The ‘glass hair’ trend has taken the beauty world by storm in recent years. From red carpets to social media feeds, celebs like Kim Kardashian, Jessica Chastain and Rhianna are sporting the sleek, ultra-shiny look. On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, glass hair is generating tens of millions of views, while hair brands rush to develop products designed to nail that flawless finish. There are hundreds of straighteners, serums, sprays and treatments which promise to help us achieve the look without stepping into a salon. And the result can be stunning. But it’s vital to recognise that the level of styling required doesn’t come without risks to hair and scalp health, particularly for those of us struggling with thin hair or hair fall. Here’s the lowdown.

What Is Glass Hair? 

 

The look is all about making your hair so smooth, sleek and shiny that it reflects light, making tresses appear like glass. If the style’s new to you, you won’t be surprised to learn that the look requires some major styling and product work.

How To Get Glass Hair

To achieve this glass-like sheen, hair must be washed and conditioned with products designed to smooth the hair, tame any frizz and hydrate it. Hair is then blow dried in sections, using a round brush while focusing on creating a smooth base. Once dry, it’s time to get the straighteners out. Divide the hair into manageable sections and glide the irons from the roots to the tips in one motion. Make sure you use a heat protectant spray on dry or damp hair before you start styling your hair. Finally, add shine products (serums or sprays typically) to the style to lock in the look.

How Long Does Glass Hair Last?

The style will last for a few days. But, bear in mind that your hair type will play a part, as will environmental conditions. Humid weather (and the accompanying sweat) is an enemy of glass hair, making touch-ups with the irons and sprays necessary. To keep the style at its most stunning, you’ll probably need to repeat the full process around twice a week.

Pros Of Glass Hair

There’s no doubt that the look can be amazing, and the style works on all manner of hair types and lengths. It’s perfect for special events or big occasions. If your hair tends to be frizzy, the combination of heat styling and effective sprays or serums can create a smooth and controlled style. And when your hair looks gorgeous, it can make you feel magnificent!

However, the celebrity-level glam doesn’t come without problems. The trend has significant downsides for hair and scalp health. And this is especially the case for women with thin hair or those experiencing hair loss.

Glass Hair Health

Here are the main problems to contend with:

Heat Styling Damage

 

Your hair and scalp hate the heat. Our locks are made up mainly of keratin, a protein that gives the strands structure and strength. Flat irons, curling irons and blow dryers don’t do our hair health any favours.  Heat styling evaporates the natural moisture of the hair shaft, a recipe for dryness and brittleness. Breakage and split ends often result. The hair cuticle (the outer layer of the hair) is easily damaged by the application of heat, causing it to lift and break. You’re then looking at rough and dull hair. The natural elasticity of hair is compromised too, as keratin alters with heat, becoming weaker. This makes the hair fragile.

Scalp Effects

Like the rest of your skin, your scalp is highly sensitive to heat. When heat styling tools are overused, scalp dryness occurs. This leads to irritation, itchiness and flakiness. Dryness can also cause your scalp to compensate by producing excess sebum to moisturise itself. Oily roots, clogged follicles, dandruff and conditions like seborrheic dermatitis can arise. And constant heat can damage the follicles themselves, which is one of the roads to hair thinning and hair loss.

How To Protect Your Hair

So, how can you enjoy the glass hair look without sacrificing your hair and scalp health? Here are some tips to mitigate the downsides of the style:

Use The Style Sparingly

Even for women not experiencing thin hair and hair fall issues, this style is not one that should be adopted every day. Balance is the key, and limiting heat styling is recommended, to give your locks time to recover. Keep the look for special occasions, and when you’re not aiming for the ultra-sleek glass hair look, allow you hair to air-dry or use the cool setting on your blow drier if you have curly, coily or thick hair that takes a long time to dry naturally. Between washes, keep your hair refreshed with our Peptide Puff™ dry shampoo. Dermatologically tested, Peptide Puff™ absorbs oil and adds volume, and contains an array of ingredients your scalp will love. And turn the heat on your styling tools down as far as you can!

Go Silicone-Free

While silicone styling products can provide speedy shine and smoothness, they come with some hair health issues. Silicones coat the hair in a thin, water-resistant layer, which while great for controlling frizz and boosting shine, also stops moisture from penetrating the hair shaft. This can lead to dryness. And they don’t wash away easily either, so product build up on the hair and scalp can occur. Silicone-free products allow moisture to get into the hair, and they avoid the problems of build-up.

Build In A Nourishing Hair Mask 

 

Incorporating a hydrating and nourishing hair mask into your weekly hair care regimen can help protect your hair from heat styling damage. And using a mask specifically designed for fine and fragile hair is crucial. Our Hair Gain Hair Mask deeply penetrates the hair cortex while nourishing the scalp. Its luxurious formula does not use silicones, and contains the signature AnaGain™ ingredient, which helps to stimulate the follicles and reactivate hair growth. Use it once or twice a week (for as little as 10 minutes a time) for the best results. And used in conjunction with our wonderful leave in Scalp Foam, it can reduce hair breakage and fall by up to 60% from the first use*.

Supporting Hair From The Inside 

 

Whether you want to go for the glass hair look, or just want to give your hair the love it deserves, then you need to look after it from within too. Our amazing Hair Gain Hair Capsules and Hair Gain Hair Gummies, powered by AnaGain™ and a unique blend of essential hair vitamins and minerals, are a must for those fighting thin hair or hair fall. Taking two capsules or gummies daily will support healthy hair from the inside!

 

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*Independently tested May 2023, results achieved when tested as a regime with the Hair Gain Scalp Foam.