How to Give Yourself a Salon-Quality Gloss Treatment at Home

Apply a clear or tinted gloss to damp hair, process for 10-20 minutes, then rinse for instant shine and color enhancement.

Gloss treatments are the closest thing to hair magic — they fix everything from dullness to brassiness in twenty minutes, which is exactly why salons charge three times what the product costs.

1. Start with clean, damp hair. Shampoo as usual but skip conditioner. Your hair should be about 80% dry — damp enough for product to distribute evenly but not dripping. This prevents diluting the gloss formula.
2. Section and apply methodically. Divide hair into four quadrants and work in thin sections. Apply gloss from mid-length to ends first, then work toward roots if doing all-over color. Use a tint brush for precision and even coverage.
3. Process and monitor timing. Clear glosses need 10-15 minutes, tinted glosses 15-20 minutes maximum. Set a timer and check color development every 5 minutes. Over-processing leads to darker results than intended.
4. Rinse thoroughly and style. Use cool water to rinse until water runs clear, then apply a lightweight conditioner to ends only. Style as normal — the gloss will enhance your hair's natural texture and add serious shine.