest, I don’t normally play around with my hair colour at home. I love my hairdresser and I’m quite loyal when it comes to my blonde, so the thought of doing anything permanent myself just isn’t happening. But this is only a tint, it washes out, no damage, no long-term commitment, which made it feel a lot safer to try.

My blonde has just been feeling a bit flat lately. Not bad, just a bit… samey. And with an event coming up, I wanted that fresh, glossy, just-done hair look without booking a salon appointment or risking anything going wrong at home.

The “old money blonde” tone sounded exactly like what I go for anyway, soft, expensive-looking, nothing too brassy. So I picked it up in Boots for £8.99 and hoped for the best.

I’ve been properly testing it to see if it actually makes a difference to dull blonde hair, and more importantly, if this Garnier Olia gloss mask is really worth it.

Quick Answer: Is the Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask Old Money Blonde worth it?

Yes, if your blonde hair is looking dull or flat, the Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask in Old Money Blonde is worth it for a quick, affordable refresh. It adds a soft honey tone and noticeable gloss without committing to permanent colour.

Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask Old Money Blonde on grass in natural light

Quick Take

This is one of those small, easy upgrades that actually makes a difference.

It doesn’t dramatically change your hair colour, but it adds a soft honey tone and a really noticeable gloss that makes your hair look healthier straight away.

If your blonde feels a bit dull or flat, this is such an easy fix.

It’s basically a temporary hair colour gloss for blonde hair that washes out after a few uses.

About Garnier

Is there anyone who doesn’t know Garnier at this point?

It’s one of those brands I always come back to. It’s affordable, easy to use, and just works, especially when it comes to at-home haircare and colour.

The Olia range in particular has always felt like a slightly gentler way to do hair colour. It’s more about shine and condition rather than anything harsh or damaging. So this gloss tinted hair mask feels like a natural next step, something that enhances your blonde without that full dye commitment.

What is the Garnier Olia Gloss range?

The Olia Gloss range is Garnier’s way of making at-home colour feel a lot less intimidating.

Instead of permanent dye, these are tinted gloss treatments designed to enhance your existing hair colour while adding shine and softness. They sit somewhere between a conditioner and a colour refresh, so you get a visible result without the commitment or damage of traditional dye.

There are a few different shades depending on your hair colour, and they’ve actually leaned into those trend-led tones you see everywhere at the moment. You’ve got shades like Cowboy Copper, Expensive Brunette, Scandi Blonde, and the Old Money Blonde I’ve been using.

Each one is designed to boost your natural colour rather than completely change it, so you get that soft, glossy finish rather than anything too heavy or obvious.

The Old Money Blonde version is aimed at blonde or highlighted hair, adding a warm, honey tone and a healthy-looking shine that makes your hair look more expensive without looking overdone.

Packaging

It comes in a 150ml tub and I’ll be honest, it does stand out on the shelf.

It feels a bit more premium than you’d expect for something under £10, and it’s really easy to use in the shower. Nothing complicated, just scoop and go.

Because it’s a tub, you can actually see how much product you’re using, which I always prefer with a thicker hair mask like this. It makes it easier to work through your lengths properly rather than guessing like you sometimes do with a bottle.

The only thing to note is you’ll want to keep it out of direct splash zones once it’s open, just because you’re dipping your hands in, especially as you do need gloves to apply it. But overall, it’s simple, practical, and does exactly what you need it to.

Key ingredients

This isn’t a “skincare for your hair” type product where you’re analysing actives or worrying about percentages.

It’s much more about how your hair looks and feels straight after using it. You’ve got conditioning ingredients that smooth the hair and help with softness, oils that boost shine and give that glossy finish, and just enough pigment to add that subtle tint.

From looking at the formula, it includes things like sunflower seed oil, which helps with shine and softness, and conditioning agents like cetrimonium chloride that smooth the hair and make it feel more manageable. There are also light colour pigments in there to give that Old Money Blonde tone without permanently altering your hair.

It’s all quite simple, but that’s kind of the point. This is more about instant results, making blonde hair look shinier, healthier and a bit more polished, rather than treating deeper damage long term.

