Hair Colour Auckland – Your Tint & Glossing Questions Answered by Our Colour Experts
Everything you need to know about personalised hair colour, from choosing between tint and glossing to grey coverage, softer regrowth, refreshing faded colour and finding a maintenance plan that works for you.
Tint or Glossing? Finding the Right Colour for You
If you want to refresh your colour, cover grey, add richness or simply bring your hair back to life, you may hear your colourist talking about a tint or a glossing.
But what's the difference and which one is right for your hair?
At TONI&GUY Auckland, we don't automatically choose permanent colour simply because it's what you've always had. We consider what you'd like your colour to do, how much coverage you want, how you'd like it to grow out, how often you want to maintain it and the condition of your hair.
Sometimes a permanent tint is exactly right. Sometimes the softer commitment of a glossing is a better choice. And sometimes we'll use both, treating different areas of your hair differently.
What is a tint?
A tint is permanent hair colour.
It can be used to change the depth or tone of your natural hair, make natural hair lighter within appropriate limits, take it darker or provide more complete grey coverage.
Permanent colour remains within the coloured hair rather than gradually washing away. As your hair grows, your natural colour appears again at the roots, which is why the difference between your tint and your natural colour can become more noticeable over time.
For someone wanting reliable grey coverage or a more permanent colour change, a tint can be an excellent choice.
Diane, Senior Colour Specialist at TONI&GUY Auckland, explains:
“I would recommend a tint rather than a glossing when someone wants more complete coverage, particularly if they have resistant grey hair. Some grey can be more resistant to colour, so if having those greys really well covered is important to you, permanent tint may be the right choice.
“But choosing between a tint and a glossing really comes down to what I've got in front of me. I'm looking at how much grey you have, how resistant it is, the result you'd like and how you want your colour to look as it grows.
“I also want to know how often you're prepared to come into the salon. Are you happy to maintain your roots every four to six weeks, or would you prefer something that gives you a softer grow-out and potentially a little more flexibility between appointments?
“That's why the consultation is so important. We look at all of those things together and then decide whether a tint, a glossing or sometimes a combination of the two is going to give you the best result.
“Interestingly, I use far fewer permanent tints now than I did in the past. We have such a broad range of colour options available to us now that we can be much more individual in how we approach grey coverage. Permanent tint is still absolutely the right choice for some clients, but it doesn't automatically have to be the starting point.”
So choosing between a tint and a glossing isn't about one being better than the other. It's about creating the right amount of coverage, the right result and a maintenance plan that genuinely works for you.
What is a glossing?
At TONI&GUY Auckland, glossing is the name we use for demi-permanent hair colour.
Think of it as a softer, lower-commitment way of adding beautiful tone, richness and shine to the hair.
Rather than creating the same permanent result as a tint, a glossing gradually softens over time. It can be used to enhance your natural colour, deepen or enrich your tone, refresh previously coloured hair or soften and blend some natural grey.
A brunette might use a glossing to make her natural colour feel richer and more luxurious. A copper might use one to restore vibrancy. Someone beginning to see grey might choose a glossing because they want to soften it rather than completely cover it.
The result can be beautifully subtle, sometimes it's less “I've changed my hair colour” and more “my hair suddenly looks incredibly good.”
Tash, Colour Specialist & Highlight Specialist at TONI&GUY Auckland, explains:
“If someone tells me, ‘I love my colour, I just want it to look richer and glossier,’ I'm not necessarily trying to change the depth of their hair. I'm looking at how I can enhance the colour that's already there.
“Sometimes the colour through the lengths and ends has simply faded, so I'll use a glossing to replenish that tone and bring the richness back. You're refreshing what was already there rather than trying to create a completely different colour.
“But richness isn't always what somebody needs. If they love their natural colour and simply want beautiful shine, we can look at a clear gloss or another toning option that enhances the hair without making a significant colour change.
“That's why I'll always look at what's actually happening in the hair first. Do the roots need anything? Has the colour faded through the ends? Do we need to put tone back in, or does the client simply want more shine? The answer to those questions determines what I use.”
A glossing therefore doesn't have to mean a dramatic colour change. It can be as subtle as restoring faded tone, enriching the colour you already love or simply making the hair look beautifully fresh and glossy again.
And sometimes, knowing what not to change is just as important as knowing what to add.
What’s the difference between a tint and a glossing?
At TONI&GUY Auckland, when we talk about a tint, we mean permanent hair colour. When we talk about a glossing, we mean demi-permanent colour.
Both can create beautiful colour, but they behave differently in the hair and are chosen for different reasons.
Chhaly, Wella Master Colour Expert at TONI&GUY Auckland, explains:
“The simplest way I explain it to a client is that a tint creates a more definite colour change, whereas a glossing is a softer way of enhancing what's already there.
