Ron King: Try a Gloss or a Glaze

by The Style King/Ron King on Monday, June 14th, 2010

Ron King has worked as a hairstylist, transforming people’s appearances, for more than 20 years. With a growing celebrity clientele, King travels the world taking inspiration from different cultures and countries. Along the way, he has developed his own “easy wear” style philosophy which plays up a woman’s natural hair texture and pairs it with natural-looking makeup that’s easy to apply. This mantra led him to launch a signature line of cosmetics for women who want to look pulled together but who are are short on time. King has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry, including L’Oreal Professional, Ted Gibson, Eva Scrivo and Rick Wellman.

When your clients’ hair is in need of some high-wattage shine and softness, consider a hair glossing treatment or perhaps a glaze. Though both add sheen and smooth the hair and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two. A gloss is in fact more permanent than a glaze, since it actually penetrates the hair’s cuticle, and doesn’t just add shine to the hair but can also adjust its tone, making color less brassy for example. A glaze, meanwhile, just coats the shaft, giving it subtle shine and semi-permanent color for a mere two weeks. If your client just wants to add some shininess to her hair, try a clear gloss or glaze. If they’re trying to bring out more color or call attention to highlights, use a glaze or gloss with color. Both make colored or highlighted locks last longer, can help with the dull effect of unhealthy hair, and cover the hair shaft, thereby protecting the hair.

Although both treatments can be done at home by your client, it is highly advisable to have her stylist do it at your salon. Gloss can be applied to dry or recently washed hair depending and the gloss should be left on hair for approximately five minutes or fifteen, and then rinsed off, depending on the glossing treatment you use. A good tip to ensure the gloss takes is to blast hair with a blow dryer before washing it off. The gloss should last from two to four weeks. For clients who are allergic to most hair products, recommend they try a natural glaze made of products like honey, eggs, or milk which can also give hair a nice shine. Honey, in particular, is effective. Simply dilute it in water and pour on the hair. Advise them not to rinse it off.