Garnier Olia Gloss Old Money Blonde showing colour and texture in cap

Texture and scent

This is thick. Proper hair mask texture.

It doesn’t run at all, so you can really work it through your hair without it slipping everywhere, which I actually prefer with something like this. You definitely need gloves, which caught me off guard slightly at first, but makes sense once you see the pigment. It’s not messy, but it’s not something you want on your hands either.

The scent is actually really nice. Slightly sweet, slightly floral, but not overpowering. It smells fresh and clean, and it lingers just enough to notice without clashing with anything else you’re using.

How I use the Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask

I used this just before an event, which I think is exactly where it works best, when you want your hair to look that bit more polished without doing anything drastic.

I always wash my hair twice, especially because I work out most days. The first cleanse gets rid of sweat, oil and product build-up, and the second actually cleans the scalp properly. (I talk more about that in my Kérastase Genesis shampoo review), A double cleanse will really help treatments like this work better.

I’ve found this makes a big difference with anything like a gloss or mask, because it means it can actually sit on clean hair and do its job properly.

Once my hair is clean, I squeeze out the excess water so it’s damp, not dripping. If your hair is too wet, it just dilutes the product and you won’t get the same result.

I then go in with the mask using gloves, focusing it through my lengths and ends where my blonde is. I avoid my roots, partly because I don’t need colour there, but also because it stops everything looking heavy.

After that, I run a wide-tooth comb through my hair in the shower. For me, this is key. It makes sure the product is evenly distributed, especially with a thicker mask like this, and helps avoid any patchy areas where the tint might grab more in one place than another.

Because my hair is bleached, I only leave it on for about 5 minutes. It develops quite quickly on lighter hair. If your hair is more natural or darker, you can leave it on a bit longer, up to around 10 minutes, but I wouldn’t push it much past that.

Then I rinse it out thoroughly and style as normal. No extra steps, no layering products on top, which is exactly what I want from something like this.

Hair gloss vs hair dye: temporary vs permanent colour

This is probably the easiest way to understand where this fits.

A hair gloss, like the Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask, sits in that temporary hair colour category. It enhances your existing colour, adds shine, and gives a subtle tint, but it doesn’t actually change your hair long term. It fades out gradually after a few washes, so there’s no real commitment and no harsh regrowth.

Hair dye is completely different. That’s designed to change your colour, whether that’s permanent or semi-permanent. It lasts much longer, but it also comes with upkeep, regrowth, and a lot more commitment overall.

For me, this is why a gloss feels so easy to use. You get that fresh, just-done look without worrying about getting it wrong or being stuck with a colour you don’t love.

Where it fits in my routine

This isn’t something I’d use every wash.

It’s more of a “my hair needs a boost” kind of product. I reach for it when my blonde starts to look a bit dull, before events, or when I want that glossy, freshly-done finish without relying on loads of heat styling.

On the days I use it, it replaces my conditioner rather than adding another step. It feels more like a quick colour refresh and shine treatment in one, rather than something you need to build a full routine around.

What I use it for

Mainly for that subtle colour refresh and shine.

It’s not about changing your hair, it’s about making it look better. Smoother, glossier, and just a bit more expensive-looking overall.

I reach for it when my blonde starts to look dull or a bit flat, or when I want that fresh, just-done finish without actually colouring my hair. It’s also really good if your lengths are looking a bit dry, as it gives that softer, healthier look straight away.

It’s one of those products that doesn’t feel like a big step, but you can see the difference after one use.

What does the Garnier Olia Gloss help with?

For me, this made the biggest difference to dull blonde hair and that slightly flat, one-tone look you sometimes get between appointments.

It brought back a bit of shine and just made everything look more lifted and fresh again. I find my blonde can get a bit dull quicker, especially when I’m outdoors a lot, sun and weather really affect the tone over time (I talk more about that in my La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF review).

It’s also nice if your lengths are starting to look a bit dry or tired, as it gives that smoother, glossier finish straight away.

It won’t fix damage or replace a proper treatment, but if your hair just needs a quick refresh, it does exactly that.

