What is a Hair Gloss and How Do You Use One?

If you have color-treated hair, you’re probably always on the lookout for products that can help keep your color looking fresh for as long as possible. While switching to a color-safe shampoo and conditioner is a great first step, there’s another product you should consider adding to your lineup: hair gloss. These toning treatments can help boost your color, protect against fading, and leave your color-treated tresses looking sleek and shiny.

For more details on hair gloss treatments—including what they are and how they differ from other color services like hair glazes—keep reading. We’ll share all the need-to-know information ahead and introduce you to our favorite at-home hair gloss to add to your weekly routine.

What Is a Hair Gloss?

A hair gloss is a type of treatment designed to help tone, condition, and add shine to your strands. They can come tinted or untinted—the former helps nourish the hair and boost shine, while the latter also provides a subtle wash of color to enhance your existing hue and neutralize brassy tones.

There are two ways you can go about glossing your hair. The first way is at the salon. During your appointment, your colorist will use a professional gloss to help smooth your hair and enhance your color. These types of treatments can be done alongside a traditional coloring service or alone in between touch-ups.

At-home hair glosses are another option. Like professional formulas, at-home glosses can help smooth your hair, prolong your hair color, and give your strands a glassy, glossy finish—without the need for a pricey trip to the salon.

What are the benefits of a hair gloss?

Hair gloss treatments offer several benefits, particularly for those with color-treated hair. These popular treatments help boost shine, enhance your hair color, neutralize unwanted warmth, and extend the life of your color so you can go longer between touch-ups. Many also help smooth and condition the hair, which can help reduce the appearance of concerns like split ends, dryness, and frizz. How long these benefits last depends on the formula you’re using, though most hair glosses are considered semi-permanent, with results lasting anywhere from 10 days to a few weeks, depending on how often you shampoo.

Who should use a hair gloss?

Anyone can benefit from the shine-boosting, color-enhancing properties of a hair gloss treatment. However, those with color-treated hair that’s beginning to fade or lose its vibrancy will typically see the most notable improvements in their hair color, texture, and luster.

If you have virgin hair, you can still use a hair gloss to help breathe new life into your strands, but there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. First, it’s important to determine whether you want to use a tinted gloss hair color treatment or a clear formula. The former will deposit pigment onto your strands, while the latter simply conditions, smooths, and adds shine. If you decide to use a tinted formula, be sure that the shade you choose closely matches your natural hair color—otherwise, you risk (temporarily) altering your shade. Fortunately, hair glosses don’t contain bleach or ammonia, so picking the wrong hue won’t lighten or damage your hair.

How To Use a Hair Gloss at Home

If you’re prepared to tackle your glossing needs at home, the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss is the perfect product to help you do that. There’s no mixing or mess involved, and you’ll see results in as little as five minutes. Here’s how to use the at-home hair gloss:

Step 1. Shampoo your hair as usual, then squeeze out any excess water and lightly detangle your hair with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb.

Step 2. Apply an even layer of hair gloss to your strands from the roots all the way to the ends. Then, let it sit for between five and 15 minutes, depending on your desired outcome.

Step 3. Rinse your hair thoroughly with lukewarm water, then complete your shower routine as usual—no need to condition.

The gloss is available in a wide range of shades to complement different natural and permanent hair colors. All are ammonia-free, sulfate-free, and suitable for all hair types and textures.

Hair Gloss vs. Hair Glaze: What’s the Difference?

Hair glazes and hair glosses differ primarily in how long they last. As mentioned earlier, hair glosses are typically semi-permanent, with results lasting up to a few weeks, depending on your haircare routine. Hair glazes, meanwhile, offer more temporary results—typically, between a week or two. Both, however, can help add shine, smooth the hair, and enhance your hue. And, both can be done at home.

To give your strands a smooth, shiny finish, consider adding the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing In-Shower Acidic Glaze to your routine. The acidic treatment helps seal the hair cuticle to leave color-treated hair looking smooth, silky, and shiny. For the best results, we suggest using it alongside the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Conditioner.

Is Gloss Damaging to Hair?

No, hair gloss isn’t typically damaging—in fact, most formulas are designed to help reduce the appearance of damage. However, as with any hair color product, it’s important to choose the right formula and use it as directed to achieve your desired results. If you opt for a salon gloss, your colorist can tell you when and how often to return to the salon to maintain your results. For those using at-home formulas, we recommend reading the instructions on the package and following them closely to ensure the best possible outcome.

How Often Should You Gloss Hair?

Semi-permanent hair gloss that lasts for about a month or so usually only needs a refresh every four weeks, especially if it’s done at the salon. If you’re using a hair gloss at home, you may need to make it a more regular part of your hair care routine, depending on how quickly your hair color fades. Your haircare routine can also play a role in how long your results last. Again, the package instructions should give you a clearer idea of how often you’ll need to reach for your gloss to maintain your hair color.

3 Additional Tips for Maintaining Your Hair Color

While using a hair gloss can be a great way to enhance your color and shine, it’s also important to use products designed for your hair’s unique needs. Here are three tips to keep in mind when building a routine for color-treated hair.

1. Use shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair

Coloring your hair can be damaging, especially if the process involves bleach. To help keep your hair looking and feeling its best, it’s a good idea to swap out your go-to shampoo and conditioner for a duo designed for color-treated hair. We love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair Shampoo with Citric Acid and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair Conditioner with Citric Acid, particularly for those with split ends, breakage, or other signs of damage. Use the pair alongside the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment to help strengthen your strands and reduce breakage.

2. Add a hair mask to your weekly routine

Giving your hair a bit of TLC is a great way to help ensure your mane looks (and feels) its best. Once a week or so, consider swapping out your usual conditioner for the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Simply Clean Elastic Fiber Masque. The cream-to-fiber formula with collagen peptides envelopes hair in essential moisture, leaving the strands feeling soft, smooth, and nourished. It’s formulated for all hair types and is color-safe, so you won’t have to worry about the deep conditioning formula disrupting your color.

3. Minimize heat styling

Frequent exposure to high temperatures can cause your color to fade faster—and all that heat can leave your hair feeling dry, brittle, or damaged. As such, it’s a good idea to limit your use of hot tools if you want to keep your hair looking strong and healthy. If you do need to reach for the blow dryer or flat iron, be sure to prep your hair with a heat protectant to help shield your strands against damage. We love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Blow Dry Primer for 48 HR Frizz Control, as it smooths the hair, fights frizz, and protects from temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit without any weigh-down. The leave-in’s addictive almond blossom fragrance is just an added bonus.

Next Up: How To Find the Best L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Hair Color for You

Photo Courtesy of L'Oréal Paris