20 Best Hair Gloss and Glazes 2024, According to Beauty Experts

Luckily, there are less permanent and ammonia-free options out there for those looking for a color shift and healthy-looking hair. Hair gloss treatments (or hair glaze treatments as they are sometimes called) can offer a fresh look without sacrificing the shine of healthy hair. We turned to hair colorists Richy Kandasamy and Matt Rez to get the full scoop. Below, we break down everything there is to know before scheduling your first hair gloss. While this isn't a pigment-based product, you won't get too far down the road of researching glossing treatments before some wise colorist or hair color fanatic throws this option into the mix.

Best for Light Brown

They’re also infused with coconut oil and have no parabens, ammonia, phthalates, sulfates, or mineral oils, so you can color with confidence. "If you're interested in altering your color or need to get rid of unwanted tones, try a gloss," Luza advises, suggesting that you pick a shade that matches your existing color. For those who color their hair at a salon, Martinez recommends asking your colorist to help you pick the right at-home gloss to use, especially when incorporating color. Hair gloss treatment will add some luster to the hair, as well as make it smooth and set off its shades. Think of this hair serum as a two-second gloss that you can use on your hair anytime, anywhere. Just smooth a tiny bit over your mid-lengths and ends to add shine, boost color vibrancy, and protect your dye job from fading.

Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Clear Gloss

This shade is great for darker redheads and it’s even vivid enough to enhance red tones in dark brunette hair (think Dua Lipa’s new do). The combination of oat milk, olive oil, and camellia oil nourishes and smooths your strands, and it also happens to work wonders on unwanted brassy tones. Coat this cream on your post-shampoo wet hair, have it sit for five minutes, and let the magic happen.

Best for Blondes

This means they’ll last longer than semi-permanent colors, but they’re also not fully permanent if you don’t want to commit to anything too drastic. The glaze is usually applied to the ends of the strands unless the client wants to cover the entire hair length. The glaze won’t help get rid of split ends, but it will prevent further breakage. The main active ingredients of the glazing product are ceramides (unsaturated fatty acids that protect the strands from external influences) and moisturizing components. This treatment is decorative in nature — it doesn’t really heal the hair, but it does protect it from the harmful effects of hot tools and aggressive climatic factors. The entire salon visit for a hair gloss treatment should take about an hour, according to Rez.

While most of the options on this list deliver a bit of pigment, this is simply a high-powered conditioner formulated to deliver shine and shine alone. A mere three minute application process, done as often as you like, will give you a mirror-like finish that looks expensive rather than greasy. Reviewers also say that applying it is so quick and easy that it should be on hand for all beauty lovers in case of a hair emergency.

Best Professional-Level Gloss: Redken Color Gloss Treatment

How to Apply an At-Home Hair Gloss Kit, According to Professional Hair Colorists - Allure

How to Apply an At-Home Hair Gloss Kit, According to Professional Hair Colorists.

Posted: Sat, 10 Apr 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]

However, it might not be as clear that hair gloss treatments can provide a tonal or color change to the hair as well. "A hair gloss treatment or a glaze is a non-ammonia type of color. What it does is add shine or tonal enhancement and also can make your hair color darker if desired," Kandasamy explains. A great hair gloss or glaze can boost your color and keep your hair looking healthy, shiny, and toned until it’s time for a professional touch-up. Even if you don't get highlights or color, glosses and glazes can help smooth and soften your hair.

Simple work a palmful of foam into damp strands, set a timer for five minutes, et voilà. It comes in brunette, gray, blonde, and red shades, and promises to revitalize hair shine and color on all hair, whether it’s dyed or completely natural. These color-enhancing treatments are available at both the salon and for at-home use, as long as you have the best products on the market. There are many hair glaze products for home use that are a perfect alternative to expensive services. It will detox your strands in a more thorough way than regular shampoo does.

Then cover the slightly dried strands with a glaze in several layers for better penetration of the composition. Next, stretch the hair with a flat iron, apply a mask, and then wash the hair again. While hair gloss treatments are traditionally performed in-salon by a professional, at-home glosses are available as well.

Hair Glaze Treatment at Home

Semi-permanent and considered less damaging than dye, a clear gloss can bring luster back to your locks and is easily applied in the comfort of your own home. In the process of hair gloss treatment, mostly natural components are used, in contrast to chemical products that are used for hair lamination. Special glossing products usually contain hydrogen peroxide to help lift the cuticles and treat the hair from within by penetrating its shaft and sealing the active substances inside. Hair gloss product closes the cuticles and smooths the hair surface, giving it extreme shine and making it stronger. This procedure is aimed at restoring the hair structure, protecting it from external negative influences and refreshing its color.

Hally Fluffy G Clear Hair Gloss Review With Photos - POPSUGAR

Hally Fluffy G Clear Hair Gloss Review With Photos.

Posted: Tue, 01 Mar 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. The consistency is a bit watery, which made it difficult to figure out how much product we were using, but that wasn’t a major dealbreaker. Overall, we love how it made our hair feel softer and appreciate that it’s pretty affordable.

Olivia Casanova is a master colorist and stylist with over ten years of experience. Born and raised in New York City, she travels between NYC and Los Angeles, having worked with the likes of Maluma, Pauline, Ducuret, the Princess of Monaco, and more. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Try INOA Gold Naturals for coverage with a hint of warmth without the need to mix. For impactful reds, try the iNOA Intense Red collection, whose patented dye technologies achieve 100% coverage standalone, without the need to intermix.

In general, glazing gives a quick yet fleeting effect, compared to the hair gloss treatment. The biggest difference between a gloss and traditional hair dye comes down to ingredients and formulation. Additionally, Kandasamy shares that it normally has a lower pH than other hair color options. "If you are new to hair color, that’s a great first color date," he says, adding that, unlike the sometimes-damaging effects of traditional dye, when using a great gloss there can be a gentle healing factor. Unless you’re a licensed hairstylist, using products like hair gloss can be intimidating—and we totally get it. If you’re new to products like this, finding one that’s easy to use, like this gloss from IGK, is essential.

We used it as a replacement for conditioner one to two times a week during the testing period as the instructions directed and then left it in for two to three minutes. The smooth, conditioner-like gloss made with hydrating sunflower seed oil effortlessly glided through the hair and absorbed well. The caveat with glosses, though, is that they can only add pigment or darken your hair color. But if this is a serious treatment you’re looking into, rest assured it’s safe for most hair types. “A hair gloss is a treatment that is designed to add shine, enhance hair color, and improve the overall look and feel of your hair,” says Sherry.

The gloss protects hair from pollutants, and reconditions and seals the hair cuticle. We loved how it added noticeable moisture and shine to our dry ends throughout the entire testing period, however, we did have to use it a few times a week to maintain the shiny finish. We tried them on various hair types and textures to see how well they worked and, ultimately, whether or not we recommend them. Oaui's clear hair gloss is formulated with both hyaluronic acid and rice water to keep hair feeling hydrated and strong from root to tip. It lasts for up to three washes and only requires a five-minute wait time in the shower.