My Honest Review Of the Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask

This actually surprised me. I’ve tested a lot of haircare over the years, especially as someone with fine, bleached hair, so I’m quite picky with anything that claims to add shine without weighing it down.

Was I worried going into this? Yes. I never colour my hair at home, that’s my wonderful hairdresser’s job, and I don’t mess with my blonde lightly. So this did feel like a bit of a gamble.

But the gloss is what stood out straight away. As soon as I dried my hair, it just looked shinier and healthier, like that fresh salon finish you get when your colour has just been done. And that wasn’t just a one-day thing either, it lasted for a couple of washes, which I didn’t expect from something this quick to use.

The colour is subtle, but in a good way. It adds a soft warmth to blonde hair without tipping into that brassy, orange tone, which is always my concern with anything described as “honey”. It just makes your blonde look a bit richer and more expensive rather than obviously different.

But the biggest thing for me was how my hair felt.

It genuinely reminded me of that conditioner you get in box dye kits, that really soft, silky, freshly-done feeling where your hair just sits better. It didn’t feel heavy, it didn’t feel coated, and it didn’t make my hair greasy any quicker either. Before using it, my hair looked a bit flat and one-dimensional. After one use, it looked noticeably shinier, smoother and just more put together.

I’ve got quite fine, bleached hair, and that’s where I usually notice products going wrong. Anything too rich can weigh it down or make it look flat, but this didn’t do that at all. It actually gave my hair a bit of movement while still smoothing everything out.

It’s not a repair treatment, and it’s not going to fix damage, but that’s not what it’s trying to do. It’s more about how your hair looks day to day, and for that, it really does make a difference.

What the Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask is best for

This works best if your hair is blonde or highlighted and starting to feel a bit dull or lacking shine.

It’s ideal for that in-between stage when your colour isn’t bad, it just isn’t doing much either. You know when your blonde looks a bit flat and you can’t quite put your finger on why? This is exactly where it fits.

It’s also perfect if you want a change without committing to permanent colour. Because it’s a tint that washes out, you get that refreshed, glossy look without worrying about getting it wrong or being stuck with it.

How long does the Garnier Olia Gloss last?

On my bleached hair, it lasted around 2 washes before fading.

If your hair is more natural or darker, you might find it lasts slightly longer, as the pigment doesn’t grab as quickly as it does on lighter hair.

It fades quite evenly, so you don’t get any harsh lines or patchiness, which makes it really low maintenance.

Comparison: Garnier Olia Gloss vs purple shampoo

It’s much softer than toners or purple shampoos, and that’s the main thing to understand.

Purple shampoo is there to correct your colour. It cancels out brassiness and cools everything down, which is great if your blonde is going too yellow.

This is the opposite. The Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask is about enhancing your colour rather than fixing it. It adds warmth, shine and that glossy finish, so your hair looks richer and more polished rather than cooler.

So it really depends what your hair needs.

If your blonde is brassy, you’d still reach for a purple shampoo. But if it’s just looking a bit dull or flat, this is the better option.

And while it’s not the same as a salon gloss, it gives a similar shiny, freshly-done look for a fraction of the price, which is why I think it works so well as an in-between treatment.

Is the Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask worth it?

For £8.99, it’s one of those low-risk products that actually delivers.

You’re not getting a full colour transformation, and it’s not pretending to be that. But if your blonde hair is looking a bit dull, flat or lacking shine, it makes a noticeable difference straight away.

What you’re really paying for here is that glossy, freshly-done look without the time, cost or commitment of a salon visit. And for something you can use in 5 to 10 minutes at home, that’s where it feels worth it.

It’s also the kind of product you can dip in and out of. You don’t have to commit to using it all the time, which makes it feel more like a little upgrade rather than a full routine change.

Hair type breakdown

I always think it helps to break this down a bit, because how something works really does depend on your hair type.

