PSA: We Just Found Out How to Get Glass Hair, and It's So Simple

By
Erin Jahns
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Erin Jahns
Erin Jahns is a hair, makeup, and nails expert and beauty editor with over five years of experience in the industry. She is currently the senior beauty editor at WhoWhatWear.
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Updated on 09/27/22 04:56PM
Reviewed by
Sky Kim
hairstylist sky kim
Reviewed by Sky Kim
Sky Kim is a hairstylist with over a decade of experience. She currently works at Serge Normant at John Frieda in New York City.
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Hairstylist
Close up of glass hair from the back

Dee Mills / Byrdie

ICYMI: The glass hair trend is taking over the world. And by that, we mean red carpets and social media feeds everywhere. We published a very screenshot-worthy exposé on the trend (we're still dead over Lucy Hale's recent take), but now we have something even more exciting—and perhaps more user-friendly—up our sleeves: a step-by-step tutorial from none other than Justine Marjan. (Again, if you missed it, she's one of the celebrity hairstylists who has hallmarked the trend—for plenty of inspo, just head over to her Instagram).

We'll be the first to admit that many hairstylist tutorials we come across (and even publish here on Byrdie) might not be the easiest to master, but as it turns out, prepping your strands for an epic glass hair look is just as effortless as the flawless finale. In fact, it probably won't take you more than 10 minutes start to finish and only requires a tenth of hair arsenal. (If you have a flat iron, hairspray, and a brush, you'll be as good as gold). Curious to find out how to try the ethereally smooth and sleek trend for yourself? We're breaking down everything you need to know from Marjan and celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons.

step by step photos for getting glass hair

Dee Mills / Byrdie

Meet the Expert

  • Justine Marjan is a celebrity hairstylist whose client roster includes Shay Mitchell, Olivia Culpo, and Ashley Graham.
  • Andrew Fitzsimons is a celebrity hairstylist. He works with Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, and Megan Fox.

Read on to learn exactly how to get celeb-inspired glass hair at home.

01 of 06

Wash and Condition Your Hair

Woman with wet hair

Dee Mills / Byrdie

"The glass hair trend refers to hair that is super smooth and shiny, almost to the point of being reflective like glass," says 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, first shampoo and condition your hair. Fitzsimons recommends using shine-boosting products both in the shower and post-shower. "For extra shine, you can mix a few pumps of the TIGI Copyright Custom Care Shine Booster ($16) in with your conditioner, which has a blend of natural oils to nourish the hair and give your hair an extra dose of shine," he says. "You can also use a leave-in conditioner like the Daily Dose Miracle Moisture Leave-In Conditioner ($25) for added shine and moisture."

02 of 06

Apply Heat Protectant

Woman applying heat protectant to her wet hair

Dee Mills / Byrdie

Next, apply heat protection to your hair (PSA: you should be doing this any time before you use heat styling tools). Try the GSQ by Glamsquad Thermal Heat Protectant ($8) to protect your hair and keep it frizz-free.

03 of 06

Blow-Dry the Hair

A woman blow-drying her hair

Dee Mills / Byrdie

"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," says Fitzsimons.

04 of 06

Flat Iron in Fine Sections

Close-up of a small section of hair being flat ironed

Dee Mills / Byrdie

As Marjan explained to Byrdie's editorial director, Faith Xue, (while demoing the process IRL) taking ultra-fine sections (versus large chunks) and straightening them with a flat iron is the absolute key for nailing the glass hair look. For the record, all of GHD's heat tools are fabulous, and it's the brand Marjan personally swears by.

If you have super damaged hair from previous heat styling or chemical processes, Fitzsimons recommends avoiding this trend and focusing on nourishing your hair back to health first, (which will help it appear naturally shinier in the long-run). 

To get a bit more specific with your technique, Marjan says to make sure to brush the hair on top of the iron, and then pull it down. Or, for an even smoother finish near the roots (and to flatten the hair at the top of the head), flip the brush. For the smoothest of smooth results, we (and virtually every hair guru and celebrity we talk to) swear by Mason Pearson's luxe Popular Mixture Hair Brush ($240). Yes, it's an investment but rest assured a worthy one.

05 of 06

Finish With the Right Products

Woman spraying her hair with shine spray

Dee Mills / Byrdie

"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," advises Fitzsimons. You can spray directly on your hair, or spray your hairbrush with the hairspray and then brush through the ends for even distribution.

06 of 06

Final Look

Woman with glass hair, viewed from the back

Dee Mills / Byrdie

And that's it—glass hair achieved.

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