“With a tint, we might be changing your natural depth, creating a richer or darker colour, or giving you more complete grey coverage. You can usually see a more definite difference between where we started and the colour we've created.
“I sometimes compare a glossing to lip gloss. You already have your lips underneath, but the gloss changes how they look, it can add shine, enhance the tone and give them a slightly different character without completely changing what's underneath.
“Hair glossing can work in a similar way. We can use it to refresh colour that's faded, add richness or tone, create beautiful shine or softly blend some grey. It's a more subtle way of working with the colour you already have.”
Neither is inherently better. The question is how much change, coverage and commitment you want from your colour.
Sometimes the most personalised result will even use both, a tint where we need a more permanent change and a glossing where we want softness, tone and shine.
Will a glossing cover my grey hair?
A glossing can blend and soften grey, but it isn't necessarily designed to completely disguise every grey hair in the way permanent colour can.
And increasingly, that's exactly what some clients want.
You may not want your grey completely covered. You might simply want it to feel softer and more integrated with the rest of your colour, while avoiding a strong regrowth line as your hair grows.
Andrea, Senior Colour Technician & Colour Specialist at TONI&GUY Auckland, explains:
“My first question would always be, ‘Are you wanting your grey 100% covered, or are you open to a colour that gives you a more natural result with a softer fade-out?’
“If completely covering every grey is important to you, then a permanent tint may still be the right choice. But if you're comfortable seeing a little of your natural grey, a glossing can soften and blend it without leaving you with such a harsh line as your roots grow through.”
I'm just starting to go grey. Do I need to start tinting my roots?
Not necessarily.
Seeing your first few greys doesn't automatically mean committing to permanent root colour.
If you'd simply like to soften those first silver hairs, a glossing may be enough. Depending on your hair and the result you're looking for, we might also consider highlights or other colour techniques.
This is an important conversation to have before automatically beginning permanent colour, because once you create complete coverage, you'll generally notice your natural regrowth more clearly as it grows.
There are many ways to work with grey. The right one depends on how much you'd like to see and how much maintenance you're comfortable with.
Explore our Grey Blending guide →
Which gives me a softer regrowth — tint or glossing?
Generally, a glossing gives you a softer grow-out.
One of the biggest differences is that a permanent tint grows out, whereas a glossing gradually fades and softens within the hair.
With permanent tint, the colour remains in the hair while your natural colour grows through at the root. If you're covering grey or your tint is quite different from your natural colour, this can create a more noticeable demarcation line as your roots grow.
A glossing behaves differently. Because the colour gradually softens and fades, the transition between your natural regrowth and previously coloured hair can feel much less obvious.
Andrea, Senior Colour Technician & Colour Specialist at TONI&GUY Auckland, explains:
“If someone tells me they're tired of seeing that obvious regrowth line every few weeks, I would often encourage them to consider a glossing. You still get beautiful tone, richness and that lovely glossy shine, but rather than having such a defined grow-out, the colour gradually fades and softens.
“The difference is that if you have grey hair, a glossing won't give you 100% coverage when you leave the salon. But that isn't necessarily a negative. By allowing some of your natural grey to remain, it starts to create texture and dimension within the colour. Those lighter grey hairs can almost act like natural highlights.
“Then, as your hair grows, you're not fighting such a strong line at the root. Instead, your natural grey begins to become part of the colour, and for some clients that can actually make the colour look even more beautiful as it grows.”
So the decision isn't simply about covering grey or not covering grey. It's about deciding how you'd like your colour to behave between appointments.
If having every grey completely covered is important to you, permanent tint may still be the right choice. But if you're comfortable allowing some natural grey to become part of the finished colour, a glossing can create a softer, more dimensional result with a much gentler grow-out.
Can I have a tint on my roots and a glossing through my ends?
Absolutely and this can be a beautifully considered way of colouring the hair.
Your roots, mid-lengths and ends don't necessarily need the same thing.
You may need permanent tint at the roots for grey coverage, while your previously coloured lengths simply need their richness and shine refreshed with a glossing.
In fact, we would rarely automatically pull permanent tint through previously coloured lengths and ends at every appointment.
Tash, Colour Technician & Highlight Specialist at TONI&GUY Auckland, explains:
“Permanent tint is designed to create a more permanent change within the hair. If the lengths and ends have already been permanently coloured, we don't necessarily need to keep repeating that process every time you come into the salon.
“Repeatedly pulling permanent tint through hair that's already coloured can create too much density and build-up. The colour can start to look darker and heavier, and you can lose some of that beautiful shine and dimension.
“Instead, I'll look at what those lengths and ends actually need. If the colour has simply faded, a glossing can refresh the tone, richness and shine without unnecessarily adding more permanent colour.”
