Hair gloss is a popular service provided at salons to refresh the color of your hair. Often, hair stylists recommend hair glossing if you are in between your coloring appointments or have dull hair. For first-timers, a professional hair glossing session is advisable. The stylist can customize the formula for the hair gloss treatment as per your individual needs. Unlike the name suggests, these treatments can do more than just make your hair glossy. Check out the benefits of hair gloss below!
What Are The Benefits Of Hair Gloss Treatment?
Reduces Sun Damage
Exposure to the sun can weaken your tresses. The UV radiation not only results in substantial protein loss but also changes the hair color. It makes your hair look faded, dry, and brittle (1). Dyed and bleached hair is more prone to damage by the UV radiation of the sun (2), (3). Hair gloss coats the cuticles of the hair. Think of it as sunscreen for your hair that prevents the harmful sun rays from damaging your tresses. Moreover, the glossing treatment gives a lovely soft texture to your hair, making it look healthier.
No Commitment To Hair Color
If you have ever gotten professional coloring done, you will know the amount of time and effort it takes to maintain the gorgeous shade. Hair gloss provides you with a temporary solution. It washes away after 10-15 shampoo washes (if not less), leaving you with your natural shade. Glossing your hair gives you the option of testing out new colors without really committing to any one. There are several shades and colors you can choose from when it comes to hair glossing.
Refreshes Your Hair Tone
Hair dye often fades with repeated shampooing. A hair glossing session can refresh your hair color shade by locking the hair color in the cuticle. Also, a colored gloss can help you correct the tone of your hair. You can get colored hair gloss when getting your roots touched up to give your hair a more natural blended look. If you dye your hair red, you may need to get hair glossing done frequently as red shades tend to fade fast. While darker shades of hair dye can require glosses less frequently, light shades like platinum and strawberry blonde are quite high-maintenance. Hair gloss can also be useful for deepening the natural undertone of undyed, virgin hair.
Reduces Brassy Tones
Have you noticed the change in the shade of your hair a few weeks after getting it colored? It is not uncommon to develop warm tones of yellow, orange, and red (brassiness) following a color job on your hair. Bleaching agents in hair dyes can oxidize the natural melanin present in your hair. The lifting of natural pigments allows the dyeing agents in the hair color to deposit your chosen shade. Hair dye typically comprises three dye pigments blue, red, and yellow. As the hair color transitions, the blue pigment fades faster, leaving behind warmer tones in your hair, causing brassy hair. A colored hair gloss can introduce the blue pigments back in your hair, thus correcting your hair tone.
Enhances Shine
Hair gloss adds a coating to your hair to smoothen its texture and gives a uniform shape to each strand. It also allows light to reflect off your hair more easily. The end result is glossy, vibrant hair.
Volumizes Your Hair
Hair gloss treatments be it colored or clear coat every individual strand of your hair generously. The chemicals from the gloss raise the cuticle of your hair. This allows your hair to look thicker. It not only adds volume to your hair but also strengthens it.
Makes Your Hair Easy To Manage
Hair glossing can reduce the frizz in your hair. This means you will not need to spend too much time each day to style your hair. Also, you will no longer have to spend long hours on your hair care routine. Now that you know all about the benefits of hair gloss, lets talk about how it works.
How Does A Hair Gloss Work?
A hair strand is comprised of three layers the outermost cuticle, the middle cortex, and the innermost medulla (4). The hair cuticles are prone to damage due to exposure to hair dye, heat styling tools, sun, chlorine, and saltwater (1). As the cuticle loses its structure, its ability to reflect light reduces, making your hair look dull and brittle. Typically, hair dyes penetrate the hair strands to change their color from within. Hair gloss treatments involve treating the hair with chemicals that smoothen the raised outer cuticle. These chemicals coat and seal the cuticles to increase the thickness of your hair. As the surface of the cuticles evens out, your hair becomes more reflective. This also reduces flyaways and frizz. Lastly, treatments with hair gloss extend the color life of your hair. Hair gloss is available in tinted and clear forms. Colored hair gloss can add pigments to your hair to enhance its undertone. It delivers a natural hue that blends perfectly into your hairs base color. Even undyed hair, when treated with a gloss treatment, can add a subtle shade to your hair. Wondering if there are certain hair types that benefit more from a hair gloss treatment? Find out in the next section!
Who Should Use A Hair Gloss?
