How to Achieve Glass Hair at Home

Glass hair demands more than just shiny locks, but rather, hair so luminous it resembles the light-reflecting sheen of glass. Think: the liquidy-smooth locks of A-listers sashaying down an elite red carpet. Whilst glass hair is highly coveted, it is also considered the most elusive to achieve. But the truth is, you don’t need a personal hair-stylist at your beck and call, or a 10-step hair routine to achieve mega-watt glossiness. Read on, as we unveil tried-and-trusted techniques to attain glass hair in the comfort of your own home, without breaking the bank.

Glass Hair Ingredients

The key to achieving glass hair lies in using products that are specifically designed to nourish the hair. However, don’t just believe the marketing materials – examine the ingredients list to make sure the active ingredients are backed by science. Superstar ingredients to look out for include hyaluronic acid, hydrolysed soy protein, argan oil and rosemary extract.

Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant that helps attract and retain water. It hydrates the deeper layers of the hair shaft — meaning it targets the root cause of damage and can provide long-lasting nourishment, as opposed to superficial hydration.
Argan oil is rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin e and powerful antioxidants such as COQ10 – making it an excellent shield to protect your hair against environmental damage. Known as a deeply nourishing oil, it helps smooth texture, tame frizz and impart a soft gleam.
Hydrolysed soy protein contains an amino acid that boosts the production of keratin in the hair shaft — this helps enhance shine, strengthen locks and boost elasticity. Keratin (a protein) is the building block for healthy hair. Locks that are low in keratin becomes dull, brittle and prone to damage. This protein helps minimise future breakage and boost the thickness and volume of hair strands.
Rosemary is a green shrub that stimulates blood flow to the hair follicles and cultivates a healthy environment for hair growth. It also has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties which decreases inflammation and potential hair irritation that can cause dandruff and general hair brittleness.

Holy-grail product recommendation

I put these scientific claims to the test and trialed a shampoo and treatment duo infused with the above ingredients: DesignME GlossME Hydrating Shampoo and DesignMe PuffME Volumising Hair Treatment. From the first wash, I immediately noticed my hair had a more luminous sheen, and previously dehydrated areas looked silkier – with static and baby hairs significantly tamed. After a solid month of trialing these products together, my hair actually looked significantly sleeker and more lustrous, even with minimal styling. I also noticed that my hair had more body and bounce, but unlike many products that add volume, my hair looked thoroughly cleansed, with a mirror-like sheen.

DesignME GlossME Hydrating Shampoo

DesignMe PuffME Volumising Hair Treatment

DIY HAIR MASKS FOR GLASS HAIR

Whilst there are excellent products available in store, sometimes the secret to glass hair can also be found in your pantry. I trialed several viral glass hair techniques that people swore transformed their hair from dehydrated and damaged, to glossy and gleaming — the flaxseed hair masque was the standout that actually made my hair visibly luminous.

Flaxseed gel mask

Benefits: Flaxseed oil contains a powerhouse concoction of nutrients and essential fatty acids such as vitamin b, magnesium, selenium and copper. Topical application helps fight frizz, increase moisture and
boost hair growth. The gel also imparts a physical sheen and helps tame unruly locks giving a subtle straightening effect.

Instructions

In a medium-sized pot, combine 30 grams of flaxseed with 1 liter of water.
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Remove the pot from the heat and allow the mixture to cool completely. As it cools, you’ll notice the mixture thickening into a gel-like consistency. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to separate the gel from the flaxseed solids.
Transfer the gel into a clean, airtight container for storage. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
After shampooing, apply the flaxseed oil mask to damp hair, focusing on the roots and tips. Massage the mask into your scalp and hair, ensuring thorough coverage. Leave the mask on for 20-30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. Follow with your usual conditioner if desired.

Avocado, coconut, honey and olive oil mask

Glass hair benefits:

Honey: A natural humectant that has the ability to attract and retain hydration, which makes it an excellent ingredient to restore vitality to dry, damaged hair, while its enzymes promote a healthy scalp and encourage hair growth.
Avocado: often referred to as “nature’s butter,” is rich in healthy fats, vitamins, and antioxidants. Its creamy texture make it an excellent base for easy application, and the natural oils penetrate deeply, imparting moisture and shine.
Olive oil: Its high concentration of antioxidants, including vitamins A, C and E, helps protect the hair from free radicals. Topical application strengthen hair follicles, and prevent breakage, resulting in healthier, lustrous locks.
Coconut milk: rich in minerals like magnesium and potassium, it helps soften brittle hair, nourish brittle locks and add volume . The tropical fruit’s fatty acids also help enhance radiance.

