What is a French Gloss Hair Treatment?
A "French Gloss" is the Secret to Shiny Hair With Minimal Upkeep
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
Image Source: Getty/Edward Berthelot
Most of you probably know someone with hair so luxurious-looking that people stop them in the street to ask about it. Whether it's because their hair is shinier than a naked mole rat covered in baby oil, or because their colour is blindingly vibrant, it's usually safe to assume keeping their hair looking that good requires lots of maintenance. However, what if we told you there's a new treatment called the "french gloss" that could leave your hair looking just as chic, in half the time?
While popular trends like "expensive brunette" and "cashmere blond" give beautiful results, they typically require hours in a salon chair. The latest treatment trend is a quick service that promises to transform your hair colour, tone, and texture in just a matter of minutes.
Keep reading to learn everything to know about french glosses, including how long it takes, who would benefit from the treatment, and what maintenance looks like.
What Is a French Gloss?
Unlike a regular hair gloss, which adds demi-permanent colour from root to tips, a french gloss combines permanent and demi-permanent hair colours, taking the treatment a step further. The service, which is typically only done in salons, begins with a stylist applying permanent hair colour to the roots to cover up any grey hair. From there, an ammonia-free, acidic gloss is applied from the mid-lengths to the ends.
The gloss can be completely customised to suit your colour needs, but usually has a gradient finish with softer ends for the ultra-chic French girl vibe. It can be combined with other colour treatments like balayage, or it can be completed on its own. No matter how you choose to personalize it, the process promises to transform dull and dry hair into moisturised hair with high shine. "This is a service that will extend the life of your colour and also keep hair looking its absolute shiny best self," Min Kim, L'Oréal Professionnel global ambassador tells POPSUGAR.
Another perk? it's quick and effective, so it's an ideal service for people on the go. The processing time takes no more than 10 minutes, so depending on whether or not you booked a haircut as well, you can usually be in and out of the salon within an hour. Plus, french glosses can work for any and all hair types. "All clients can receive this service, no matter their chemical history, hair length, or texture type," Kim says.
Since hair glosses work to colour-balance hair and cut out brassiness, this treatment would be a good option for anyone who is looking to combat those issues. Because of the added root touch-up, it's also the perfect service for someone who wants to cover up pesky greys while at the same time adding life and shine to their hair.
If you're someone who has "virgin" hair, or hair that has never been colour-treated before, you can still benefit from this treatment — just ask your stylist to 'spot treat' your greys with permanent colour, and then apply a clear gloss to your ends, which will improve your hair's overall manageability, look, and feel.
It's also a great service for someone who doesn't want to deal with tons of upkeep because there's minimal maintenance involved. "A client can book a french gloss appointment independent of other chemical services in the salon as often as every four to eight weeks, or with other salon services and space it out every three to four months, depending on your personal budget and hair needs," Kim says.
One thing to note is that while permanent colour typically lasts around eight weeks and demi-permanent colour can last through 24 shampoos, if you want to extend the life of your colour it's imperative to care for it at home. We recommend washing your hair with colour-safe products like the Sexy Hair Colour-Safe Moisturising Shampoo ($19). If you use hot tools, it's also important to use a heat protectant that will shield your hair from thermal damage. We love the Biolage Strength Recovery Repairing Leave-In Conditioner Spray with Heat Protection ($24). Kim also suggests using the L'Oréal Professionnel's Metal Detox line, which she says will "protect your hair from metals in your shower and provide the hydration hair will need between salon appointments."
French Gloss Before and After
