You may be on the hunt for your next hair color transformation as we transition into back-to-school season and return to the office after our summer travels. Something about a new season of life makes us want to mark the occasion with a new shade refresh, but before you haphazardly DIY your color, we suggest heading to the salon for a hair gloss service. Why?
This versatile hair color service is perfect for refreshing your color, enhancing your hair's natural shine, and more. The demi-permanent hair color is a gentler form of hair color that gradually fades over time, meaning no harsh root regrowth! However, not all glosses are formulated the same. Enter: Redken Shades EQ Hair Gloss—an innovative, acidic formula that actually leaves you with healthier-looking and feeling hair post-treatment. Not to mention, its ammonia-free formulas can provide results in just 20 minutes. “It’s actually the number 1 demi-permanent color in the world,” says pro colorist Angela Carroll at Cutler Salon in New York City.
Our favorite thing about Redken’s beloved gloss is that a colorist will custom-create a recipe specific to your hair so you get that professional finish every time (just make sure your salon is stocked with Shades EQ before you head in). We’re such big fans of Shades EQ that we partnered with the brand to bring the top color trends to life, so you know exactly what to ask for. Get into all the gloss goodness below!
The Best 2023 Hair Color Trends to Try This Season
Cowgirl Copper
We’re calling it—cowgirl copper has to be the hottest hair color for 2023. The shade pulls inspo from the richness of Western leather (hello, cowboy boots trend!). A blend of caramel, brunette, red, and even a hint of blonde come together to create lots of warmth and depth.
How to Get the Look
Shades EQ Gloss gently rebalances your hair's pH with outstanding conditioning and shine benefits. Its copper formulas are ideal for redheads and brunettes who want to color-correct brassy strands or refresh their color in between permanent color appointments.
If you’ve already booked this shade but have no idea what to ask for—pro colorist Angela Carroll at Cutler Salon in New York City designed this cowgirl copper creation and shares the deets: 09CR Summer Sunshine for depth at the root, 010AA Butternut for the base, and 07AA Turmeric with a touch of 09CR for the ends—the result: rich, warm, coppery red.
(Want to extend intense shine and hydration into the rest of your beauty routine? We suggest matching your hair gloss to a lip gloss like one of the five shades in the Maybelline New York Lifter Gloss Candy Collection.)
Dream Doll Blonde
There’s a certain blockbuster hit this summer that has blondes everywhere looking to recreate that dreamy shine reminiscent of your favorite doll’s hair growing up. Extra shiny, extra healthy-looking strands are what you’ll need to mimic the voluminous ponytails and bouncy blowouts that coincide with dream doll hair.
How to Get the Look
You might not need a color change to nail the trend if you're already blonde, but just like our model here, get a clear Shades EQ Gloss to enhance your natural hair color and boost shine. Carroll added a drop or two of lavender gloss to this recipe to cancel out harsh yellow tones, similar to the effect of purple shampoo.
Carroll used Shades EQ in 000 Crystal Clear along with a hint of 10VV Lavender Ice to get these glassy locks. Stylist Carly Loura, also based at Cutler Salon, used Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo and Conditioner for its additional pH-balancing properties, intense conditioning, and hair color fade protection before executing this flawless blowout.
Expensive Brunette
Ready to go darker for fall earlier this year? Treat yourself to expensive brunette, a social media favorite this season. The richness of this natural chocolate color can be sported as an all-over color, or add caramel ribbons for more dimension.
How to Get the Look
Expensive brunette exudes its richness without being too warm or too cool. Carroll achieved this sweet spot by using Shades EQ in 7N Chocolate. It’s a low-commitment way to try out this glossy brunette without penetrating the hair cuticle like permanent hair dyes do and risking damage.
Champagne Blonde With a Kiss of Rose
Blondes looking for a bit more of a transformation can tap into their rom-com core era with champagne blonde kissed with a hint of rose. This shade has been on our radar all of 2023 (see more inspo here). It’s a soft, neutral color with a strong emphasis on shine that flatters everyone, but we just adore it on curls.
How to Get the Look
Don’t let harsh dye formulas destroy your beautiful curls. A Shades EQ Gloss can benefit all hair types and textures, plus keep coils conditioned so you achieve your color and curly hair goals.
The key to perfecting the champagne blonde color is to avoid basic and brassy blonde tones, quintessential of Redken's Gold Rose series. Carroll gets these curls looking refined and reflective with this Shades EQ recipe: 010GRo Sparkling Wine. And for a finishing touch that really brings out shine, stylist Loura gently diffused curls with a sock diffuser.
Interested in trying a hair gloss or hair glaze? Use our salon locator to book an appointment at a salon near you. You can also head to Hair.com for more professional advice and product picks.