Mash half of a ripe avocado until smooth.
Mix in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1/8 cup of coconut milk, and 1 tablespoon of honey.
Apply the masque to hair, covering from roots to ends. Cover with a shower cap or towel and leave for 30-60 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

HAIR TOOL HACKS FOR GLASS HAIR

Having an effective hair care routine, and using the right treatments will produce shiny locks. But hair tools are what can really change the game — elevating shiny hair to mega-watt radiance.

Hairdryers
Look for an ionic hair dryer such as the Parlux Alyon. Ionic hairdryers help breakdown positively charged ions that make the hair look more textured, dry and brittle. The negative ions “close” the hair shaft down, which helps reflect more light and produces more luminosity. I definitely notice less static and baby hairs standing up when I use the Parlux Alyon. In particular, I notice my hair is more manageable and velvety-smooth, with split ends softened, and a lovely boost in luminosity.

PRO TIPS:

Pre-blowdry: Before blow-drying you can spray a liberal amount of anti-frizz spray to enhance shine and tame static.
Positioning: Use a nozzle attachment that comes with the blow dryer and ensure that your point the hairdryer in a straight, downwards position. Place a boar bristle brush underneath your hair, and brush your hair as you blow dry, in unison. For example: brush you hair at the same pace and position as the movement of your hair dryer.

Brush your hair whilst your blowdry

Straighteners

Ceramic heating systems are considered the most advanced, because they distribute heat evenly across the hair and helps smooth every strand of hair with one pass — this minimizes the issue of some layers of hair looking smooth, and others appearing more unruly. Ceramic heating systems also ensure the hair is straighter for a longer period of time.

Titanium plates are the most effective at smoothing over coarse, unruly locks and creating a sleek and silky finish. Titanium may be powerful at straightening locks, but it is also gentler on the hair and infuses more moisture and helps the hair reflect more light.

Holy Grail Review: One straightener that contains a ceramic heating system and titanium plates is the Babyliss Pro Optima 3000 straightener. I have trialled the straightener for over 6 months and received frequent compliment. In fact, the first time I used it, a colleague said: “Your hair looks amazing today, did you do something different?” After one pass, I noticed my hair had that glossy sheen that looked reminiscent of hair in old-school Pantene commercials – it definitely looked like I had a permanent ring light on my hair (#nofilterrequired). I particularly love how this straightener actually makes the hair look healthy – unlike many straighteners that can leave my locks looking coarse and brittle.

PRO TIPS:

Foil hack: Wrap aluminium foil around each plate on your straightener (e.g. there are two plates – place foil on them both separately). Then press the hair straightener over the section of hair your want and glide downwards — working from the root of your hair to the ends. This technique helps seal the hair cuticles more effectively, resulting in smoother, shinier locks.
Chase method: Take a small section of hair from one of the divided sections and place it between the straightener plates. Place a fine-tooth comb just beneath the hair straightener, ensuring that the teeth of the comb are pointing downwards. As you glide the hair straightener down the length of the hair, simultaneously brush through the section with the comb. The comb helps guide the hair through the straightener, ensuring that all strands are straightened evenly.

The chase method

Babyliss Pro Optima 3000 straightener

Parlux Alyon

Hair Gloss & Glaze Treatment

Before a special event (or if you want to seriously amplify that shine) you can consider a hair gloss treatment at the salon or purchase an at-home hair gloss treatment. Kerastase’s Chroma Absolu High Shine Treatment has rave reviews, with many crowning it their holygrail product to level up their hair’s luminosity (read: mirror shine). While masques and conditioners primarily focus on moisturising and nourishing the hair, hair gloss contains pigments and light-reflecting particles designed to enhance shine and colour vibrancy. It also helps to seal the hair cuticle, providing a smoother and sleeker appearance compared to traditional conditioning treatments. Additionally, hair gloss typically offers a semi-permanent effect, lasting several weeks, whereas masques and conditioners require cumulative application to maintain the results.