The 411 on Hair Glazes: How This Salon Service Can Amp up Your Color

A hair glaze is a salon treatment that can help your strands look healthy and glossy. Here’s what to know before booking an appointment.

What Is a Hair Glaze?

A hair glaze is a non-permanent hair color treatment that helps add shine to your strands, control frizz, and enhance your hair color. Typically, stylists will apply a glaze for hair after shampooing, let it sit for about 10-20 minutes, and then rinse and style your hair as usual. Once dry, a glaze functions similarly for your hair as a top coat does for nails: It can help give your hair a healthy-looking appearance and an ultra-reflective finish.

What’s the difference between a hair glaze and a hair gloss?

The main difference between a hair glaze and a hair gloss is that the former sits on the surface of the hair, whereas the latter penetrates more deeply for longer-lasting results.

Both are low-commitment, shine-enhancing services that gradually fade. However, glazed hair is the way to go if you’re happy with your current hair color and just want a quick fix for shine and frizz. Another upside to a glaze is that it tends to be gentler on your mane since it doesn’t lift your hair’s cuticle.

Does a Hair Glaze Change Your Hair Color?

A hair glaze can very subtly enrich your hue if you opt for a tinted formula rather than a clear one. A clear glaze, on the other hand, is ideal for enhancing the vibrancy of both virgin and color-treated hair. Whichever you choose, keep in mind that glazes can't actually lift or lighten your hue—only bleach can do that.

How Long Does a Hair Glaze Last?

Results from a glazed hair treatment typically fade within a week or two, but this can vary depending on things like how often you wash your hair and overexposure to the sun. The only true way to maintain glazed hair is to book another service, but frequent salon visits are not always realistic.

Does a Hair Glaze Cover Gray Hair?

Hair glazes, even tinted ones, won’t cover grays since they’re sheer. If gray coverage is your goal, we recommend booking an appointment for a hair gloss instead.

Do I Need a Glaze After Highlights?

When you have your hair colored at the salon, a glazed hair treatment is often the final step. This is true whether you opt for highlights, balayage, or an all-over color.