Acidic Color Gloss Sulfate-Free Conditioner is a rinse-out, pH-balanced conditioner from Redken built to extend the vibrancy and shine of color-treated or glossed hair between salon visits, rather than a general-purpose everyday conditioner.
The formula sits at an acidic pH, which is meant to help close the hair cuticle back down after the alkaline environment of a color or gloss service leaves it open — that mechanism is behind the brand's claim of color vibrancy retained for up to 32 washes when this conditioner is paired with the matching Acidic Color Gloss Shampoo. Cetearyl alcohol, behentrimonium chloride and conditioning silicones (dimethicone, amodimethicone) handle softness and detangling, while amino acids (arginine, serine, glutamic acid), soybean oil and vitamin E are the ingredients Redken positions as adding shine by smoothing the cuticle. It's a silicone-containing formula, not a lightweight one, so it's worth knowing if silicone buildup is a concern for your hair type.
Used on its own, it's a straightforward rinse-out step: apply after shampooing and rinse. Layered on top of an Acidic Color Gloss or Acidic Bonding Concentrate treatment step, Redken recommends leaving it on for a few minutes before rinsing to get the full glossing effect.
- Sulfate-free, vegan formula
- Designed to be used with Acidic Color Gloss Shampoo for the brand's tested color-vibrancy claim