IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

What in the world is glass hair?

This look is all about being sharp and shiny.
glass hair trend
Hailey Baldwin wears the glass hair look at the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 11.Getty Images
/ Source: TODAY

A new hair trend is blowing up our Instagram feeds and it’s got a pretty interesting name: glass hair. Wondering what the heck it means and how to get the look yourself?

TODAY Style got a few hair experts to weigh in on this emerging trend.

What is glass hair?

Don't worry, this isn’t some wild hair trend that actually incorporates glass into your style (ouch!). The term “glass hair” simply describes a glass-like, shiny style.

"Glass hair describes hair that's incredibly smooth, soft and shiny, so that it almost looks like glass. It has intense color dimension and a reflective, high-shine look," said Leo Izquierdo, co-founder of IGK hair products.

Due to the megawatt shine, this hairstyle nearly resembles a mirror. “It’s hair that has so much shine and sheen that it is almost reflective,” explained celebrity hairstylist Sunnie Brook.

And considering the recent glass skin trend (bright, seemingly translucent skin), it’s not surprising that people are branding this shiny hair trend as “glass hair.”

If you feel like you’re experiencing a bit of hair deja vu, you’re not wrong. The glass hair look has actually existed for quite some time.

“Glass hair is a new name for a trend that is making a comeback. It seems like people are getting tired of the beach waves and want something a little different right now,” said New York City-based master hair colorist Stephanie Brown.

In fact, glass hair is pretty similar to a popular hair look called the “silk press,” which is also created using a flat iron.

"It's a blow out and smoothing of the cuticles to give your hair that everlasting shine. If you really want to go back, a silk press is also an old-school pressing comb that my mom and grandma used to heat up on the stove, then they'd take that comb and press the roots to the ends out with some grease," said celebrity hairstylist Takisha Sturdivant-Drew.

How do you style glass hair?

So you want to try the glass hair trend? A new haircut is probably the first step.

“To showcase this glossy look, having a clean, almost geometric haircut will help. Layers will cause the light to reflect differently, so having hair that is or almost is one length will give you high-glass hair,” Brook said.

A clear gloss coat at the salon can help seal the cuticle and create shine.

When it comes time to styling the glass-hair look, you’ll first want to wash your hair thoroughly (Sturdivant-Drew swears by Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo and Conditioner) so that it’s nice and clean.

Before drying locks, prep hair with a heat protectant (Brown suggests using Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray) and a shine product (Brown recommends Color Wow Dream Coat).

If your hair is pretty straight naturally with minimum frizz, rough dry it until it's all the way dry. But if your hair is curly or prone to frizz, do a complete blow dry first to help smooth out hair.

"Don’t rely heavily on the flat iron so you don’t burn your hair," Brown said.

After drying, smooth out locks with your go-to flat iron and coat with a shine serum or oil to give a nice, silky finish.

What products do you need?

Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo and Conditioner, $35, Amazon

Sturdivant-Drew said this shampoo and conditioner to get the look.

Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray, $25, Amazon

Brown said this product will protect hair during frequent heat styling.

Color Wow Dream Coat, $28, Dermstore

Brown also recommended applying this product before styling to add shine.