Glass, glazed, liquid - whatever you call it, ultra glossy lengths have been dominating our algorithms lately. And in yet more proof that the hair trend du jour is here to stay, Kaia Gerber has, too, opted for the high-shine effect this summer.
Debuting a new darker shade of brunette in a richer chocolate hue, the supermodel has made a convincing case for TikTok's favourite glass hair trend, with her long, poker straight and light-reflecting strands stealing focus in a recent Instagram post.
'Rich in tone, shiny, and healthy-looking, like an ultra gloss, this is a massive trend we are seeing in salons at the moment,' agrees Zoe Irwin, Creative Director for John Frieda. With many different monikers, the latest in the batch of glass hair trends is being coined 'glaze hair' and 'liquid brunette'.
'Liquid glass and glaze hair are gaining popularity for the simplicity factor; hair health is at an all-time high and this is the best colour in terms of not damaging the hair follicle,' adds Emilie Venturini, Gielly Green Signature Colourist. Think of it as hair that reflects the light, as seen on Gerber, with a completely closed, smooth cuticle and far less damage than your go-to highlights.
And it's perfect for brunettes. 'Darker shades and warm pigment will reflect the light and give you the glossiest results,' adds John Alfred at Hershesons Fitzrovia.
Of course, shiny hair has always been the aim of the game when it comes to our hair. But with a laser focus on the importance of hair health of late - particularly, with the scalp and its precious skin barrier at the forefront - healthy-looking glossy hair has never been more covetable.
'Make-up trends have become more polished and self-care orientated and I think hair has followed,' says Irwin. 'After years of balayage brunettes, this super gloss - where the colour is the same from the roots to the ends - is naturally more modern.'
Shiny hair: colour glosses
Aveda Colour Renewal Colour and Shine Treatment
Aveda's option is perhaps the quickest way to revive your colour and make dry ends shine. It works just like a nourishing mask, but makes your colour richer and glossier too. With shades for both warming up and cooling down your tone, it's an all-round winner.
Josh Wood Colour Gloss
Josh Wood's Gloss is a fan favourite for good reason. Use it once a week to tone down brassy blonde or to deepen that Dua Lipa-inspired cherry red.
dpHUE Gloss+
Huge in the States, Dp Hue makes some seriously cult colour-enhancing treatments. This root-fading, length-brightening treatment comes in a host of shades as well as a clear iteration, which simply adds glassy shine to all tones and types.
If you're hoping to neutralise warm, brassy tones, try this one. The blue iteration balances out warmth in dark blonde and brunette shades, while the purple works like magic on bright, icy blondes.
And if you're wondering just how to mirror Gerber's impressively shiny, near otherworldly hair, in-salon semi-permanent treatments are your best bet. 'Adding extra shine can be done by sealing the cuticle with an in-salon acidic gloss treatment; these treatments do not cause any damage and can be done once a month,' says Alfred.
![hollywood, california may 11 kaia gerber attends the apple tv palm royale official emmy fyc event at hollywood athletic club on may 11, 2024 in hollywood, california photo by kevin wintergathe hollywood reporter via getty images](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-2152504610-6673eafa78825.jpg?crop=1xw:0.9812688253012049xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Apple TV+ "Palm Royale" Official Emmy FYC Event - Red Carpet")
Shiny hair: lamellar treatments
L'oreal Elvive Wonder Water
The one that went viral, L'oreal's Wonder Water really does deliver on its promise to make hair silkier and shinier in just eight seconds. It's brilliantly affordable – not to mention effective – but be aware of the strawberry-sweet scent: you'll either love it or hate it.
With a subtler, salon-style scent, Matrix's lamellar water is sure to impress the masses. It's effortless to apply, a cinch to rinse out, and even extra-long hair will get 12 uses out of the bottle.
Davines Oi Liquid Luster
With more of an oil-rich texture than the others, Davines' offering packs a hydrating punch on long, thick and coarse hair types. it features the brand's favourite roucou oil for smoothing, and a fruit acid to instantly seal each air cuticle, enhancing shine once dry.
Created by John Frieda, you can opt for the 'liquid brunette' gloss treatment in the London-based salon, which adds a mix of hydration with a deeply pigmented colour and top coat. 'After your treatment, the maintenance is simple, so listen to what your colourist recommends as there are home glazes and shine treatments such as the Redken Gloss Treatment, which you can use at home after the treatment,' says Irwin.
'Hydration is key when it comes to creating this look, so make sure you are using a moisturising mask once a week, and when styling, use a boar bristle round brush for optimum shine,' concludes Venturini.
ELLE Edit: Hair Masks
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Amelia Bell is the Senior Site Beauty Editor at ELLE UK, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and overseeing all beauty content for the site. Amelia has a particular interest in sustainable beauty practices, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