So rather than automatically applying one formula from roots to ends, your colourist can treat each area according to what the hair actually needs.
You might have a permanent tint at the roots for coverage, a glossing through the lengths to refresh faded colour, or even leave some areas completely untouched.
Personalised colour isn't always about adding more. Sometimes it's knowing where not to put it.
My colour looks faded, but my roots are fine. Do I need another tint?
Not necessarily.
Sometimes what you're seeing isn't a lack of colour, it's a loss of tone, richness or shine.
Your roots may not need colouring at all, while your lengths and ends could benefit from a glossing to bring the colour back to life.
This can be particularly useful for brunettes, reds and coppers, where the richness and vibrancy of the colour can gradually soften between larger colour appointments.
Diane, Senior Colour Technician at TONI&GUY Auckland, explains:
“If the colour has faded through the lengths and ends but the roots are fine, 99% of the time I would choose a glossing rather than putting permanent tint through the hair again.
“For me, it's about using the right colour for what the hair actually needs. If we simply want to refresh faded colour, a glossing is a beautiful way to put that tone and richness back into the hair and give it that lovely glossy finish again.
“I'd also think about how you're going to maintain that colour at home. I might recommend a take-home colour mask that you can use once a week or once every couple of weeks, depending on how quickly your colour needs refreshing. It's an easy way of topping up the tone between salon visits.
“Then I'd look at your overall home care, the right shampoo and conditioner for coloured hair and, where needed, a treatment to help maintain the condition.
“And if you're using heated tools regularly, I'd definitely recommend heat protection. Protecting the hair from repeated heat can also help preserve the colour, so it continues to look vibrant and glossy for longer.”
So the answer isn't always more permanent colour.
Sometimes your hair simply needs the right refresh, followed by the right home care to help protect the colour we've created.
Can a glossing make my natural brunette look richer?
Absolutely and you don't have to dramatically change your natural colour to make it look more beautiful.
Sometimes brunette hair doesn't need to be lighter or darker. You may love your natural colour, but feel that it's become a little flat, dull or lacking in richness.
That's where a glossing can be a beautiful option.
Diane, Senior Colour Specialist at TONI&GUY Auckland, explains:
“If a brunette tells me, ‘I actually really like my natural colour, it just feels a bit flat,’ a glossing is one of the first things I'd consider.
“We don't necessarily need to change the colour. We can use a glossing to enhance what's already there, perhaps adding a subtle tone or reflection to bring back some richness and dimension.
“It also gives the hair that beautiful glossy finish, which can completely change how the colour looks. Sometimes it's not about making the hair noticeably different; it's simply about making your natural brunette look richer, shinier and more alive.”
And that's really the beauty of glossing: the result doesn't have to look like you've coloured your hair. It can simply look like your natural colour on a really good day.
Can a glossing refresh red or copper hair?
Yes.
Reds and coppers can lose some of their visible vibrancy between appointments, even when the underlying colour is still there.
A glossing can refresh those tones, restore richness and bring the colour back to life without necessarily repeating a permanent tint throughout the entire head.
It also allows your colour specialist to adjust the character of the colour, perhaps making it feel richer, softer, warmer or more vibrant depending on what you're looking for.
Can I change from permanent tint to glossing?
Often, yes and you don't necessarily have to make the change all at once.
If you've been permanently tinting your roots for years and would now like softer colour with less obvious regrowth, we'll consider your natural colour, the amount and pattern of your grey, your existing colour and how much coverage you're comfortable giving up.
The permanent colour already within your hair won't simply disappear, so moving towards glossing can sometimes be more of a transition than an immediate change.
Andrea, Senior Colour Technician & Colour Specialist at TONI&GUY Auckland, explains:
“If someone has been permanently tinting their hair for years but is tired of seeing that strong regrowth line, I would start talking to them about gradually introducing a glossing into their existing colour service.
“We don't necessarily have to change everything at once. We might begin by using a glossing through an area around the face, for example, while continuing with permanent tint elsewhere. That allows you to experience the softer coverage and see how you feel about having a little more of your natural grey coming through before we make a bigger change.
“We also have different glossing options depending on how much grey coverage you would like, so for someone who isn't ready to see too much grey, we can choose a glossing designed to give greater coverage while still creating a softer result than permanent tint.
“Then, over time, we can gradually introduce the glossing into more of the hair. Instead of that strong line where the permanent colour ends and your natural hair begins, the colour starts to soften and your grey becomes part of the overall result. It can be a really lovely way of moving towards a more natural grow-out without feeling as though you've suddenly stopped colouring your hair.”
For some clients, that transition might happen relatively quickly. For others, we may gradually change the colour over several appointments.
