What is Redken Shades EQ Gloss?
Loved by It-List colourists worldwide for its A-list results, Redken Shades EQ is the original iconic demi-permanent liquid gloss. Formulated with Wheat Amino Acids Shades EQ’s acidic formula helps deliver mirror-like glossy shine and is perfect to gloss, refresh, tone & correct with no lift in as little as 20 minutes!
Shades EQ is easy to mix and apply, offering a sheer result. It’s the technique perfecter you need to create the latest trends your clients are asking for.
How to Use Redken Shades EQ
Shades EQ is famously known for its being the go-to toner of It-List colourists worldwide. However, Shades EQ is more than just a toner – it is the little pink bottle that can gloss, refresh, tone, correct, add dimension & more! Discover the different ways you can use Shades EQ for every colour, every client, every technique.
Hair Toning
Hair toning services are fast becoming one of the most popular in-salon services! Shades EQ can help give own the tone for all your clients from brunettes to blondes.
Shades EQ’s extensive toning portfolio will help you achieve the perfect shade for personalised tones of pastel, silver, ash or gold.
Gloss Natural or Coloured Hair
With Redken Shades EQ Crystal Clear, you can give both colour-treated and natural hair the ultimate shine boost. This is a great add-on service for clients that are also having cutting and styling services. A Crystal Clear gloss will give your clients the condition and the shine of using Shades EQ, without the commitment of colour.
Refresh Existing Hair Colour
At Redken we colour hair differently. Our unique approach to professional hair colouring consists of following the ‘Colour Mantra’ and applying colour in zones. We believe that an alkaline colour works best when applied to virgin hair in zone 1 at the roots. Previously coloured hair, and zones 2 & 3 should be refreshed with a Shades EQ Gloss acidic colour.
Refreshing colour with an acidic hair colour ensures the hair’s integrity is maintained and there is no compromise to the colour or condition of your clients hair!
Blend Grey Hair
Do you have clients with first signs of grey? Shades EQ can blend up to 50% of grey hair and is the perfect option for clients that are starting to see greys but do not want to commit to a full permanent hair colour. The suggested families for the best blend would be the NB family.
Add Dimension
Shades EQ is a must have for all your creative colouring and trending techniques such as dimensional blondes, colour melts and balayage. Use Shades EQ to add dimension to your blondes, or to break up colour. The liquid formula will help you easily apply root taps and shadows and colour melts for the perfect blend.
Hair Colour Correction
Shades EQ is the perfect tool for colour correction services and colour transformations. You can use it to…
1. Darken blonde hair
Use Shades EQ to pre-fill the hair when the hair is missing the undertone. This will ensure that you get the best colour durability.
2. Correct unwanted tones
Shades EQ has a range of corrective toners across blonde, brunette and grey families. These shades are formulated to help eliminate yellow, orange or red undertones whilst depositing trending colour results.
How Do I Mix Redken Shades EQ?
To use Redken Shades EQ, mix it and apply it as follows…
- Mix in a 1:1 ratio with Shades EQ Processing Solution or Gloss to Gel Developer.
- Shades EQ Gloss may be applied with a bowl and brush or bottle and may be diluted with Crystal Clear to lessen intensity or customise any shade.
- Process at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- Rinse and follow with Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo and Conditioner.
What Are The Differences Between the Two Shades EQ Developers?
Shades EQ has two dedicated developers, both formulated with 2% hydrogen peroxide. They are specifically formulated to maintain an acidic pH and stabilise viscosity.
- Shades EQ Processing Solution is the best-selling liquid format developer. Perfect for toning and blending techniques.
- Shades EQ Gloss to Gel Processing Solution is a unique developer for Shades EQ that lets you transform our iconic liquid gloss into a versatile gel. Perfect for precision techniques such as lowlights, contouring and defining.
What is Shades EQ Crystal Clear?
Shades EQ Crystal Clear is the un-pigmented version of Shades EQ that can be used alone to add incredible shine or with any other shade to dilute colour or level intensity.
Here are our Redken’s recommended dilution solutions:
• MAXIMUM DILUTION 15ml Shades EQ + 45ml Crystal Clear
• MODERATE DILUTION 30ml Shades EQ + 30ml Crystal Clear
• MINIMAL DILUTION 45ml Shades EQ + 15ml Crystal Clear
• FULL STRENGTH 60ml Shades EQ
Top Tips For Using Redken Shades EQ…
Trust the process
Shades EQ can appear dark when developing because Shades EQ’s formula is made up from a combination of Direct and Oxidative Dyes. This means you can often see pigmented colour straight away – this is the direct element working!
Even if the colour looks scary and ‘too dark’ trust in the process and leave Shades EQ to develop for the full 20 minutes. If you are too scared, remember you can add some Crystal Clear into the formula to soften the tone & deposit.
Apply on dry hair
Shades EQ should always be applied to dry hair. If there is any form of moisture in the hair, you may weaken the strength of the developer. This will result in you getting a weaker colour result or shorter durability.
Process for full 20 minutes
The secret to successfully working and achieving the best results with Shades EQ, you need to develop the colour for the full 20 minutes. This will allow the oxidative dyes to work and to ensure longer durability of the colour. Remember 1 minute equals 1 shampoo!
You can shop our full Redken range online now at Salons Direct – Check out all our professional hair colour for more!
Keep reading on the Salons direct blog…
Everything You Need to Know About Redken | Meche or Foils: What’s the Difference When Colouring Hair? | Creative Hair Colourists to Follow on Instagram
