You can't really lighten up with a glaze or a gloss, but you can somewhat darken the shade of your natural or already color-treated hair. Or, if your hair is blonde or on the lighter side, it's possible to experiment with a cast of gold, red, or otherwise.
Glazes differ from traditional hair color in that they do not have any peroxide or developer. They deposit temporary color without opening or penetrating the hair cuticle and making a permanent color change.
A glaze is an ammonia- and peroxide-free color deposit that is applied to wet hair. During the time it sits atop the hair, the glaze adds extra moisture, shine, and color while taming frizz and flyaways in the process. When the hair is done soaking in the product, it's rinsed out for immediately noticeable results.
As hair glaze adds a semi-permanent color to your hair, it functions similarly to hair toners. However, hair toner is more commonly used to correct your hair color after you've had it colored. It can make reds and other warm tones more vibrant in dark hair or remove the orange brassiness from freshly bleached hair.
A glazing treatment forms a semi-permanent clear layer over each hair shaft that helps prevent your permanent color from fading. Just as a top coat keeps a manicure looking beautiful longer, glazing maintains your beautiful color the way it looked when you left the salon.
Glaze, gloss, and toner are all basically the same thing. “Toner” is and older term for a process that was simply used to counter-act unwanted hues. Today, we say “Glaze” for a process that is similar, but is used more for enhancing color or as a color treatment on its own.
Because hair glaze doesn't penetrate strands—it simply coats them—it's considered a semi-permanent option that lasts about one to two weeks, depending on how frequently you wash and what type of shampoo you use, says Lumzy.
Glazes have no ammonia or peroxide, so will last in the hair up to one week, whereas a gloss can last up to four weeks."
A glaze provides translucent color and intense conditioning. Glaze will enhance any variation of tone that you hair naturally has, allowing for a more subdued shade. If you have gray hair, and you put a gloss on, it will have a very tonal effect as opposed to one solid opaque color.
To keep them looking on point, though, you might need to adjust your hair care routine, and this includes washing. After a highlight or balayage appointment, it's good to wait between 48 and 72 hours before washing your hair.
Most of the glazes are over $20/pint but we'll go with an average price of $20/pint for commercial bottled glazes.
How long it lasts: Because glaze is made without ammonia or peroxide, it sits on top of the hair and doesn't bind as well as a gloss does. Meaning, it's easier to wash out and you'll only get about one week of added shine, as opposed to the four to six a gloss gives you.
A gloss penetrates the hair's cuticle, so it lasts two to four weeks. A glaze, on the other hand, simply coats the shaft with shine and semipermanent color; it's like putting a top coat of polish on your hair, and it lasts a week or two.
Applying glaze too thickly can cause the glaze to run off the pot, weld lids to pots and pots to kiln shelves, and can result in blistering. Applying glaze unevenly may result in splotches and streaking in both color and texture.
Apply two to three coats. Make sure you wipe off any glaze from the base of your piece before setting it aside to dry.
Bleed the color out
A regular or clarifying shampoo would be the best product in this situation, and ideally, you should keep washing it until enough dark dye has bled out of your hair that you're happy with the resulting hue.
Boost volume and thickness.
Glazes not only add shine, they bond to your hair strand, giving it a thicker feel and more texture. Many glazes can also be applied at home, saving you from visiting a salon every few weeks.
Should I wash my hair before coloring? Glaze Super Color Conditioning Gloss is designed to be used on dry hair, before jumping into the shower. For results that will blow your mind away, dampen your dry hair before applying the Super Color Conditioning Gloss.
Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia are the most commonly used bleaching agents. They are often mixed together, because when used separately, they are unstable and very slow in lightening the hair.
Apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar are easy and cheap options for lightening your hair. Rinse your hair in vinegar and then rinse it again in cold water to lift color and revitalize dull strands. Top with a gloss or conditioner to seal in moisture—this is crucial if you've had a bleach mishap before.
Product Information
Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color B3, Café con Leche, is a high lift shade with ultra reflective warm tones designed to lighten dark hair up to 3 levels with out any bleach. Is This Shade Right For Me? B3 is best for anyone with natural hair between medium brown and black.
The primary similarity between washes and glazes is the translucent color effects possible with both, which allows the undertone of the color to show itself. Typically, washes soak into a surface, while glazes sit on top.
Both hair gloss and hair glaze are no-commitment treatments that will fade on their own over time.