John Frieda’s Luminous Color Glaze
April 7, 2006 by Christina Jones
Filed under Hair Care, Hair Color
Elke, over at one of my favorite blogs, The Beauty Newsletter, did a review last weekend of John Frieda’s Luminous Color Glaze that I thought was pretty interesting, especially considering how often I recommend using semi permanent color to home users. Elke had pretty good results with it:
So as I’m waiting for my hair to dry, I notice that it’s drying super fast. And hair feels smooth to the touch. So far so good! And the next morning? Hair is definitely much thicker feeling, and looks great. Color I’ve noticed that it brings out reddish chestnut highlights a bit more, and as far as shine? Hmmm, not so much. But hair feels better, thicker, and cooperates with me.
This is what John Frieda’s web site says about glazing and what it is:
Glazing is a process that’s been offered in professional salons for years to optimize the look and feel of dull, faded, lifeless hair. In fact, if you’ve ever gotten your hair colored at a salon, chances are you’ve had a glaze done.
Luminous Color Glaze™ delivers the results of a professional salon glaze, right in the shower. In just 3 minutes, you can give your hair a complete makeover, effortlessly.
The big difference in this product and what you get in a salon is the salon glazing product is a good bit longer lasting than this will be. The salon glazes (like Clairol’s) have some peroxide in them, which will give them a semi permanent quality that should last you about 6 weeks. This product has no peroxide, so you really can’t expect the effects to last through too many shampoos. Maybe we should talk about how the hair coloring process works, but that is a post for the future. 
I have always liked John Frieda’s products alot – I haven’t been disappointed with one of them yet, and I am going to try this soon myself, my hair color has been looking a little dull lately.
You can buy John Frieda’s Glazes at your local drugstore, or at drugstore.com for $9.99.
I do like glazes, and especially like that they fatten up my super baby-fine fine so that I get a little more cooperation in the styling department. But I have a question–in cases like mine, where one has both high and low-lights, what glaze color should you go with if there isn’t no-color, clear glaze offered? The glaze that matches your lightest color, so it won’t mask your darker tones? I’m sure you remember my hair trauma when I went to see my ultra-fabu hair stylist (a Redken color specialist) at the upscale and trendy salon de beaute (which is also know as a salon that specialized in color), and after he did the fantastical multi-color balliage, which looked super, he topped it off with a glaze–which promptly “ate” all of my highlights. I knew that this masking was only temporary, but then my super stylist did the unthinkable, and mixed up some bleach with a scoop of 40% peroxide, and re-did the crown of my already processed hair, so that I wouldn’t be walking out with no visible highlights. So the end result was that I had bleachy highlights on my crown, and damage from the back to back processing. And ever since, my trust in him has never been quite the same. In fact, I’ve been using another stylist for color for over a year, primarily because she uses a great line that has high-lift color that doesn’t require bleach, peroxide, or heat to break my color, and subsequently damage my fragile locks. But back to the glaze question, what is your opinion–the glaze color that matches my lightest shade of hair, or should I opt for a clear glaze instead?
Zandelion: you don’t sound like you have a beauty license (or a high school diploma), so instead of assuming you know what you’re talking about when you trash a salon’s name, ask first. A “Glaze” in a salon is colorless. It’s a process done after people color to help seal the cuticle, and keep the itsy-bitsy color molecules locked into the hair shaft. If you felt the tone on your bleached highlights was too dark (and yes, these fade. Jeesh) your colorist knows that it’s totally ok to open up those cuticles with some peroxide again. And your hair shouldn’t have been all that thrashed, especially if your new “faboooosh” colorist doesn’t even use peroxide or heat or lemon juice to lighten your hair. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was literally painting oil-based house paint on your head to make you happy.
I’ve seen commercials for this recently, and I’m always intrigued by products that claim to make hair shiny. I’m also skeptical of ads, in general, which is why I enjoy reading your blogs-as real live women, I feel I can trust your opinion and those of your readers and fellow bloggers.
