There’s nothing like the feeling of walking out of the hairdresser with newly coloured hair — that golden balayage that hints of 10 days spent in St Tropez rather than two hours in the stylist's chair, or those rich brown lowlights that make your locks look like they’ve been dipped in silky chocolate. However, inevitably, a few weeks later, the gloss starts to wear off.
Maintaining that just-left-the-salon colour is no mean feat, but we may have discovered the secret to keeping it fresh: hair glazing. This game-changing treatment means you can say goodbye to dull, brassy tones and hello to the rich, glass-shiny finish loved by the A-list. Here’s what you need to know.
Glazing adds shine and subtle colour
So, what is hair glazing exactly? ‘A glaze is a long-lasting demi-permanent colour you can apply onto natural or lightened hair to add shine, tonality or depth,’ explains Wella Professionals Digital Ambassador James Earnshaw. ‘They’re a modern, supercharged version of your classic toner.’ Glazes can be used to keep your salon shade looking richer and brighter for longer, or to boost your colour between treatments. They can also help to tame flyaways and frizz.
It’s different to glossing
Often used interchangeably, glazing and glossing are actually slightly different. While they both boost colour and shine, glosses are designed to penetrate deeper so they will last longer, while glazes sit on top of the hair and are gentler on your locks.
Created to help customers achieve a luxurious, high-shine look, Wella Professionals’ new in-salon Shinefinity glaze promises ‘true-to-tone’ colour and a glossy finish with ‘zero lift or damage’. ‘The Shinefinity formula doesn’t contain ammonia, peroxide or drying alcohol,’ says Earnshaw. ‘It’s zero damage, so you don’t have to worry about breakage, leaving the hair with this incredible healthy-looking shine.’
It works on all hair types
Hair glazing isn’t just for those who want to extend the life of their new colour. It also works on dyed hair in between treatments to boost the vibrancy of your shade. And as well as a wide range of tints, there are clear glazes that can be used on hair that hasn’t been colour treated to add instant shine and shimmer.
It’s quick and easy
This treatment doesn’t require hours in the hairdresser’s chair. Once you’ve selected your shade – Shinefinity has a choice of 32 divided into four colour families: warms, naturals, cools and boosters – your stylist will mix it with an activator. It is then applied to pre-shampooed wet or dry hair. It can either be smoothed from root to tip or tailored to your individual look, perhaps focusing on face-framing layers or just the mid-lengths and ends.
‘If you’re short on time, make the Speed Glaze service your go-to,’ recommends Earnshaw. Applied after shampooing, it only takes 10 minutes. Or there’s the Signature Glaze, which is applied with a brush for greater precision and takes around 20 minutes. It can be used after colouring or as a stand-alone treatment.’ A Shinefinity treatment typically lasts for 20+ washes.
It taps into this season’s biggest hair trends
Super-luxe, high-shine locks continue to be a huge trend this season, as we increasingly focus on our hair’s health and condition. (There are currently over 215k #glossyhair posts on Instagram.) And it’s not just meant for super-straight styles; we’re also seeing the glass-shiny finish on big bouncy blow-dries, 1970s shag cuts and natural textured hair.
Fendi, Versace and Proenza Schouler all went full-gloss on the SS22 catwalks, while A-listers including Jourdan Dunn, Selena Gomez and Jessica Chastain have all rocked the look on the red carpet. In other words, get glazing because 2022 is our time to shine.
Wella Shinefinity glaze is an in-salon colour service – find participating salons near you at wella.com/professional/en-UK/salon-finder
