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What Is Hair Glaze? | & When to Use It

Wondering, “what is hair glaze?” If so, you’re in the right place. We’ll show you what this product does, its benefits, things to consider, and much more. Read on to learn all you need to know!

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There are tons of hair products on the market, and your hair deserves the best ones. With so many similar-sounding names and product types, it’s easy to get confused. Besides, different hair types need different treatments.

Hair Glaze is one such product that adds shine to your freshly colored hair. It’s a great way of taking care of your new color so that you can get the most out of it while it lasts.

That said, if you’re exploring what’s best for your new style or color, read on. In this article, we’re exploring hair glaze and everything you need to know about it.

Let’s dive in!

What Is Hair Glaze?

For a piece on what is hair glaze, a blonde woman smiling and closing her eyes against a grey wall with curly hair falling in front of her face

YuriyZhuravov

In short, hair glaze is a non-permanent hair color treatment, making it a great way of adding some extra shine and vibrance to your new color. It also reduces flyaways and frizziness to help your style stay in place.

On top of that, hair glaze also prevents hair cuticles from tangling, making it a fabulous product for coarse hair and other hair types that are harder to manage. Unlike permanent colors, hair glaze doesn’t contain any ammonia or peroxide, so it naturally fades out of your hair.

As such, using hair glaze doesn’t require a massive amount of commitment. You’re not stuck with the results for long if you don’t want to maintain that color. This is one of the reasons why hair glaze is often used in the modeling industry.

It goes a long way to keep their hair shiny and vibrant throughout the day of a photo shoot. It can similarly be used to brighten up your style for a special occasion. Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at some of the common questions and misconceptions regarding hair glaze:

Hair Glaze vs Hair Toner

Woman spraying hair gloss onto her hair while wearing a towel

Prostock-Studio/Shutterstock

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.

Hair Glaze vs Hair Gloss

The terms hair glaze and hair gloss are often used interchangeably, despite some crucial differences. It’s true that both products prolong the lifespan of your hair color, add gloss to your hair, and make it look shiny and healthy. 

A hair glaze, however, is a less intrusive product for your hair. It only coats the hair shaft and doesn’t contain any strong chemicals that change the structure of your hair. Also, hair glaze is much easier to apply.

On the other hand, hair gloss does penetrate the hair’s cuticles, so it often lasts longer (usually between two to four weeks).

Unfortunately, it’s easy to get the products confused when shopping for them in the supermarket. Initially, a glaze referred to products that added shine as well as semi-permanent color.

However, companies often add the word “gloss” to these dye products because of their appeal. Consequently, you need to dig a little deeper into the product before making a purchase. 

Our advice: To just add shine to your hair, find a gloss or glaze that is “clear.” If you’re aiming to boost your color or highlights, choose a gloss or glaze with a “semi-permanent color” on the packaging. 

Benefits of Hair Glaze

Nice looking brunette wearing red lip grins at the camera and holds her hair in her left hand

Sofia Zhuravetc/Shutterstock

Aside from adding that desirable shine to your hair, a good hair glaze also comes with several advantages. 

Most notably:

  • Increased longevity of your hair color
  • An added gloss to your hair for a healthy, vibrant look
  • A reduction in frizz and flyaway hairs for a more controlled hairstyle
  • Reduced tangling of coarser hair, making it more manageable
  • It can repair damaged locks and seal individual hair shafts to reduce the damage from the sun, chlorine, and heat treatments. 
  • It can refresh short-lived hair colors, especially warm tones like reds and auburns. 

But perhaps the most popular reason for using a hair glaze is to add a translucent wash of color to colored hair to give its hue more dimension; A clear glaze on uncolored hair helps pronounce its natural highlights and lowlights.

How Long Does Hair Glaze Last?

Hair glaze can last anywhere between one and two weeks, depending on how frequently you wash your hair and the sort of shampoo you use. Hair glaze is a non-intrusive product that only coats the outside of your hair shafts. As such, it easily washes out over time.

We recommend glazing your hair every two to four weeks to keep your hair looking fresh, healthy, and vibrant. Much like a manicure, this will keep your hair in excellent condition and lend more strength to your hair color.

How to Apply Hair Glaze

Pretty thin young woman standing in her underwear holding hair glaze up to her hair

Olena Yakobchuk/Shutterstock

Glazing your hair at home couldn’t be easier. Wash your hair and squeeze the water from it after shampooing and conditioning it. Then apply the hair glaze from root to tip. You’ll want to leave it in for several minutes.

Some glazes operate in as little as three minutes. Still, check the packaging of your particular product and follow its instructions. Commonly, the process will take between five and 20 minutes.

Once the glaze has been in your hair for the required time, simply wash it out and style it as you usually would. You should notice the results immediately after your first treatment.

Does Hair Glaze Damage Your Hair?

Put simply, hair glaze doesn’t damage your hair. Hair glazes and glosses are safer for your hair than permanent colors because they only coat the exterior of your hair. They don’t attack its structure or penetrate the cuticles.

A glaze treatment washes out after a few weeks and is, therefore, a simple, non-intrusive treatment for adding extra shine to your style.

Our Top Pick
John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Luminous Hair Glaze


Check Latest Price
We may earn a commission when you click this link, at no extra cost to you.

Hair Glaze: Our Final Thoughts

To answer the question

NDAB Creativity/Shutterstock

All in all, glazing your hair at home is pretty straightforward. If you’re looking for more healthy-looking, vibrant locks, why not give the treatment a go? You can easily pick up hair glaze in your local store or online to give it a try!