Remember the stick straight, ultra-shiny hair of ‘90s? If you look to Instagram or TikTok (see Kim Kardashian or @anissasojka), you’ll see that it’s back in a big way. Today, it’s called “Glass Hair,” and with new tools, products and overall tech, the look is way shinier than it was twenty years ago.
If you’re looking to get the ultra-reflective look, also known as”liquid hair,” but don’t have a glam crew at your beck and call, here are some ways to achieve it:
How To Achieve Glass Hair
If hair is a reflection (pun intended) of the times, then glass hair with its high-maintenance styling requirements is as the anti-sweatpants movement is to fashion. And in a post-quarantine era, people are loving the return of fussy glam.
“I’ve been trying to get this look on everyone’s page over the last year and no one wanted to hear it,” celebrity stylist Garren tells us.
“We had to go through that phase of a muddied look, where everything was dull and dirty looking,” the co-founder of R+Co haircare explains. “Now it’s time to shine it up.” Yes!
Glass hair is about youth, he continues. “It’s the kind of hair you want to touch—that your husband, girlfriend, partner wants to touch.” That sounds good to us!
The Right Cut & Color
At first impression, achieving glass hair is all about surfaces, said Manhattan It-girl colorist Jenna Perry. (She’s responsible for the gorgeous color of Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa and more).
Hair color and lighting play a big role, she pointed out. Darker hair and a less layered cut reflect light more easily. After that, “it truly comes down to styling and product,” Ms. Perry said.
Best Products
For home styling, Perry likes the T3 AireBrush or Dyson Airwrap followed by a flatiron (Ghd makes ones that heat quickly) and an anti-frizz product like ColorWow Dream Coat.
Editorial and celebrity hairstylist Marki Shrekli also recommends a finishing cream to tame flyaways (Curlsmith just came out with one), a shine spray through the mid-lengths and ends (try NatureLab’s Perfect Shine mist), and perhaps a hair oil on the ends only (R+Co Bleu makes the Optical Illusion Smoothing Oil).
"I would not use hairspray on the hair as the alcohol in it will dry the hair and remove the shine,” Mr. Shrekli said. Good to know!
