If you have an Instagram account or follow any A-list celebrity religiously, you likely already know what glass hair is. Glass hair upgrades your favorite haircut with a dazzling modern finish that makes it shine to the high heavens.
While the reflective hair trend kicked off in 2018, we’re still completely obsessed with it—and we’ve long sworn by using shine-enhancing hair products like hair serums, oils, and sprays to get the look at home. However, understanding the right ways to incorporate these products into your routine can be tricky and daunting, but we’re here to help. If you’re wondering how to achieve glass hair, keep reading for everything you need to know.
Good hair day by @beautybynate.
What is glass hair?
Glass hair is a sleek, smooth, shiny, reflective style, just like a piece of glass. The trend originated on blunt bob cuts but soon evolved to encompass all hairstyles, from asymmetrical lobs to princess-length hair. No matter what length you’re working with, glass hair is a trend that will flatter any mane with a healthy dose of luster.
If you have dull strands, your stylist may suggest a shine service, such as a Redken Shades EQ Hair Gloss—but you can totally get the look at home, too. Here’s a step-by-step guide to two different ways to add glass hair-enhancing products to your routine.
Shine Flash Hair Spray
An anti frizz hair spray for glass-like shine and finish.
Smooth Perfection Shampoo
A gentle, sulfate-free shampoo that smooths and restores manageability for frizzy, color-treated hair.
Smooth Perfection Conditioner
A gentle, sulfate-free conditioner that smooths and restores manageability for frizzy, color-treated hair.
Thermal Spray 11 Low Hold
A lightweight, thermal heat protection hairspray that adds shine and reduces frizz.
How to Achieve Glass Hair with Shine Spray
If your mane lacks that glass-like reflective shine, one of the quickest and easiest ways to create the look is with a few spritzes of shine spray. Shine sprays like Redken’s Shine Flash Hair Spray provide all hair types with instant, lightweight shine while smoothing and taming frizz and flyaways.
Step 1: We suggest swapping out your regular shampoo and conditioner for a system formulated to help keep your strands looking sleek, smooth, and frizz-free, like Pureology’s Smooth Perfection Shampoo and Conditioner. This gentle and creamy system restores manageability for frizzy, color-treated hair.
Step 2: Once your hair is washed and dried, apply a heat protectant like Redken Iron Shape 11 Thermal Holding Heat Protection Spray throughout your hair.
Step 3: To ensure a dazzling high-shine finish, complete your styling routine with a few spritzes of Redken Shine Flash Hair Spray, focusing on your mid-lengths and ends. If you want a lighter application, spray the product onto your hands first and run it through your strands.
Pro tip: To keep frizz and flyaways under control, apply a few spritzes to a brush and gently run it through your hair.
Steampod Hair Straightener + Curling Iron
A flat iron for fast, smooth styling on all hair types.
Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil
A moisturizing hair oil that adds shine and softness.
Vavoom Freezing Spray Extra Hold
An extra-firm, fast-drying, anti-frizz hairspray that provides 24-hour anti-frizz and humidity resistance.
How to Achieve Glass Hair with Oil
Oils are another great option to bring on mega-shine, but there’s a fine line between shiny and greasy. We advise starting with a small amount of the product and then adding more if needed.
Step 1: After following steps one and two above, run a flat brush and a flat iron like L'Oréal Professionnel Steampod Hair Straightener + Curling Iron simultaneously through strands. This helps smooth hair and eliminates any knots, so your glass hair is as sleek as possible.
Step 2: Next, run a pea-sized amount (double up if your hair is longer) of hair oil like Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil from the mid-lengths to the ends of the hair, avoiding the roots. Distribute the product evenly by running a wide-tooth comb through hair.
Step 3: Finally, spritz hair with Matrix Vavoom Freezing Spray Extra Hold to ensure smoothness and protect against frizz and flyaways.
Good hair day by @jordy.brechkoff.
How much maintenance does glass hair require?
If you go the traditional route and do glass hair as a cut and style, it takes quite a bit of maintenance to keep your mane looking flawless day in and day out. If you want your hair to resemble glass every day, your at-home styling routine is only half the battle. You’ll also need to become a regular at your salon. The hallmark of classic glass hair is its very blunt, geometric bob cut.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your hair grows an average of a half-inch per month. If you want your hair to look as blunt and glass-like as possible, expect to head to the salon for a trim every four to six weeks.
Pro tip: An at-home bond repairing routine can also help ward off split ends between trims, so your blunt cut appears less frayed. We love the Redken Acidic Concentrate Bundle and Intensive Treatment. When used together, the line’s Bonding Care Complex reinforces hair’s weakened bonds to help damaged hair become more resilient against future breakage.
Searching for more hair products? Shop the best salon-quality products at Hair.com.
Shine Flash Hair Spray
An anti frizz hair spray for glass-like shine and finish.
Smooth Perfection Shampoo
A gentle, sulfate-free shampoo that smooths and restores manageability for frizzy, color-treated hair.
Smooth Perfection Conditioner
A gentle, sulfate-free conditioner that smooths and restores manageability for frizzy, color-treated hair.
Thermal Spray 11 Low Hold
A lightweight, thermal heat protection hairspray that adds shine and reduces frizz.
Steampod Hair Straightener + Curling Iron
A flat iron for fast, smooth styling on all hair types.
Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil
A moisturizing hair oil that adds shine and softness.
Vavoom Freezing Spray Extra Hold
An extra-firm, fast-drying, anti-frizz hairspray that provides 24-hour anti-frizz and humidity resistance.
Acidic Bonding Concentrate Bundle
Acidic Bonding Concentrate bundle to strengthen hair & repair damage
Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment
An intensive acidic rinse-off treatment that helps reinforce weak hair bonds and repair damaged hair.
