Many of us have a love-hate relationship with our baby hairs, often taking measures to blend them into our hairline so they’re out of sight, out of mind. This spring, however, we’re making our edges the stars of the show with the celestial-inspired galaxy edge trend, a hairstyle that will give your baby hairs their rightful time to shine.
We tapped L'Oréal Professionnel artist and Hair.com ambassador Madison Sullivan to give us the lowdown on what galaxy edges are and all the tips, tricks, and tools you’ll need to craft an out-of-this-world look. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know—but first, take a peek at her own cosmic transformation video below!
Shop Our Must-Have Galaxy Edges Stylers
Max Sculpting Gel
A super strong hold hair gel that provides flake-free control, added thickness and body with a high shine finish.
Controller Gel
Strong hold gel for control without stiffness or crunch.
Artful Edges Edge Gel
Lay, tame, sculpt & create with our hairline control balm. Perfect for creating artistic details around the hairline and keeping sleek styles in place, with love.
Style Shifter Society Coco Dew Pre-Styling & Restyling Spray
A moisturizing 2-in-1 pre-styling and re-styling curl spray.
Beach Spray
A sea-salt free beachy texture spray that adds instant volume, body, and texture to hair.
What are galaxy edges?
Inspired by the whirls and twinkles of the cosmic skies, galaxy edges are a hairstyle technique that lets you get creative with your baby hairs, taking them from everyday to extraordinary. According to Sullivan, the galaxy edges trend is all about slicking down the edges around your face and then adding a little extra swirl to them and some stick-on jewels to give off a galaxy-Milky Way kind of vibe.
Sure, galaxy edges are edgy and upscale for special occasions, but the best part about them is that they don’t have to be overly symmetrical, so there’s no need to painstakingly shape each and every one of your tiny hairs into place. Just like the actual galaxy, the beauty lies within your edges’ imperfections.
What hairstyles do galaxy edges pair well with?
Since galaxy edges add a sprinkling of sparkle and intrigue to your hairline, you’ll want to ensure they don’t get lost in the shuffle of the rest of your hairstyle.
“I personally feel like galaxy edges pair best with any pulled back or sleek look,” Sullivan notes. “This way, the rest of the hair is out of the face, making the edges really stand out.”
An opportune time to experiment with swirled edges and rhinestones is whenever the bulk of your hair is pulled up and away from your face. You can combine your blinged-out baby hairs with bubble braids, a slicked-back low ponytail, a high tight bun, a headband, or even a half-updo.
What types of events are galaxy edges suitable for?
The goal of rocking a trending hairstyle is to make you feel beautiful and confident, and we say there isn’t a definitive rule book to determine which events galaxy edges are best suited for. They’re perfect for any dressy (or casual!) event you may have on your radar.
“This look can be worn for any day or event,” says Sullivan. “I think adding the rhinestones definitely plays it up a bit more and would be great for any night out, birthday, concert, party, wedding, or celebration.”
How do you recreate galaxy edges?
Interested in an easy how-to? Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to recreate galaxy edges on a slicked-back low ponytail, plus expert tips and stylist-approved products to help the look come together.
Separate and slick your hair.
Create a clean middle or side part, then apply a hair gel to the sides and back of the hair. Use a boar bristle brush to comb through the hair to help it lay flat against your hair.
“The Redken Max Sculpting Gel is great for slicking back the rest of the hair if you are looking for a really sleek and smooth look,” says Sullivan.
Another great gel option we love is the Matrix Controller Gel, which adds structure and shine without flaking.
Once you’re content with your slicking, gather hair at the nape of the neck and secure it into a low ponytail with an elastic band.
Pro tip: If you’re working with very thick hair, Sullivan advises separating hair into 4-5 sections and gradually adding more hair into your low ponytail as you go (peep the tutorial video above for a visual).
Style and dry your edges.
Now that your ponytail is supermodel-sleek, it’s time to sculpt your edges. Mold them into your desired shape—whether that be swoops, swirls, or S-waves before applying an edge gel.
“I recommend using a small boar bristle edge brush or toothbrush to comb and shape the edges into place,” says Sullivan. “The Mizani Artful Edges Edge Control Taming Gel is one of my favorite products to use to control edges.” Not only will this gel keep your artistic edges in place, but it provides smooth edge control while nourishing those delicate baby hairs.
Let your edges dry completely before moving on to the next step. To expedite the process, Sullivan likes to gently place a hair wrap over the hairline and diffuse the sculpted edges dry with a hair dryer.
Place your gems.
Once your edges are dry to the touch, you can go ahead and start adding your gemstones.
“A lot of times, you can find rhinestones that already have adhesive on the back,” Sullivan says. “However, I suggest using a little bit of lash glue to ensure they will stay on all night. It’s helpful to use tweezers to apply them.”
Place your gems in clusters, or lay a single one within each swirl or swoop to draw attention to your playful edge designs—the sky's the limit (pun intended) regarding your creativity!
Refresh your ponytail.
No snatched look would be complete without a little extra volume, so you’ll want to refresh your ponytail with products that will add maximum fullness and texture.
For textured hair, Sullivan turns to Mizani Style Shifter Society Coco Dew Pre-Styling & Restyling Spray to add grip and hold to styles while simultaneously defining curls and coils. Looking to infuse texture into finer strands? Opt for a product like Redken Beach Spray. This spritz creates a matte and tousled beachy texture to locks without drying them out like traditional sea salt sprays tend to do.
Now that your galaxy edges are perfectly styled to the high heavens, it’s time to show them off to the rest of the world!
Find more tutorials and professional hair products on Hair.com—and tune into our weekly HDCTV livestreams to watch more trending looks come together in real-time!