The important thing is that moving away from permanent tint doesn't have to mean suddenly exposing all of your grey. We can design the transition around how much coverage you'd like, how you'd like your colour to grow out and what feels comfortable for you.
Explore our Grey Blending guide →
Will a glossing wash out completely?
A glossing is designed to gradually fade and soften, but we wouldn't promise that your hair will necessarily return to exactly how it looked before.
How colour behaves depends on your starting colour, the shade we've used, previous colour, the condition and porosity of your hair and your home-care routine.
That's why we'd describe glossing as lower commitment rather than no commitment.
It's still professional hair colour just a softer approach than permanent tint.
Is glossing gentler than permanent tint?
Glossing is generally chosen when we want less commitment and don't require the same degree of permanent change or coverage.
But we wouldn't automatically describe one service as “good” for the hair and the other as “bad.”
Permanent colour can be exactly the right tool when we need permanent change or complete coverage.
The important part is using the right colour, in the right place, for the right reason, while considering the condition and history of your hair.
How often will I need my tint or glossing refreshed?
There isn’t one timetable, your maintenance plan should be designed around your hair, your colour goals and how often you realistically want to visit the salon.
If you’re using permanent tint to completely cover grey, you may choose to return more regularly as your natural hair begins to grow through.
If you prefer softer grey blending, subtle lightness or a glossing that gradually softens, you may be comfortable leaving longer between appointments.
Jackelin, Top Stylist at TONI&GUY Auckland, explains:
“It really depends on the individual, what we’re trying to achieve and how often they realistically want to come into the salon.
“If somebody wants complete grey coverage, they’ll probably need to visit more frequently because they’re going to notice that natural regrowth. But if they’re happy to softly blend their grey, keep their natural base or simply have some lighter pieces running through the hair, we can design the colour to give them much more flexibility between appointments.
“And I don’t think every appointment should automatically be exactly the same service. When you come back, I’m looking at what your hair actually needs at that moment. Perhaps we need to refresh the roots, perhaps it’s only a toner or glossing, or maybe we don’t need to colour certain areas at all.
“It’s about tailoring each appointment to your hair rather than simply repeating what we did last time.”
Your maintenance plan can also evolve. Beautiful colour isn’t about repeating the same formula every six weeks, it’s about doing what your hair needs, when it needs it.
What's the difference between a glossing and a toner?
They're related, but we use them for different purposes at TONI&GUY Auckland.
A glossing is our demi-permanent colour service, used when we want to add or refresh colour, richness and shine.
A toner is used to refine the tone of the hair, particularly after lightening or highlighting. For example, we might use toning to influence whether a blonde feels creamy, beige, cool, neutral or warm.
There are different products and approaches available to us depending on what we're trying to achieve, including Wella SHINEFINITY.
We'll explore this in much more detail in our Toner Guide, because choosing the right tone is an expertise all of its own.
Toners explained → coming soon
Why might you use more than one colour on my hair?
Because different areas of your hair don't always need the same thing.
Even when we're creating what looks like one beautiful, seamless colour, we may use different formulas through the roots, lengths or ends to achieve it.
Chhaly, Wella Master Colour Expert at TONI&GUY Auckland, explains:
“There are quite a few situations where I might use more than one colour, even when the client wants the finished result to look very natural and uniform.
“Grey hair is one example. You may have an area where the grey is more concentrated or more resistant, so I might need to adjust my formula there to get the coverage and finished result I'm looking for.
“Porosity is another really important consideration. The lengths and ends may be more porous than the hair closer to the roots, particularly if they've been previously coloured or chemically treated. More porous hair can take colour differently, so using exactly the same formula from roots to ends doesn't always give us the most even result.
“And sometimes using more than one colour is completely intentional. I might want to create slightly more depth at the roots and something softer or lighter through the lengths, or introduce subtle differences in depth to give finer hair the appearance of more dimension.
“So even if the finished colour looks beautifully simple, there can actually be several different decisions happening behind it.”
Sometimes achieving one beautifully balanced result means using more than one formula to get there.
Tint or glossing, which is right for me?
There isn't one that's universally better.
A tint may be right for you if you're looking for more complete grey coverage, a permanent change to your natural colour or a result that requires permanent colour.
A glossing may be right for you if you'd like softer grey blending, enhanced richness and shine, a colour refresh, less commitment or a softer grow-out.
And sometimes the most beautiful solution is a combination of both.
At TONI&GUY Auckland, your consultation isn't simply about choosing a colour from a shade chart.
We want to understand how you'd like your hair to look, how much grey you'd like to see, how you'd like your colour to grow out, how often you'd realistically like to maintain it and what feels like you.
Then we design the colour around that.
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