BEAUTY

Gloss smudging is the hair technique you’ve never heard of, but need to try

Low maintenance girls will love this

We know, we know: you’ve had enough of nonsensical hair terms. First balayage, then ombre, sombre, bronde, blorange, hair contouring – we get it.

But gloss smudging isn’t just more hair jargon – in fact, if you’d rather prolong time between appointments and save some hard-earned dollars (*frantically raises hands*), it’s a technique you need to know about.

Think of it as a way to extend the life of your highlights, while also radically improving their look. “Gloss smudging is great for refreshing existing colour and a brilliant introduction to colour as well, as it’s subtle with no obvious regrowth – it fades out as opposed to growing out,” explains Penny, senior colourist at acclaimed Sydney salon Barney Martin 2.

Added bonus: as the name suggests, it also imparts a gorgeous high-shine finish.

How does it work? After your usual dye job, when you’re back at the bowl for a rinse, the coloured gloss is smudged at the roots using a brush for a beautifully blended result. “We use the word ‘smudge’ as there is no visible colour difference,” says Penny. So if you hate having obvious highlights, this is the technique you need.

According to Penny, gloss smudging works on all hair colours and textures, “but for the most impactful result, darker base tones work best so you get that beautiful high shine.”

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