Why Glosses and Toners Are Summer Hair’s Secret Weapon
You’ve got the color. You’ve got the cut. But a few weeks in, things start to shift—your blonde feels a little dull, your brunette’s looking brassy, and your hair just isn’t hitting like it did when you left the salon.
Enter: the gloss and toner—two low-commitment, high-impact services that can refresh your color, boost shine, and keep your hair looking salon-fresh all summer long.
At Thomas West Salon in downtown Chicago, Allen Wiggs uses glosses and toners to extend the life of your color and elevate your look between full services. Here’s everything you need to know.
Glosses and toners are the summer refresh your hair didn’t know it needed—shine, tone, and softness in one quick service.
✨ What’s a Gloss?
A gloss is a sheer, conditioning treatment that adds tone, shine, and softness to the hair without making a major change to your color. It can:
Revive faded highlights or balayage
Tone down brassiness
Add warmth or coolness depending on your tone goals
Smooth the hair cuticle for a reflective, “expensive-looking” finish
Think of it as a topcoat for your color.
🎨 What’s a Toner?
A toner is a color-depositing treatment that adjusts the tone of your existing color—especially after lightening. It's often used:
Immediately after a blonding session to neutralize yellow or orange tones
A few weeks after color to refresh tone and dimension
To create cool, ash, golden, or rose hues depending on your vibe
Toners are essential for blondes and lighter brunettes—but they’re also amazing for redheads and dimensional brunettes too.
☀️ Why They Matter in the Summer
Sun, saltwater, chlorine, and heat styling can all cause your color to fade or shift. In Chicago’s humid summers, you may notice:
Blonde going yellow or brassy
Brunette looking flat or orange
Red fading too fast
Hair looking dull or dry
A gloss or toner helps bring it all back into balance—without committing to a full color service.
🧴 How Allen Customizes Gloss & Toner Treatments
Every gloss or toner appointment with Allen starts with a quick consult to check in on how your color has changed, how your hair is feeling, and what your goals are moving forward.
He’ll custom mix a formula based on:
Your natural base color
Previous color services
Your maintenance preferences (low vs high upkeep)
The overall look you want to walk out with
💡 When to Book One
You don’t need to wait for your next color appointment to refresh your look. Book a gloss or toner:
3–6 weeks after a color or blonding service
Before a vacation, wedding, or event
Anytime your color feels dull, faded, or “off”
As a seasonal refresh to warm up or cool down your tone
Ready for a Summer Refresh?
Whether you're a blonde battling brass, a brunette looking to add depth, or just craving a healthy-looking glow, a gloss or toner can make a big difference—fast.
📍 Allen is now accepting appointments at Thomas West Salon in the Mart, downtown Chicago—just steps from the Brown Line and right next to the Salesforce Tower.
🎉 New client special: Get a $25 off your first full color service with haircut.
💫 Not ready for full color? Book a gloss or toner for an easy, affordable refresh.