As we rise from winter’s dusk and embrace spring’s sunshine, I’m sure you’re wondering how to spruce up your look. Winter weather can impact your strands more than you think. A lack of moisture in the air and harsh cold temperatures can create dry, brittle, and frizzy hair, often leading to split ends and breakage if not cared for properly.
This damage can be exasperated on color-treated hair. Treatments are equally as important as regular color-touch-ups for your chemically treated strands. Consider how you approach skin and body care. Whether it’s extra moisture, shine, or a good tone treatment, it’s important to understand when your hair needs what, especially chemically altered hair.
NaturallyCurly tapped celebrity hairstylist and color aficionado Guy Tang for advice on how to use hair glosses, glazes, toners, and dyes to your hair’s advantage. His celebrity portfolio includes the custom wigs worn by Meg Thee Stallion in the WAP music video with Cardi B and work with Paris Hilton.
Tang recently expanded his “Mydentity” hair product brand, which features custom hair colors to help people embody their purpose through funky, exciting hair. If you want to liven up your curls, coils, and waves with a pop of color, his warm shade collection is perfect for adding rich copper, vibrant reds, and golden brown shades to your hair.
What is a gloss treatment? What are the benefits?
A gloss treatment is a versatile option to enhance shine and overall hair appearance. It involves applying either a semi-permanent color gloss or a clear gloss such as the #mydentity REFLECT Liquid Demi Clear, formulated with Keratin Amino Acids to boost hair health. Glosses can enhance shine, condition and moisturize hair, boost the vibrancy of hair color, and seal the cuticle, reducing frizz and improving overall texture.
What is a glaze? How does it differ from a gloss?
A glaze is a salon treatment that provides temporary color and shine. Hair glazes typically do not contain ammonia and peroxide, making them a more gentle way to add subtle color or shine to hair without causing damage or committing to a permanent color change.
While gloss and glaze are often used interchangeably, there are differences in their formulation and intended purposes. Both refer to similar treatments that enhance overall hair appearance and shine. Still, glazes tend to have more pigmentation than in which overall hair appearance and shine is enhanced, but glazes tend to have more pigmentation than glosses.
Will a gloss treatment lift my hair?
A gloss treatment will not lift or lighten hair. Glosses work by depositing color or clear gloss onto the hair shaft. Adding a color gloss can deepen and enrich existing color, and a clear gloss will enhance shine without affecting color.
Is toner dye?
Image Source: @guy_tang
Toner is a hair dye product that functions differently than traditional permanent or demi-permanent hair dyes. Toner addresses unwanted tones and enhances desired tones rather than changing the overall color.
What types of clients do you recommend toner, glosses, glazes, and dyes to?
Toner, glosses, glazes, and dyes cater to various needs and preferences, and clients can benefit from each treatment. A toner is recommended for clients who have recently bleached or lightened their hair and want to neutralize unwanted tones.
Glosses work well for clients who want to add shine and enhance the overall appearance of their hair without making a permanent change. A glaze is recommended for clients who want to add shine and enhance the overall appearance of their hair and those who want to smooth their hair cuticle and reduce frizz. I recommend dyes to anyone interested in making a significant change to their hair color and willing to commit to regular maintenance and touch-ups.
Can you tone virgin hair?
Toner targets the underlying pigments that are exposed during bleaching or lightening. Since virgin hair has not been chemically treated or colored, these underlying tones need not be adjusted with toner.
What does aftercare look like for the different treatments?
For all treatments: Wait 24 to 48 hours before washing your hair after treatments to allow the effects to set in to fully set in. Use sulfate-free and color-safe shampoo and conditioner to help maintain longevity and prevent premature fading. I recommend the Olaplex NO. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and AG Hair Curl Revive Sulfate Free Hydrating Shampoo.
Gloss: Consider deep conditioning treatment regularly to keep the hair hydrated and maintain the gloss’s vibrancy. Also, avoid excessive heat or harsh styling products as they can cause gloss and color fading.
Glaze: I’d suggest a leave-in conditioner or hair oil to seal moisture and maintain the glaze’s shine and smoothness.
Dye: Avoid hot water when washing hair, as it can strip away the color and cause fading. Consider using a color-depositing conditioner like #MyRefresh or a mask once a week to refresh the color and keep it looking vibrant.
There’s a common myth that dyes ruin hair. I’m curious to hear your take on this.
While the statement that dyes ruin your hair can be true, it is a bit of an oversimplification. Frequent and improper use of hair dyes can lead to damage, but it is inaccurate to say all dyes ruin hair. Over time, frequent use of dye can weaken the hair, leading to dryness, breakage, and brittleness. The key to minimizing damage from hair dye is proper application and technique. A skilled hair stylist will assess a client’s health and choose the appropriate dye formula and strength to minimize damage. Proper aftercare (mentioned above) is also essential!
Does hair texture impact how glazes, glosses, dyes, and toners penetrate the hair?
Image Source: @guy_tang
Yes, hair texture impacts how glazes, glosses, dyes, and toners penetrate the hair. Factors such as porosity, coarseness, curvature, condition, and absorption rate affect how glazes, glosses, dyes, and tones penetrate the hair and the resulting color or tone. Highly porous hair tends to absorb color more quickly and deeply, which can lead to faster fading.
I know my hair could benefit from a new treatment. Where do you recommend I start in the process?
First, identify your hair needs. As previously mentioned, glazes, glosses, dyes, and toners all do different things and target different issues, so figure out what you need. Next, please consult a professional, talk to your stylist about what would be best for your hair, let them assess your hair’s condition, and discuss realistic goals for your hair and lifestyle.
Can I gloss, glaze, or tone my hair at home? Are there specific products I should look out for?
When doing these treatments at home, it is important to choose the right products. I’d always recommend seeing a professional for a permanent color change.
Should my stylist be adding a gloss or glaze to my service?
It depends on your hair needs, preferences, and the desired outcome. If you want to add shine and try something new, a gloss or glaze can be a fun intro to color! Just as easily as you identify a break-out on your face or a random scratch on your body, pay as much attention to your hair’s behavior.
If you’re undecided on applying color to your hair, check out this expert take here.
