Haircolor

LIQUID COLOR 101 – NEVER USED SHADES EQ BEFORE? 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Redken Updated On 02/12/2025

Calling all salon professionals... So, you're curious about Shades EQ, the iconic liquid hair gloss everyone's raving about, but not sure where to start? Don't worry, we've got you covered! Whether you're a hair newbie or a seasoned pro looking to try something new, our Shades EQ 101 guide will break down everything you need to know. From why it's called "the hair color that thinks it's a conditioner" to pro tips on application and grey blending, we're diving deep into the world of Shades EQ. Consider this your cheat sheet to achieving glossy, healthy-looking hair with color that truly shines.

1. THE HAIRCOLOR THAT THINKS IT’S A CONDITIONER

Both Shades EQ Gloss and Bonder Inside are acidic demi-permanent liquid colors that provides the ultimate shine and condition, with zero lift & zero ammonia it can be used to gloss, tone, refresh, correct, add dimension & blend grays in as little as 20 minutes.

Shades EQ Bonder Inside: Is the all-in-one acidic demi-permanent toner + bonder, that tones and helps protect the strength of sensitised hair in 1 step*. Delivering incredible shine and condition with true-to-tone results.

Shades EQ Gloss: Is perfect to gloss, refresh, tone & correct with no lift! The easy-to-use demi-permanent formula offers a sheer result and is the technique perfector you need to create the latest trends your clients are asking for.

2. SHADES EQ BONDER INSIDE - ALL-IN-ONE TONER + BONDER

Shades EQ Bonder Inside helps protect the strength of sensitized hair with pre-dosed bonding for faster formulation and no compromise to color results. It's vegan formula* is designed to color and repair bonds in one step**
*No animal derived ingredients or by-products
**VS without Shades EQ Bonder Inside

It's designed with cutting-edge bonder technology to help repair hair post-lightening, effectively reducing breakage by up to 83% when used together with Redken's Flash Lift Power 9 Bonder Inside (hair lightener with bonder inside) and Acidic Bonding Concentrate (haircare regimen for damaged hair).
Its triple acid complex is enriched with Citric Acid and Taurine that work together to strengthen and protect the hair fibre, while erythorbic acid acts as an anti-oxidant.

3. THE TECHNIQUE PERFECTOR

Shades EQ offers a palette with over 90 + intermixable shades* for true-to-tone results and the ability to customize and cocktail your formula.
*Except shades containing R5 technology

Shades EQ provides unlimited services catering to all hair types and textures - notably curls are more defined, maintain their natural shape, and have increased shine after a Shades EQ service.

4. SHADES EQ CRYSTAL CLEAR

Shades EQ Crystal Clear is an unpigmented version of Shades EQ. Use to add a shot of gloss to dull or lack lustre hair, dilute a color level, reduce tonal intensity and create an endless palette of color possibilities.
Can be used on its own as a clear glossing service.

5. DEDICATED DEVELOPERS

Shades EQ has two dedicated developers, Shades EQ Processing Solution and Shades EQ Gloss To Gel.
Both developers should be mixed in a 1:1 ratio with your chosen Shades EQ shade. They are both formulated with 2% hydrogen peroxide specifically formulated to maintain an acidic pH and stabilized viscosity.

- Shades EQ Processing Solution is best for bottle application due its liquid consistency making it ideal for fast application.
- Shades EQ Gloss to Gel transforms the liquid formula into a gel consistency ideal for precision application. Perfect on roots and lowlights, contouring and defining. Can be used on its own as a clear glossing service.

6. BOTTLE IS BEST

Always apply to dry hair and develop for 20 minutes. The Shades EQ liquid gloss formula is perfectly formulated for a bottle application so for ease and speed we always recommend that bottle is best. The use of heat is not recommended

7. TRUST THE PROCESS

Shades EQ contains a blend of direct and oxidative dyes, during the development time it can sometimes appear darker than expected, this is quite normal as the product develops. To ensure perfect custom blended results always formulate for your desired level and remember to trust the process

8. SET YOUR TIMER

For best results Shades EQ should always be applied to dry hair and developed for 20 mins. If applied to damp hair or developed for less time the appearance of your final color and the longevity of your color result may be affected.

9. GREY BLENDING

If you need to blend or camouflage greys we recommend the Neutral Blonde Brown family. Using an NB shade in your formula helps to create a balance of dyes for optimum results on gray hair. A good tip is that the percentage of gray hair should equal the percentage of NB used in your formulation.

10. REDKEN COLOR MANTRA

Shades EQ is a 1 to 1 match with our permanent liquid ranges Color Gels Oils, Color Gels Lacquers and Color Gels 10 Min. When using permanent color at the roots (zone 1) we recommend using the Shades EQ equivalent through the lengths and ends (zone 2 + 3) to maximise the integrity, condition and shine of the hair.