Thinning, Brittle Strands? Stylists Say This Hair Color Service Adds Shine Without The Damage. (2025)

Permanent hair dye is a major commitment—and sometimes, a major gamble. Beyond the risk of ending up with the wrong color, they can take a real toll on your strands. Chemical coloring can cause hair damage, contribute to hair loss, and even result in sores on the scalp.

Here's why: This type of hair color is powered by a mix of hydrogen peroxide and tiny dye molecules that penetrate the hair cuticle and travel into the innermost portion of the hair, called the cortex, says Rhonda M. Davis, a cosmetic chemist who works in product development in Mobile, Alabama. Inside, chemical reactions cause leftover color molecules to become too large to exit, resulting in a permanent color change. And while this creates longer-lasting results, it can also weaken hair over time. "High concentrations of hydrogen peroxide destroy the protein bonds in the hair, and if not mixed and applied properly, can eat away at the hair and skin, causing serious hair damage, hair loss, and even sores on the scalp," Davis explains.

Meet the experts: Rhonda M. Davis is a cosmetic chemist who works in product development in Mobile, Alabama. Devin Toth is a hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City. Jennifer Korab is a celebrity hair colorist. Kevin Kelly is a celebrity hair stylist.

On top of that, there's serious upkeep required to keep dyed hair looking fresh, so you're likely starting to wonder if there’s a better option.

There may be.

A hair gloss offers the ultimate low-stakes glow-up—major shine, subtle color, and healthier-looking hair without the long-term risks of traditional dye jobs. Unlike permanent color, a gloss is a non-permanent coloring method that doesn't penetrate the hair shaft, doesn’t contain hydrogen peroxide, and only provides color to the outside of the hair, says Davis.

What is a hair gloss?

Essentially, hair glosses offer the majority of the benefits of hair dye without any of the risks. Rather than simply dyeing your hair a different color, a hair gloss adds shine and slightly adjusts the color of your hair. “Hair glosses leave behind a translucent sheen and can be used to adjust the warmth or coolness of blonde hair," says Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City. "They can also blend grays away and they can add tremendous depth to dull brown hair."

Beyond toning, hair gloss can do wonders for taming flyaways, since they have conditioning properties, says celebrity colorist Jennifer Korab. And since hair glosses won’t drastically change your hair color, you won’t need root touch-ups. "With permanent hair color, when your non-colored regrowth comes in, there’s a strong visual contrast between your previously colored hair and your new growth," Toth explains. “With a gloss on the other hand, by the time your new hair grows in, the previously colored hair has faded and reverted back to its natural color.”

What's more, unlike other hair products that offer a range of benefits but only to certain hair types, hair glosses work on every type of hair. They're especially great for slight color changes—like if you're going gray, says celebrity stylist Kevin Kelly. Hair glosses help merge the grey into your hair so that the color can be camouflaged.

Hair gloss has limitations, though.

This coloring method doesn't lighten your hair. Yes, you can transform your mousy brown color into a glossier look, but if you’re hoping to completely transform your dark hair to a lighter, blonde shade, a hair gloss is not your best option, says Korab. In that case, you might need a few rounds of bleaching at the salon.

On the flipside, despite these limitations, a hair gloss will cost considerably less than a full dye job at a salon. Our experts estimate that the cost of an in-salon version of a gloss will run you between $50 to $100 (that's lower than the $75 to $200 of a single-process color service).

And because hair glosses are non-permanent, you can expect the color to last up to 12 weeks, according to Toth, though that timeframe dwindles the more you wash your hair. To make sure your gloss lasts, use a sulfate-free shampoo, says Korab. (There’s also the always-reliable lazy-girl method, a.k.a. dry shampoo.)

Hair glosses are best done in a salon.

Sure, there are at-home gloss kits, but stylists say doing any type of hair treatment at home comes with some risks—and hair glosses are no different. Not only will getting a pro hair gloss be much easier, but you’ll also get that perfect tone. And in some cases you can get it done for way less than an actual dye job. Also, unlike box hair gloss where you’ll have to manipulate your hair in case the color isn't right, a colorist can always fix the color before you exit the chair, says Toth. But if you really must get the job done at home, Korab recommends starting off with clear gloss, so that color mishaps can be avoided.

So, a hair color treatment that doesn't damage hair, won't result in pronounced regrowth, and lasts for up to three months? Sounds too good to be true, right?

Nah. Just go for the gloss.