Everything to know about hair glosses, according to two hairdressers
IMAGE VIA @alchemysalon.co/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY CAIT EMMA BURKE
“Think of it as cellophane for your hair!”
The first time I saw the results of a hair gloss in person, I was on a media trip on a ski field. For a little context, I was with a group of other editors, writers and influencers and we’d just been skiing to celebrate the launch of a new sunblock (I know, our jobs are absurd). Anyway, when one of the influencers removed her helmet I was flabbergasted to see her long, glossy, shiny hair cascade down her shoulders in what felt like slow motion.
While most of us had a severe case of helmet hair – mine was literally stuck to my face at the front and riddled with knots in the back – hers looked like she’d just stepped out of the salon. Obviously, being the nosy, beauty-obsessed person I am, I asked her how her hair looked so exceptional, despite the weather. “Oh, it’s this thing called a hair gloss!” she exclaimed.
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Since that day, I’ve always been incredibly intrigued by hair glosses, but for some bizarre reason, I’ve yet to actually bite the bullet and get one. Now it’s winter, my hair is feeling dry and lacklustre and it’s very much feeling like time for me to finally try out a hair gloss. To find out everything I need to know about getting a hair gloss treatment, I spoke to Australian hairdressers Dan Collins and Becc Snow.
Dan Collins, freelance hairstylist at Curlysiouxsie
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What exactly is a hair gloss and when would you recommend it to clients?
A gloss, alternatively known as a toner or demi-permanent colour, is a temporary colour you can request in the salon to touch up your hair. A gloss may be used all over the hair or to blend your roots! We typically use them after highlights and balayage, or as a finishing touch after scalp bleach or permanent colour.
How do they work?
Glosses work by sitting on the outside layer of the cuticle, think of it as cellophane for your hair! With a gloss, you have the flexibility to change up your hair with minimal commitment or to allow your colour to grow out with minimal maintenance.
What are the different types of hair glosses?
Glosses come in just about any colour you can think of, from black to brown to copper to caramel to blonde.
How does it differ from getting your hair coloured?
Well, you can absolutely just get a gloss as a stand-alone service if you feel like you need a refresh to add tone and shine. Glosses won’t lighten the hair, and they aren’t permanent. Think of a gloss as the finishing touch to your colour!
Is a hair gloss treatment expensive?
Different stylists will charge different prices depending on their level of expertise and the amount of hair you have. For me, a gloss starts at $100.
Can I do a hair gloss treatment at home?
A gloss is a bespoke in-salon service because we customise the colour to suit your hair, your skin and your desired result, but there are a lot of brands that carry amazing at-home toning products. I like Christophe Robins Toning Pots. They have baby blonde, golden blonde, chic copper, ash brown and warm chestnut.
Becc Snow, founder of Alchemy Hair
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What exactly is a hair gloss and when would you recommend it to clients?
A gloss is a type of semi-permanent hair colour! It’s kind of like lipgloss for your hair but lasts three to six weeks. We recommend this in many situations, it’s for all hair types and can be used to add colour, shine, strength and/or hydration.
How do they work?
They work by coating the outside of the hair shaft and creating a beautiful seal on the hair cuticle. Being a semi-permanent colour they do not lift or shift the colour underneath, only tone or deepen the hair colour.
They use a low volume activator which opens the cuticle enough to allow all the good ingredients in but not enough to lift or shift the colour underneath.
What are the different types of hair glosses?
Many different brands offer gloss-style colours or treatments and they will all differ in some ways but essentially they all do the same thing. Their main purpose is to add tone, depth or balance to your hair colour. They also come in a clear shade that has no pigment. This purely adds shine and nourishment to the hair.
We use Kevin Murphy Color.Me at Alchemy and our glosses also have a bond builder inside which means they repair the hair from the inside as well as providing pigment and shine, they are awesome and feel amazing on the hair.
How does it differ from getting your hair coloured?
A gloss is a very sheer and light hair colour, it’s used more as a refresher or booster to your general hair colour. Think of hair colour as your lipstick and hair gloss as your lipgloss that goes over the top!
Is a hair gloss treatment expensive?
A gloss is usually priced somewhere between a toner and a tint! And it will differ depending on your hair length and thickness. They are a great option for in between your regular hair appointments to balance out any fading, boost any colour loss or refresh any brassy tones as well as provide shine.
Can I do a hair gloss treatment at home?
No, a gloss treatment is something we offer in salon only as it is a professional product.
For more on hair gloss, head here.
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