Fine hair: worked really well for me, didn’t feel heavy or weighed down at all, which is usually my main concern with richer masks
Bleached or highlighted hair: develops quickly, so you only need a few minutes for it to work
Dry hair: adds softness and shine, but I’d still use a proper treatment alongside it if your hair needs deeper repair
Thick hair: you’ll probably just need to use a bit more product to get even coverage through your lengths
Curly or wavy hair: this should still work, but I’d focus it more on your lengths and be mindful of how it affects your curl pattern. It’s more about shine and tone than definition, so you may need your usual styling products afterwards

If you’ve got fine hair and worry about masks feeling heavy, this is actually a really good option.

Pros and Cons of the Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask

The biggest pro for me is the gloss. It gives that really noticeable shine and leaves your hair feeling soft and smooth straight away. It’s quick, easy to use, and genuinely makes your hair look better without feeling like effort.

I also like that it’s low commitment. You’re not locking yourself into a colour, and there’s no damage, which makes it feel much safer if you’re like me and don’t normally mess with your hair at home.

The only real downside is that it doesn’t last that long, but that’s kind of the point. It fades after a couple of washes, so you do need to top it up if you want to keep that effect.

And because it’s more of a gloss and tint, it’s not going to fix damage or replace a proper treatment, so you still need a good haircare routine alongside it.

If you’re looking for a big colour change or something to fully cover greys, this probably isn’t the one.

Price and value

At £8.99 in Boots, it feels very fair for what you get.

I’d say you’ll get around 5 applications out of it, depending on your hair length and how generously you apply it, which works out at under £2 per use. For something that gives a visible difference straight away, that’s actually really good value.

For me, it sits in that “little upgrade” category. It’s not a big investment, but it makes your hair look shinier and more put together with very little effort.

When you compare it to the cost of a salon gloss or even just keeping your colour fresh between appointments, it’s a really easy, affordable option.

Final thoughts

This is one of those products I’ll keep around for when my hair needs a bit of a lift.

It’s easy, it works, and it doesn’t feel like effort, which honestly is exactly what I want from something like this.

If your blonde hair is looking a bit dull or flat, the Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask is such a simple way to bring it back to life without committing to colour or booking a salon appointment.

It’s not a dramatic transformation, but it doesn’t need to be. It just makes your hair look better, shinier, smoother, and a bit more polished.

And sometimes that’s exactly what you want.

FAQs

How long does the Garnier Olia Gloss last?
On me, it lasted a couple of washes and then faded gradually. It doesn’t leave a harsh line or anything, it just softens out over time.

Does the Garnier Olia Gloss Tinted Hair Mask make your hair greasy?
No, my hair felt soft and light after using it, not greasy at all. Even with fine, bleached hair, it didn’t weigh it down or make it go flat quicker.

Can you use the Garnier Olia Gloss on bleached hair?
Yes, and it actually works really well on bleached or highlighted hair. You just need to leave it on for less time, around 5 minutes was enough for me.

Will it turn blonde hair brassy?
No, it doesn’t go brassy. It adds more of a soft, honey tone rather than anything orange, so your blonde still looks natural, just a bit warmer and glossier.

Does the Garnier Olia Gloss damage hair?
No, it’s not damaging like traditional dye. It’s more of a conditioning gloss with pigment, so it actually leaves your hair feeling softer rather than dry or stripped.

Does the Garnier Olia Gloss cover grey hair?
Not really. It’s more about adding tone and shine rather than full coverage, so if you’re looking to fully cover greys, you’d need a proper dye.

Can you use the Garnier Olia Gloss on roots?
You can, but I personally focus it on my lengths and ends where my blonde is. It’s more effective there and avoids overloading your roots.

Do you use conditioner after the Garnier Olia Gloss?
No, I use this in place of conditioner on the days I apply it. It leaves my hair soft enough on its own.

Does the Garnier Olia Gloss stain your hands or shower?
You do need gloves to apply it, but I didn’t find it stained my shower or tiles when rinsing. I’d still rinse it straight away just to be safe, but it wasn’t messy to use.

Author Bio

Laura Martin is the founder of MissLJBeauty.com, an award-winning UK beauty and lifestyle blog. With over 15 years of experience in skincare, haircare and beauty, she shares honest, real-life reviews tested through everyday life, workouts and outdoor conditions.

MissLJBeauty