Say hello to shining strands!
In an ideal world, we would all be born with hair that has mirror-like, reflective shine. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, especially if you’ve bleached, dyed, over-processed your hair with heat, or have hair breakage. Some products like hair masks or hair oils can help build back shine in your hair by making it stronger and healthier, but if you want to get diamond-like shine in a flash, it’s time to turn to hair gloss.
Hair gloss is a treatment for hair that can help make your hair look shampoo-commercial worthy. “Glosses typically help with shine and even tones,” colorist Lucille Javier of New York’s Mark Ryan Salon says. The great thing about a hair gloss is that it doesn’t fully process your hair like a dye would, so it’s gentle while being effective. If you’d rather leave it to the experts, you can book a hair gloss treatment at a salon, but there are also plenty of at-home treatments out there that can give you the same results at home.
To find out if a hair gloss treatment is right for you, buckle in—we’ve consulted experts to learn everything there is to know about hair glosses. Keep reading for a full rundown of how hair gloss treatments work, how often you should use a hair gloss, and more.
What is a hair gloss?
Hair gloss is a temporary fix that coats the hair and seeps into the cuticle in a way that can improve both the health of your hair and its shade. “An at-home hair gloss is typically a semi-permanent hair treatment that adds shine and benefits the overall health and softness of your hair,” says Brad Mondo, founder and creative director of XMONDO.
What are the different types of gloss?
“Semi-permanent gloss is typically a professional product of pigment mixed with developer. Direct dyes have just pure pigment and stain the hair,” Javier says. She also notes that there are many types of hair glosses, which can be mixed to adjust your specific hair color. How often you use a hair gloss depends on the lightness or darkness of your color. As always, it’s best to check with your colorist to determine your gloss treatment frequency.
While hair gloss is great for dyed- or chemically-treated hair, there are perks to glossing virgin hair, too. “A gloss can be clear or colored, depending on your desired result,” says Mondo. “You do not have to color your hair to use a gloss. If you use a clear gloss, it will not color your hair. It will only add shine and benefit the overall health of your hair.”
Can glosses help with handling brassiness or discoloration?
A gloss can help “fine-tune” a shade to be more even, dark, or brighten the existing color. When done in a salon, “it’s mixed specifically for a client and their needs," she adds. “I have clients who enjoy coming in for a gloss more frequently because of the high shine and the subtle difference in the hair.”
Though she advises you to ask your salon for the best recommendations, Javier broke down the following suggestions for dyed hair:
Red/strawberry blonde: “Red is one of the colors that fade very fast. Glosses [should be] more frequent depending on how saturated the color is. Dark red or auburn hair tends to need less color, while strawberry blondes need more upkeep.”
For dark/ light blonde: “Depending on the tone of hair—think of silver-blondes or very pale white—glosses tend to be done more frequently.”
For darker hair: Javier says dark tones “can get away with coloring hair less often.”
To determine which gloss is best for you, “you must first understand what your priorities are,” says Mondo. “Are you trying to cancel the warmth in your hair and make it ashier? Trying to go darker? If so, then you’re going to want to go for a colored gloss that has the desired result you’re looking for. However, if your only desire is to add shine and make hair look healthier, then a clear gloss is great for you.”
What hair types can use hair gloss?
Anyone can reap the benefits of a hair gloss, no matter how straight, wavy, or curly your hair is. If lustrous locks are your goal, this treatment will be a huge help in getting you there.
How often should you use a hair gloss?
Your hair gloss schedule depends on personal preference, but Javier says that every four to six weeks is a good rule of thumb. If you color your hair, Javier says that the more you gloss, the more longevity your hair color can have.
How long does a hair gloss last?
“[The treatments] last about a month,” says Javier. “Using color safe-conditioner and using cooler temperature water keeps the color in longer.”
Generally, salon glosses will last a little longer that at-home glosses. “When it comes to doing a clear gloss at home, typically they’re semi-permanent, while in the salon, they’re typically demi-permanent and mixed with a developer,” says Mondo. “Demi-permanent glosses or glazes can last longer because they penetrate slightly into the hair, whereas an at-home gloss lays on top of the hair.”
Are hair gloss treatments damaging?
Quite the opposite, actually. Hair glosses not only improve the appearance of hair health through improved shine and hydration, but most also often include ingredients like amino acids or conditioning agents that nourish weak or damaged hair.
Can you gloss your hair at home?
“You can definitely get a great glossing treatment at home,” says Mondo. “This is a fairly simple process, especially when using a clear gloss. All it takes is a quick wash of your hair, then apply the gloss, and rinse it after about 20 minutes or as directed. It’s foolproof and as easy as using a traditional hair conditioner. I recommend our XMONDO Super Gloss because it has incredibly beneficial ingredients.”
The same even goes for colored glosses, though you won’t be able to get as unique of a color as you can get in a salon. “When it comes to doing a colored gloss, the main difference is that at a salon, you will get a mixed formula custom to you and applied by an expert,” Mondo says. “You do not get that kind of customization at home, and you will end up with a more generic color.” That being said, the right at-home product will still make your hair shinier and stronger.
Meet the Experts
Brad Mondo is a celebrity hairstylist, influencer, and founder of the haircare line XMONDO.
Lucille Javier is a New York-based colorist at the Mark Ryan Salon.
Why trust ELLE Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, beauty writers Lauren K. Tappan and Carol Lee along with beauty editor Katie Berohn spoke with trusted hair experts and conducted research to find out more about hair gloss and find the best hair glosses on the market.
Article and pic taken from Elle.com
Article written by Carol Lee and Katie Berohn
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