I Just Tried a Hair Gloss Treatment, and It’s Giving Glass Hair IRL

After snipping off the last remnants of my red hair, my locks have looked…dull. I have naturally dark brown hair, but on most days, it just looks like one solid black hue. I was itching for more shine and dimension—something akin to glass hair. So I decided to try out a hair gloss treatment. According to Google, gloss treatments have been trending at all-time high as folks are searching for “what is a hair gloss treatment,” and “glossy hair.” 

I recently popped into my local Ulta Beauty (yes, they have a full-fledged salon) and put my trust into the hairstylist to walk me through the whole process. Let’s just say my hair is thanking me right now. Plus, I chatted with three hairstylists to learn more about the buzzy treatment and how to do it right at home, too. 

• Philip Foresto is a professional hairstylist, salon owner of Salon Icon and brand ambassador for Redken Pro. He specializes in hair coloring (like ‘expensive hair’ technique), cutting and styling. He also spends time educating aspiring stylists through his classes. 
• Emily Cable is a stylist at Nine Zero One salon in Los Angeles. She specializes in extensions, bleaching, coloring and hair transformations. Her previous clients include Amy Boland Hauser and Tate McRae. 
• Jonathan Colombini is a celebrity hairstylist and global color expert for Schwarzkopf. He’s also a stylist at Sally Hershberger in Los Angeles. His previous clients include Kristen Chenoweth, Shannen Doherty and Geena Davis. 

“A hair gloss treatment is a demi-permanent color application that enhances color, corrects tones or simply glosses the hair for a shiny, expensive look,” explains Foresto. It can also neutralize unwanted brassiness and cover up grays without the full commitment of a dye job. 

What Are the Benefits of a Hair Gloss Treatment? 

Although I went with a blowout, my stylist (and the experts) noted that all hair types and textures can benefit from a hair gloss treatment. “Hair glosses are designed specifically to coat the strands and result in healthy shiny hair that has zero damage,” adds Foresto. A few other benefits include:

• It’s temporary. According to Foresto, a hair gloss treatment can last up to 28 washes before fading gradually. 
• It’s a quick solution. The process doesn’t take too long, so expect 15 to 20 minutes of your time to start seeing some shine peeking through.
• It can enhance your natural/existing hair color. As mentioned before, a hair gloss treatment will enhance its vibrancy and shine of your strands. 

If your hair is looking a bit blah lately and you can’t head into a salon, you might want to consider an at-home hair gloss. But there are a few things you should know about the treatment before clicking add to cart. “You can think of it as a temporary color balancer,” says Colombini. “A clear gloss will just add shine, whereas a tinted gloss can also help neutralize brassiness or add warmth, depending on your needs.”

But both Colombini and Cable agree that at-home versions don’t typically last as long as salon treatments. “When a hairstylist mixes a toner for a client, it could require multiple shades to make the perfect tone for them,” explains Cable. “Each client’s toner is customized to them specifically, which is why most at-home versions aren’t exactly comparable,” she adds. However, they both note that it can still be a great substitute for when you can’t get to your stylist. 

How Often Can You Get a Hair Gloss Treatment? 

My stylist recommended that I go every three months to get a hair gloss treatment. Though Foresto says you can just wait until your current gloss completely fades out. He adds, “Overlapping glosses can result in darkening the client's color which may lead to unwanted tones.”