So Elke’s opinion about lack of shine says it all for me. Just out of curiosity, would this Glaze be something you could put on already color-treated hair? When you have time, I would always be interested in reading anything you have to say about the hair coloring process.
Ok I answered my own question by actually reading your links. Duh! LOL. It looks like an interesting product…
LOL Gail – you are too funny. I will talk more about haircoloring soon – I have talked about it more in the comments than in an actual post, methinks! And I really am going to pick up some of that John Freida color too and will report back as well. Hope you are doing well and enjoying this nice TX weather while the rest of the country’s weather is freaking out!! I know I am…
Zandelion – your comment hit the spam trap, I didn’t mean to ignore you! If you will give me the weekend, I will address your question in a post on Monday. Good question.
And I hope and pray you and your family (and my family!) make it through the TN tornadoes there safe and sound!!!
I tried this glaze a couple of weeks ago.
I needed to eke out another week or two before my color appointment, and I thought I’d give it a try. I had a fair about of grey grow out (NOT attractive), and I didn’t expect it to cover up all of it, but just sort of help it blend in a bit.
It did the trick. My thick, curly hair, was soft, reasonably pliable, and easy to style. It deposited a bit of color each time I used it, and between the smidge of color and the shine, managed to camoflauge my grey until my appointment.
I used a coupon at a nearby store, and for $8 managed to extend the life of my color another two weeks. Not a bad bargain, and I’d certainly consider it again.
Thanks Mary Jo – I really can’t wait to try it now!
Hi Everyone…
I just did my 2nd application of the glaze, and this time I didn’t notice anything…. I too have some “ahem!” gray roots, which the glaze did nothing to soften, tint, nada. I didn’t notice any shine, (isn’t this why I bought this?) and again, the chestnut red of my dark brown hair was kicked up a knotch. But I could get that with a strong shampooing as well.
Would I spend $10 for this again? Sadly, I would say no. Again, no shine or ‘gloss’ noticeable and I think that would be the deal maker for me… this wasn’t it.
Still lookin!
Elke
Hi Elke! I am so glad you left a comment – it reminded me of that fabulous video I saw yesterday of you doing Julie’s eyebrows that I wanted to point out.
I am still going to give the glaze a whirl and see what it does to this mass of blonde hair I have, I will let you know. Looks like opinions are pretty mixed. Thanks for stopping by, I always love to hear from you, and I hope you are doing very well!
Hi Christina!
I think the excitement of what the glaze can do, outweighs what it does. The 2nd application kinda confirmed it for me sadly.
Glad you liked the eyebrow video! Good news: I just shot a whole series of videos for Coutorture / Almost Girl on makeup application! Smokey eyes, how to do blush, etc. We had so much fun! It should be up soon!
Also, thanks for much for your kind comments about The Beauty News Blog! Sometimes I blog away thinking no one reads it… it’s nice to see that it’s liked!!!
Have a great weekend! Elke
I will definitely keep my eyes open for it, Elke – and yes, you know at least I am reading the Beauty Newsletter – and I know a whole lot of others do too – I really do love it, don’t ever quit!!
I tried the color glaze yesterday and absolutely HATED it. My hair felt very soft while rinsing it, and it smelled devine. But, while I was blow drying my hair, I noticed that it still looked wet. My hair turned out to be a greasy, dull mess. I was horrified. So, I had to shampoo AGAIN! Ugggghhhh! I don’t recommend this goop!
I used the John Freida Color Glaze and was very disappointed. It left no shine and in fact my hair looked darker and duller, plus it feels like there’s a film over it when I shampoo. Now, when I try to use my curler iron on my bangs, they just stick out like they’re oily and I have to use my round brush w/hair dryer to fluff them up and to lay down on my forehead which I didn’t have to do before the glazing. Will not use the product again.
