Redken Acidic Color Gloss: What It Does and How to Use It

By Codie Hair, Owner, UKIYO Wānaka. Updated November 2026.

Acidic Color Gloss is Redken's shine and colour-care range for coloured hair. It's built on an acidic, pH-balanced formula that helps the cuticle lie flat, so colour looks richer and hair reflects more light. If your colour goes dull before your next appointment, this is the range for it.

What does Redken Acidic Color Gloss do?

Every product in the range carries Redken's Acidic Shine Complex. Colour and lightening push hair's pH up and leave the cuticle lifted, which is why freshly coloured hair can feel rough and lose its shine within a few weeks. An acidic routine helps bring it back down.

The numbers are on the pack: the sulfate-free shampoo cleanses at around pH 5.0 to 5.6, so it doesn't strip tone, and the conditioner sits lower at about pH 3.5 to 4.5 to seal and smooth. The leave-in adds heat protection, the 1 Minute Mask is a quick in-shower gloss, and Naked Gloss is an 18% glossing-complex shine oil to finish.

Who is Redken Acidic Color Gloss for?

Anyone with colour, highlights, balayage or a gloss who wants it to stay bright and shiny for longer. It's light enough for fine hair and doesn't need heavy conditioning to work.

If your hair is breaking or feels gummy after lightening, start with Acidic Bonding Concentrate instead. That's the repair range. Color Gloss is about shine and keeping colour looking fresh. If you're a blonde fighting brass, use Blondage once a week alongside it.

How to use the Acidic Color Gloss routine, in order

1. Wash: Acidic Color Gloss Shampoo 300ml. Massage into wet hair and rinse. Use the 500ml refill pouch to top up the bottle.
2. Condition: Acidic Color Gloss Conditioner 300ml. Mid-lengths to ends, leave for a minute or two, rinse well.
3. Once or twice a week: Acidic Color Gloss 1 Minute Mask. Swap the conditioner for the 1 Minute Mask when hair needs more softness and shine.
4. Before heat: Acidic Color Gloss Leave-In Heat Protection Spray 190ml. Spray through towel-dried hair before you blow-dry or iron.
5. Finish: Naked Gloss Lightweight Shine Oil 100ml. One or two pumps on dry ends for shine. Less than you think.

Which Acidic Color Gloss product should you start with?

• Start here: shampoo and conditioner. Most of the shine comes from using the pair together. The Shampoo & Conditioner Duo is the easy way in.
• Fine hair: skip the mask most weeks and use the leave-in. Naked Gloss on the very ends only.
• Thick or coarse hair: add the 1 Minute Mask twice a week and use Naked Gloss as a finisher.
• Heat every day: the leave-in heat protection is the one to add first.
• Already using it: the 500ml refill duo works out cheaper per ml and uses less plastic.

All Redken Acidic Color Gloss products · See what's on sale this month

Redken Acidic Color Gloss questions we get asked

Is Redken Acidic Color Gloss sulfate-free?

Yes. The shampoo is sulfate-free and made for colour-treated hair.

Can I use Acidic Color Gloss on blonde hair?

Yes. It suits blondes well because it adds shine without depositing tone. If you get brassy, use Color Extend Blondage once a week alongside it.

What's the difference between Acidic Color Gloss and Acidic Bonding Concentrate?

Color Gloss is for shine and keeping colour looking fresh. Acidic Bonding Concentrate is for hair that's damaged and weak from colour or lightening. If your hair is breaking, start with Bonding Concentrate.

How often should I use the 1 Minute Mask?

Once or twice a week in place of your conditioner. Fine hair can use it less often.

Is it OK for fine hair?

Yes. It's a light range. Use the leave-in instead of the mask and keep the oil to your ends.

Keep reading

• Glass hair at home with Acidic Color Gloss
• Best shampoo for coloured hair NZ
• Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate guide
• Redken Color Extend Magnetics guide
• Redken Color Extend Blondage guide
• Where to buy Redken in NZ