Hair gloss is suitable for everyone irrespective of your hair color, texture, and type. If you have colored, bleached, or highlighted hair, a gloss treatment can make your hair color look more vibrant. It can also help reduce the damage and dullness caused by chemicals from permanent dyes. Colored hair gloss can also help to even out the hues in your hair and make it look more natural. You can use hair gloss on uncolored, virgin hair too. The clear gloss can add shine and volume to your hair. It can also add a subtle tint and enhance the natural undertone of your hair. Confused between hair glaze and hair gloss? Find out which one you should go for in the next section!
Hair Glaze Vs. Hair Gloss Which One Should You Try?
Hair glaze and hair gloss are two different hair treatments. In the beauty industry, many people use these terms interchangeably. Both these treatments improve the shine and pigmentation of your hair. As they are both temporary, you can get either of these treatments. Hair gloss treatment contains either peroxide or ammonia. These chemicals penetrate your hair cuticles and last for about a month. Proper maintenance can prolong the effects of a hair gloss. A hair glaze is like a coating it does not penetrate the hair cuticle but merely acts as a top coat and lasts for a couple of weeks. So, if you are looking for a very temporary treatment for a special occasion, go for a hair glaze treatment. But if you want to add shine to your hair or revive your hair color between coloring sessions, hair gloss is a better option. Now, lets answer another important question.
When Should You Get A Hair Gloss?
You can get a hair gloss any time you want, but it is especially beneficial between hair coloring sessions to enhance your hair tone. Getting a hair gloss every 4-6 weeks is recommended. It maintains the natural look of your hair color. Alternately, you can get it done if you notice brassy tones in your hair and want to eliminate them. Check out the next section to find out how hair gloss is applied.
How Is Hair Gloss Applied?
You can either get a professional hair gloss treatment at a salon or use a DIY hair gloss.
I. Professional Hair Gloss Treatment
If you are getting a professional hair gloss treatment, you and your stylist can decide whether you want to opt for a color or a clear hair gloss. Here are the steps that the stylist will follow:
II. At-Home DIY Hair Gloss
If you have had hair gloss done before and want to skip out on a salon appointment, you can try a DIY hair gloss product. Note that experts advise avoiding at-home hair glossing if you are a first-timer. Several at-home gloss products are available in the market. They all come with instruction manuals in the packaging. If you want the best results, follow the instructions carefully. Wondering how to retain the effects of your hair gloss? Read on to learn some handy tips to make your hair gloss treatment last longer!
How To Maintain A Hair Gloss Treatment
Invest In The Right Shampoo And Conditioner
Shampooing your hair can strip away the gloss. Choose a shampoo and conditioner that are specifically formulated for colored hair. These products are usually labelled as color-safe. It will help you prolong the effects of the treatment. You can also invest in products suitable for your hair color and texture. Also, choose your shampoo and conditioner according to your hair and scalp condition.
Use A Deep Conditioner And Hair Mask
Your hair care routine is incomplete without deep conditioning. A little bit of pampering your hair with a deep conditioner can leave your locks moisturized and soft (5). You can also indulge in weekly hair masks to nourish your hair.
Use A Heat Protectant
Heat styling tools can cause damage to your hair (6). Skipping out on a heat protectant is a strict no-no. Using a heat protectant prevents heat damage to the hair cuticles. It also makes your hair gloss last longer. Due to popular demand, several at-home glosses are now available in the market. We have listed the best hair glosses to use at home below.
What Are Some Good At-Home Glosses?
Hair glosses are currently trending in the hairstyling industry. Due to its temporary effects and various benefits, many people prefer hair gloss over permanent hair color jobs and hair smoothening treatments. If you are looking for a DIY hair gloss, you can check out these products: What happens if you leave hair gloss on for too long? Check out the infographic below to learn how to do hair gloss treatment at home. This treatment is suitable for all hair types, and you can easily do it at home. The gloss should ideally be on your hair for 15-20 minutes. If it is let to sit for too long, it may overtone your hair. What is the difference between a toner and a gloss? While both are usually referred to as the same treatment, a gloss enhances your hair color while a toner helps balance out the yellow and orange tones on bleached hair. Does gloss cover gray hair? Yes, using a gloss can help cover gray hair and enhance the look of your hair overall.
Sources
Hair color changes and protein damage caused by ultraviolet radiation,https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3229938/ The influence of hair bleach on the ultrastructure of human hair with special reference to hair damage,https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21882590/ Investigation of hair dye deposition, hair color loss, and hair damage during multiple oxidative dyeing and shampooing cycles,https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27319056/ The structure of people’s hair,https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4201279/ Hair shaft damage from heat and drying time of hair dryer,https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3229938/ Essential of Hair Care Cosmetics,https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/3/4/34/html