I used this product today. I only wanted it really for the glossing properties so I chose the champayne blonde shade ( my hair is dark mahogony with highlights)so I knew that it would make little difference to my colour. I did a shampoo and condition as advised on the bottle and then applied the glaze. I found it difficult to distribute through my thick hair. I left it on for about 12 minutes as I have been told that 3 minutes is not really enough. When I came to rinse I had an awful job to get it all out. Its difficult to tell how its supposed to feel when its all rinsed out and try as I might the cloggy, too much product feel, didn’t go. My hair felt and looked greasy and heavy so I shampooed again using a clarifying shampoo and my hair still felt awfully rough, not at all soft like it normally does. I then used nexxus emergencee for 10 minutes as a last resort. My hair is now shinier than it has ever been, absolutely glossy and soft, just beautiful. I don’t know whether that was due to the glaze though or the combination of the glaze and the nexxus emergencee. If its due to the glaze then I would recommend washing it out with shampoo instead of just plain water. I’m not sure if I will use the glaze again or not, if I do, I will use the nexxus afterwards once again.
Thanks for all of your input. I’m still not sure if this is for me to try or if it would make a dent in my overprocessed hair. Here’s a tip for you all though: special FX/manic panic makes an awesome highlight on virgin hair – especially the red colors. it can be diluted with conditioner and all veggie colors can be mixed to create a unique shade. (blondes beware, this is best on darker heads). it will wash out.
I guess it depends on your hair-type – I have thick, coarse, dark brown hair w/ grey at the temples and peppered throughout… I use the caramel/honey blonde glaze to make my grey look light natural highlights from sun exposure… it does a subtle job of covering, not as good as semi-permanent, but it doesn’t damage my hair and leaves it silky and ‘chunky’. I think people with thinner hair won’t like the effect, but my hair gets thick in a way that seems ‘bushy’ to me and the glaze totally rectifies that for me. Hope this is helpful to someone…
Beware ! I used John Frieda Glaze as I was off to a special do. I had a manicure that afternoon. When I applied the glaze during my shower, it wrecked my manicure by reacting with the nail varnish. It caused the nail colour to become cloudy and rough. I won’t use it again. I wish I could find the email address for customer care!
I used this product for the first time on the weekend and had a massive allergic reaction to it! Red angry rash all over my scalp, neck, ears and shoulders… I’ don’t have sensitive skin and frequently colour my hair- did anyone else experience this?
I loved the product but when using it on dry hair as I read in a magazine I too ruined my manicure. What is in this product that would cause this to happen? Also, after using this product for at least 6 weeks I too am having an allergic reaction – red welts – itchy. Want to let others know if they too are suffering from this product. I need to find out what in it is causing this reaction??
I’ve been using this product for 5 to 6 weeks and I absolutely love what it’s done for my hair! My hair is a darker blonde and I use the Honey to Caramel glaze. No more grey roots and the color looks as though it’s been highlighted. Texture is great and my thin hair loves it!
Has anyone tried using this color glaze on lightened blonde hair to warm it up and make it darker? Results?
In reading the comments here I’m getting the overall impression that the John Frieda Glaze is more of a letdown than anything. One person achieved only one result that was positive and expected. What I don’t understand is that on Oprah – along with four or five hair designer picks of Oprah’s and 300 viewers who all received hair makeovers, and one of the hair designers said to achieve the end result look that these makeovers has was in using the John Frieda Clear Glaze once a month, but yet I’m not hearing anyone achieving this themselves. Why is that we can truly only get that look if we have a celebrity hair designer? Then also when you go to the John Frieda collection directly with John Frieda – he says there to use it everyday; well what’s this one a month stuff? Should we be paying for upkeep in a salon and twenty or more dollars a month for hair care? I say give me a break! Has anyone here used Clairol Natural Instincts Shine Happy for $8.99? If so, is this any better; is there anything at all that takes care of fly-aways?
well i died my hair red and i bought the glazze..i want to know if this product won’t get my hair darker (’cause is a light red), thanks!