How to Get Glass Hair: A Complete Guide + The Best Glass Hair Products

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Tips to give your hair a silky texture & mirror-like shine
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If you’ve seen the lustrous glass hair TikTok trend, you know just how smooth and silky it looks. What you may not know is that mirror-like strands are easy to achieve on any hair type. Follow the complete guide below to learn what glass hair is, how to get—and maintain—a glassy shine, and the difference between glass hair and liquid hair. Plus, we spoke to Master Stylist Jasmin Todd to tell you more about what you can do to get glass hair at home.

Glass Hair: A Quick Guide to the TikTok Trend

Glass hair has a shiny mirror-like finish and an extremely smooth texture. It’s achieved by using products designed to enhance shine, blow drying with a flat brush, and then finishing with a flat iron for a glassy shine.

Section 1 of 6:

What is glass hair?

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  1. As Todd describes it, “glass hair is a refined hairstyle characterized by a high-gloss, mirror-like finish. This sleek and polished look is achieved by creating extremely smooth strands that reflect light, showcasing the health and moisture of the hair.” First made popular by Kim Kardashian in 2018, glass hair is known for looking healthy and ultra-shiny—like a piece of glass! In a nutshell, this elegant and minimalist style is characterized by: [1]
    • Mirror-like shine: The glossy appearance of this style is why it’s called glass hair and is its most important aspect. If you don’t have the shine, you don’t have glass hair.
    • Smooth and silky texture: Glass hair also has an extremely smooth texture that’s silky both to the eye and to the touch.
    • Blunt ends and precise styling: Glass hair was originally done with a straight bob or lob with very blunt ends and a sharp center part. However, modern glass hair can be any length and can have waves and curls.
    • Optimal hair health: One of the main ideas behind the glass hair trend is that it’s what hair looks like at its healthiest. The best way to get that look is to take care of your hair and keep it as healthy as possible.
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Section 2 of 6:

How to Get Glass Hair

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  1. Wash your hair with a moistuzing and shine-enhancing shampoo . Todd recommends following up with a high-quality nourishing and moisturizing conditioner .
    • Soak your hair with clear, warm water to release oils and open the cuticle.
    • Lather a quarter-sized amount of shampoo through your hair, gently massaging your scalp and roots. Then, smooth the lather through to the ends. [2]
    • After shampooing your hair, be sure to rinse it thoroughly before applying conditioner .
    • Condition your hair from the mid-lengths to the ends. Allow the conditioner to sit on your hair while you finish the rest of your shower.
    • Rinse out the conditioner with lukewarm water and gently squeeze out any excess water.
    • Press a soft microfiber towel around your hair and squeeze. Don’t rub your hair dry, as this can rough up the texture and cause frizz.
  2. Apply a heat protectant to your hair if your hair primer or serum doesn’t already have heat-protectant properties—many serums and hair primers do have these properties, so you may not need a separate heat protectant. Start out with a pea-sized amount of hair primer or a few drops of glossing serum . Todd recommends choosing styling products that contain polymers in order to enhance shine and reflectivity!
    • Heat protectants shield your hair from any heat tool that you may use to style your hair, including flat irons and blow dryers. It preserves moisture and reduces breakage. [3]
    • Use a hair serum to help smooth hair, eliminate frizz, and boost shine.
    • A hair primer helps create an even humidity-resistance shield on your hair strands that helps your style last longer. It may also act as a serum and heat protectant, saving you from buying extra products. [4]
    • Depending on your hair texture, you may only need one of these products or all three. Those with fine hair may only need a primer, while people with coarse hair benefit from layering products.
  3. Section off a piece of your hair and position your brush near the roots of that section. Turn the blow dryer on medium heat and hold it 6 inches (15 cm) away from your hair with the nozzle angled down. Slowly run the brush through your hair, following it with the blow dryer. [5]
  4. To straighten your hair with a flat iron , start by dividing your hair into 4-6 sections. Use a hair clip to hold the top sections of your hair out of the way. Choose a 1-2 inch (2.5-5 cm) lock of hair. Place your flat iron 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) above your scalp. Close the two heated sides together, with the hair between them. Slowly run the iron down the length of your hair, keeping the same amount of pressure on the hair at all times. Repeat with all remaining locks. [6]
    • Heat your flat iron to the lowest setting for thin hair, medium heat (about 300–350ºF / 150–177ºC) for average hair thickness, and high heat (400–450ºF / 200–232ºC) for thick hair.
    • Don’t start straightening your hair if it’s not 100% dry. Using a flat iron on wet hair can cause damage.
  5. Rub 1-2 drops of an ultra-light shine-enhancing hair oil between your palms. Then, smooth your hands over your hair from the mid-lengths to the ends. [7] Or, spritz a shine spray over your hair, focusing on the middle of your length to the ends.
    • Be conservative when using hair oil . Start with a drop or two and add more if you need it.
  6. If you want your glass hair to last longer without repeating the above steps, you can get a professional treatment to increase the shine in your hair. One option is to use a glossing semi- or demi-permanent hair color , which adds shine and conditions your hair while adding color that washes out after 3-12 shampoos (depending on the product you choose). [8] A clear hair gloss is one type of semi-permanent or clear treatment that evens hair tones and adds shine.
    • Because these products don’t use the harsh ingredients in permanent hair dye, they are gentler and less damaging to your strands than full-process color. [9]
    • You can also ask a hair professional to apply a keratin treatment. These treatments can cut down on frizz, smooth your hair, and amp up shine. This treatment is performed in a salon, and the results can last up to 6 months. [10] Keratin treatments can cost from $82 - $400 depending on your location and the exact service you receive. [11]
    • Be aware that keratin treatments can damage the curl pattern on those with curly hair.
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Section 3 of 6:

Glass Hair Care & Maintenance

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  1. Maintain the health and luster of your hair by washing and moisturizing regularly with products designed for your hair type. The frequency of washes depends on your hair type—if you have oily hair, washing your hair daily keeps it looking its best, while dry or color-treated hair can be washed every other day to prevent stripping natural oils. However, if you start to see white flakes in your hair, start washing it more frequently. [12]
    • To moisturize your hair, use a leave-in conditioner on the ends of your hair. If you have fine hair, however, use a hydrating conditioner that you can wash out, since leave-in products can weigh your hair down and make it look greasy.
    • Look for silicone- and sulfate-free products, since silicones and sulfates may leave a dulling film on your hair.
  2. Sleeping on a silk pillowcase is not only luxurious, but it also helps prevent frizz! A traditional cotton pillowcase may rough up your hair as you toss and turn, and it’s also more likely to soak up all of your natural hair oils. A silk pillowcase reduces friction, causing less damage to hair follicles and existing strands. [13]
    • Silk hair wraps are especially good at protecting natural curl patterns and blowouts overnight.
  3. If you notice creases and frizz in your hair, tame your wonky strands with a flat iron. However, keep the temperature as low as possible and only use the straightener on sections that need it. Using hot tools on second-day hair can cause damage. [14]
    • Alternatively, apply a dime-sized amount of hair oil to sleek down areas of your hair that are acting up. [15]
    • Avoid putting oil on the roots of your hair or layering it with other products—both missteps can make your hair look dirty and greasy.
  4. If you have the traditional glass hair bob or lob with blunt ends, have your hair trimmed every 4-6 weeks. Regular trims also help your hair look shinier because you remove the dull, damaged parts. [16]
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Section 4 of 6:

Does glass hair work on short, curly, or textured hair?

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  1. The main trick to achieving glass hair is to keep it healthy and moisturized. That said, people with straight and fine hair of any length will have the easiest time getting that glassy look. Glass hair was also originally a shorter hairstyle and is considered easier to achieve on short hair. However, if you use the right products for your hair type, you can get that mirror-like shine, too. [17] Here are tips for those with other hair types.
    • If you have a natural hair texture or curly hair , avoid using water-based products to straighten your hair. The water will bring your hair back to its natural textured or curly state. [18]
    • If you have a coarser texture , keep your flat iron below 400 degrees to avoid frying your hair. [19]
    • If you have thin hair in short, medium, or long lengths, use only lightweight products to avoid weighing it down and making it look more greasy than mirror-like.
Section 5 of 6:

Glass Hair vs. Liquid Hair

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  1. While glass hair is known for being completely straight and smooth, liquid hair is characterized by a fluid-like movement. Think of glass hair as stick-straight and a little stiff, like a reflective pane of glass. Liquid hair is all about how your hair flows like water over your shoulders. [20]
    • Liquid hair is softer than glass hair. It looks lived-in and slightly undone, like it’s bouncy and soft to the touch.
    • Liquid hair is shinier than glass hair. While glass hair might look like a mirror, liquid hair takes it to the next level by being so shiny it almost looks wet.
    • Glass hair tends to be shorter than liquid hair. Originally, glass hair was a way to make bobs and lobs sleeker and shinier because it’s more difficult to keep longer hair pin-straight. [21]
    • The process to get liquid hair is very similar to glass hair, but you skip the flat iron and your cut is longer without the blunt ends.
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Section 6 of 6:

Best Glass Hair Products

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  1. Ready to get the mirror-like shine of glass hair for yourself? We’ve compiled a list of the top products designed to help you get that healthy, glassy look without a trip to the salon. Based on our research, here are the most recommended glass hair products on the market:

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      • Most texturizing products add grit to the hair, which gives it more volume and a matte appearance, which is the opposite of glass hair. It’s best to avoid these products, no matter your hair type.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.glamot.com/blog/32528/what-is-glass-hair-trend
      2. ↑ https://stylecaster.com/beauty/hair-nails/564975/how-to-wash-your-hair/
      3. ↑ https://www.thecut.com/2021/06/how-heat-protectants-work-to-shield-hair-from-heat-damage.html
      4. ↑ https://stylecaster.com/beauty/hair-nails/427991/hair-primer/
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/y__lbNof0_I?t=210
      6. ↑ https://www.teenvogue.com/story/top-ten-flat-iron-mistakes
      7. ↑ https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/style/health-and-beauty/glass-hair/
      8. ↑ https://www.empire.edu/blog/cosmetology-how-tos/8-commonly-asked-questions-about-coloring-your-hair
      9. ↑ https://www.elle.com/beauty/hair/a26743407/what-is-hair-gloss-treatment/
      1. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/keratin-treatments
      2. ↑ https://www.styleseat.com/blog/keratin-treatment-cost/
      3. ↑ https://www.aad.org/tips-healthy-hair
      4. ↑ https://fashionjournal.com.au/beauty/road-test-silk-hair-wrap/
      5. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/hair/hair-care/second-day-hair-tips
      6. ↑ https://www.haircode.uk/knowledge-base/hair-routine/how-to-use-hair-oil
      7. ↑ https://www.vogue.com/article/how-often-should-you-cut-your-hair
      8. ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/glass-hair-trend-celebrities#slide-4
      9. ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/glass-hair-trend-celebrities#slide-2
      10. ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/glass-hair-trend-celebrities#slide-8
      11. ↑ https://www.vogue.com/article/how-to-get-liquid-hair-like-dakota-johnson
      12. ↑ https://www.glamot.com/blog/32528/what-is-glass-hair-trend

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