Achieving the perfect smooth and shiny hair seems like quite a challenge today given the many available products and treatment options. However, hair gloss treatments in particular have turned out to be the most effective in giving your hair that amazing shine and lustre. But what is a hair gloss treatment really and should you bother with it in your hair care routine? In the following paragraphs, we shall look at hair gloss treatment, its applications, benefits and reasons why it should be considered for your hair.
What Is A Hair Gloss?
Hair gloss is a sort of semi-permanent hair application aimed at making the hair shinier, more vibrant in color and less frizzy. It is not like hair color and other permanent out concealing techniques, where the damage, or rather rather the change, is long lasting. There are two primary types of hair gloss treatments:
Clear Gloss: This type of gloss does not alter your natural hair color but provides an extreme sugary, glass-like shine. Helps anyone wanting to increase the degree of natural shine in the hair whether the hair is bleached or the person simply wants to strengthen the color effect of the dyed hair.
Color-Enhancing Gloss: This gloss provides more extensive color and shine to the hair lightening enhancing the existing color of the hair and making it more bright. This is ideal for people that want to maintain their color treated hair for a little longer but not have to suffer through a full on color application.
Hair glosses often contain ingredients designed to coat the cuticle of each hair strand, providing a protective layer that helps retain moisture, control frizz and achieve that desirable silky finish.
The Science Behind Hair Gloss
There are three layers in our hair structure: medulla, cortex, and cuticle. The loss of the outermost layer known as the cuticle results in an appearance that is dull and lifeless since light scatters off it. Hair gloss treatments apply a coat to the hair shaft so that its cause is a thin, reflective layer which can create a smooth hair cuticle, making it reflect off the hair, which in return will give you an enhanced shine and polished look for your hair.
Since hair gloss treatments are semi-permanent, they wash out gradually over time. Most of these hair gloss treatments have a duration of about 4 to 6 weeks depending on how many times you wash your hair and types of products you use.
Benefits of Hair Gloss Treatment
So, why is hair gloss so popular? Here are some benefits:
Adds Sheen: Of course, the main reason why the market is dominated by hair gloss is because of the high shine with a glass-like finish. For hair users who wish to have their hair look healthy and vibrant, this hair gloss treatment will be perfect because it adds an almost mirror-like effect.
Frizz Reducer: A gloss treatment closes the cuticle of hair, and as such leads to less frizz and flyaways. It also greatly benefits dry, curly, and coarse hair.
Colour Enhancer: For color-treated hair, a gloss will help maintain your colour’s vibrancy, keeping your colour looking fresher and richer. Sometimes, it can even help with brassiness, making it an amazing gloss for blondes or those with light colours.
Minimal Damage Unlike most chemical treatments, hair gloss is mild and causes zero damage. Most gloss formulas are free of harsh chemicals such as ammonia and peroxide.
Quick and Affordable Hair gloss treatments are usually fast and can take as little as 20 minutes to do, which works incredibly for someone who is short on time. Also, relatively affordable, especially compared to some of the other treatments being applied, such as balayage or highlights.
How to Find Your Match
The right hair gloss will depend entirely on your hair needs. Some of the things you’ll want to consider:
For Color-Treated Hair: Actually, the best way to preserve your color-treated hair from fading is a gloss that deposits color. There are some hair glosses which can target specific tones, like ash or golden, to balance brassiness or add warmth.
For Virgin Hair: If you have never dyed your hair, or you do not want a color change, the clear gloss is your best option. It will give an instant splash of shine, adding brightness to your natural color without changing your shade.
For Blonde Hair: If you are a blonde, use a gloss that contains anti-brass formulations as it keeps your hair from falling under those awful yellow or orange tones.
Professional vs. At-Home Gloss Treatments
Sure, it’s possible to obtain a salon-like gloss treatment done professionally in a beauty parlor, but there are many salon-acceptable at-home options that deliver impressive results. Let’s break down the pros and cons of each.
Professional Gloss Treatments
Salons’ glosses are applied by a stylist and tend to be stronger, more controlled, and can be more customized than over-the-counter, at-home glosses. A stylist will be able to use the right tone, formula, and technique to meet your hair’s needs.
Advantages:
Better quality ingredients, salon-grade
Can be customised in terms of color and gloss
Applied by a professional for maximum results
Disadvantages:
Pricier (range of $50 to $100+)
Requires one to see a salon, which may take up too much of one’s time
Self-Gloss Treatments at-Home
At-home gloss treatments are economical and easy to apply. You can have both clear and color-depositing options, so you can go ahead and add some shine and color on your schedule .
.
Pros
Convenient, yet inexpensive-typically between $10 to $30
Easy to get-from drugstores or online
Good for just touch-ups between salon visits
Cons
Less precise application
Doesn’t last as long as a salon treatment
Your color palette is limited
How to Use Hair Gloss in the comfort of Your Own Home
Applying hair gloss at home is actually not that complicated. Here’s how to do it best:
First is Washing Your Hair using Clarifying Shampoo: Before even starting with the gloss application, your hair must be clean. Most ladies follow this procedure by washing their hair using a clarifying shampoo a day before applying the gloss. That way, the hair will be free from any substance used before and can be distributed properly along the strands of hair.
Apply Evenly: Be sure to apply product cautiously and apply thinly to all of your hair. You can use a wide-tooth comb to make it easier to apply evenly.
Timing Is Everything: Most gloss treatments have to be left on for almost 20 minutes. However, that time may vary with products, so be sure to set that timer to avoid over-processing.
Rinse Thoroughly: You want to make sure that all product is washed out of your hair. If you have dry locks, now’s the time to condition with a hydrating conditioner.
How to Take Care of Glossy Hair
A few secrets will keep that shine around as long as possible. Here’s how you can take care of that shine:
Sulfate-Free Shampoos: Using products full of sulfates means that your color and gloss is going to fade away faster than you want to admit to anyone, so use a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to keep that shine going.
Limit Heat Styling: Heat fades semi-permanent treatments pretty fast, so try to limit your use of hot tools. When you do style with heat, make sure to use a heat protectant spray while you are styling.
Wash Less Frequently: The more often you wash your hair, the faster it will strip the gloss away. Try to limit washing to two or three times a week if possible.
Use color-safe products: If you use a gloss that is known to deposit color, use only color-safe hair products. This will keep your hair fresh and vibrant, too.
Is Hair Gloss Suitable for You?
Hair gloss is suitable for almost all hair types and textures, but it’s especially beneficial for those who want to enhance shine, get rid of frizz, or keep the color looking new. Whether your hair is parched and dull or you are just in the mood for a more vibrant version of your current color, then the gloss can prove an easy route to revive your look without permanent color.
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Final Thoughts
Hair gloss treatments do make even imperfect hair glow with an accessible, gentle touch. You can either get it at the salon or resort to using it at home, but you definitely see a boost in shine and color depth, making your hair look healthier and more vivid. Ready to give your hair a makeover that’s radiant without the fuss or expense? Add a gloss treatment to your hair-care routine – it’s the little step with very beautiful rewards!