Glass Hair is Here to Stay. Here’s How to Get it.
Glass hair had its moment in 2018. Then another one in 2019. And now, the return of the super-shiny hairstyle is happening all over again.
Although according to celebrity hairstylist Cash Lawless, “We first saw polish and shine in a glass-like manner popularized by Vidal Sassoon in the ‘60s.” So it’s not really as new as we thought.
The point is, glass hair isn’t going anywhere. It’s going to be a trend that keeps on coming back. Why? Because it’s a healthy hair trend that looks amaaaazing.
Let us show you how to achieve a glass mane of your own.
GLASS HAIR, DEFINED
In case you have no idea what glass hair is or what it looks like, let us fill you in.
Glass hair is a sharp cut styled to look incredibly sleek, smooth, and shiny – resembling reflective qualities of glass.
“We call it glass hair because it reflects so much light—dull, damaged hair can’t do this,” explains celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend. “Healthy hair has an outer cuticle layer that lies flat, which reflects light and is strong enough to withstand the hot tools you’ll need to make it sleek.”
Professional hairstylist Tina Outen says it is impossible for damaged hair to get glass-like.
“Our outer layer of the hair has cuticles, which are like tiles on a roof,” she says. “The more uneven and curled up at the edges they become, the more the light will be absorbed into the hair, making it appear dull.”
HOW TO ACHIEVE GLASS HAIR
Want glass hair too? Here’s how to get extra shiny, smooth strands for yourself.
- Prep Your Hair
First things first, your hair needs to be clean and conditioned to prepare it for what’s to come next.
“The glass hair trend refers to hair that is super smooth and shiny, almost to the point of being reflective like glass,” says celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons. “Second day hair works well for a lot of styles, but you’ll want to ensure your hair is freshly moisturized and has no build-up whatsoever.”
To begin, shampoo and condition your hair. For extra shine, try Truly’s Super Plant Bundle – Shampoo and Conditioner – to clarify your scalp while nourishing it with its blend of natural plant extracts.
Be sure to comb the conditioner through your strands so that all your hair is coated. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
- Blast Your Hair with Cold Water
Ice cold water is the secret to major shine.
After washing and conditioning your hair, blast your hair with cold water to flatten down and close the cuticle. This’ll make your strands look extra shiny once they’re dry.
Townsend recommends conditioning with hot water and finishing with a cool rinse.
“The humidity from the hot water will open up the cuticle and allow the nutrients from the conditioner to soak into the cuticle and nourish hair,” he explains. “Then, blast the hair with cold water as you rinse out the conditioner to close the cuticle, sealing the nutrients in and allowing the hair to reflect light.”
- Flatiron Hair in Small Sections
Before doing anything, apply heat protection spray to your tresses. You’ve worked so hard to keep your hair in perfect shape. Don’t ruin things now! You may even consider blow-drying your hair beforehand, as recommended by Fitzsimons.
“For most hair types, I would recommend a smooth blowout before using the flat iron to help minimize the amount of time you’re using the flat iron on your hair,” he says.
Taking ultra-fine sections, straighten them with a flat iron. If you do this on large chunks, you won’t get the super sleek look you’re after. So only do it, thin piece by thin piece.
- Brush While You Flatiron
For some seriously smooth results, brush the hair on top of the iron and pull down. This is a really great technique for adding extra shine and softness to your strands.
Mane expert Maria Elizabeth advises people to brush their hair daily to enhance health and shine.
“Run a boar bristle brush through your hair daily to evenly distribute oil from the scalp to the ends. A boar bristle brush will close the hair cuticle, which will help create more shine,” she says.
We swear by this “For Luscious Locks” Vegan Boar Bristle Hair Brush by Truly. It detangles all hair types without damaging your strands and is incredibly gentle on the scalp. It’s a real winner!
- Finish with Oil or Shine Spray
Hair that’s well moisturized and minus pesky flyaways always looks glossier and gorgeous-er. Applying hair oils is the quickest way to boost hair hydration levels.
“Oils close the cuticle to help reflect light,” says Townsend.
Start with a small amount, running the oil through your ends and dabbing down any flyaways close to your roots. If you have fine hair, use as little of the oil as possible to prevent it from looking greasy.
Run over your mane with a warm blow-dry to set the shine.
Fitzsimons prefers a shine spray for completing the glass hair look.
“Finish the look with an anti-frizz hairspray to ensure the style is locked all day long and use a few spritzes of a shine spray,” he advises.
Spray your hairbrush with the product, then brush through the ends for even distribution and ultimate shine!
MAKE IT LAST LONGER
By switching to a silk pillowcase.
If you want your gorgeous glass hair to last longer than a day, make sure you invest in a silk pillowcase to wake up with flawless tresses.
“Silk causes less friction to your hair so sleeping on one will leave it looking smoother and healthier come morning,” explains Elizabeth.
It really is the simplest switch you can make to protect your mane and preserve your hairstyle from the night before.
Take your beauty sleep routine to the next level with Truly’s Satin Sleep Set, featuring a pink satin pillowcase, eye mask, scrunchie, and headband for a frizz-free slumber.