Social media has become a popular source for hair care advice, with hours upon hours of viral videos detailing tips, tricks and treatments that promise to leave you with the locks of your dreams. So Newsweek has asked the experts to rate six viral hair care trends.
Many now take to using social media like a search engine but this shift can lead to finding conflicting information from unqualified sources still being meticulously followed and shared.
As TikTok can be a minefield of tips, tricks and hacks, you'd be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what might actually work for your own hair.
So we've sifted through the noise to better understand which hair care advice is actually worth noting, and share our experts' views.
Hair Oiling
What Is It?
A form of haircare that's been prominent in South Asian cultures for centuries, where coconut, castor, aragan or rosemary oil is applied to the scalp and length of the hair to nourish the strands while helping the hair follicles to retain moisture.
Though many have been integrating this practice into their beauty routines for decades, the power of TikTok has shared this much loved secret to a mass audience with '#hairoil' receiving over 3.9 billion views on the platform. Hairstylist and international artist in residence at Billi Currie, London, Tom Smith, who has worked with Olaplex and Evo, is a fan.
"It can have many benefits if done for the right reasons. Most oils do not actually absorb into the hair and scalp but simply sit on top forming a protective layer and softening rough areas of the skin or cuticle," he said.
"This can be helpful to protect the ends of the hair from over cleansing during the shampooing process or providing an occlusive layer for the scalp to encourage barrier repair."
What Do the Pros Think?
Although the trend can definitely have a positive impact on your hair health, it's one you have to be careful with, as Smith explained: "This trend can be problematic when not washed away properly and result in lank and heavy hair, and the wrong type of oils can exacerbate scalp issues. Castor oil is generally accepted as being helpful for hair and scalp health when used in moderation the right way."
While many can expect softer hair and expedited growth from oiling, it's not a tip for everyone. Kristine Cimbule, founder of KC Studio in London, explained that for some, oiling could undo hundreds of dollars' worth of hard work: "As a blonde hair specialist and weft extension pro [a form of extensions that are sewn into the natural hair], I'm very reserved toward this trend. Lots of these oils have the potential to stain the highlighted hair and change the tone of the blonde.
"If you have hair extensions, I would also not be recommending the hair oils as it reduces the longevity of your hair and can make the extensions come out quicker. Instead of oiling, I would always choose professional hair products, masks, and treatments where the molecule of the product is small enough to be able to penetrate in the hair shaft and give you great results and nourish your hair."
Glass Hair
What Is It?
A trend that UK-based celebrity hairstylist Jay Birmingham is 'living for', glass hair has become a beauty buzzword when it comes to hair care, with over 486 million views for '#glasshair' on TikTok and a number of brands launching hair glosses to help achieve the look at home.
More about the finished look than a haircare method itself, Birmingham explained the trend is "all about hair health and providing a glass like shine, leaving a gorgeous, luxurious feel. As a stylist who works with high profile clients, the perception of luxurious hair is extremely important and, for me, this is a trend that will remain."
If your hair isn't as healthy as it needs to be to get the look naturally, don't worry, as you can work around it with glossing treatments and careful product selection. To wear the trend, reach for high-shine products and smooth the hair out as much as possible for an almost reflective finish.
What Do the Pros Think?
"The trend itself is suited to those with mid to long length hair, who have the longer styles to showcase the trend in the best way possible. Anywhere from shoulder length and longer is perfect to really show off the glasslike appearance."
The key to this look starts in the shower, as Birmingham explained, "When recreating this trend, it is incredibly important to ensure the hair is in the best condition possible. You want to use a really nourishing shampoo and conditioner."
When it comes to creating the look at home, Smith recommended that: "This can be done through masks and conditioners, but also with cosmetic shine spray products for the topcoat glass look."
Heatless Curls
What Is It?
Heatless curls, sometimes referred to as overnight curls, allow hair to be styled without the use of damaging heat. The trend is most commonly created using a heatless curler, which is typically a long, fabric-coated product designed for you to wrap your hair around and sleep in to form curls overnight.
If you don't have a heatless curler handy, you can also DIY the trend using a robe tie, scarf, or something similar and wrapping your hair around it to create bouncy curls as you sleep.
With over 9.5 billion views on TikTok for '#heatlesscurls', the alternative to hot tools is a popular choice for millions around the world. That includes Cimbule who explained: "I'm all about improving the condition of my client's hair as I mainly work with blonde clients. Reducing the amount of heat that my blonde clients use on their hair can improve the condition of the hair significantly."
Smith explained how to guarantee good results, suggesting: "Careful prep (a light mist of styling spray or lightweight leave-in conditioner) will help to set the style in hair that is prone to dropping.
"Taking particular care with how you secure the top is the trick to waking up frizz-free, but if any flyaway hairs are bothersome, simply use a working or flexible hair spray to lay them down again."
What Do the Pros Think?
When it comes to who the technique is best suited to, Cimbule said: "This technique is most effective when combined with a good styling product for hold and works for most but would have better effect for those that already have some natural texture to their hair."
Smith added: "These are a fantastic solution to use the time overnight to set in a hairstyle and truly are heat and damage free."
If you find a heatless curler uncomfortable the first time you use it, don't be disheartened, as Smith explained: "There are several positions in which you can wind your hair. Play around with a few variations to find the most comfortable for your sleep habits."
Double Shampooing
What Is It?
Double shampooing, or double cleansing of your hair, is exactly what it sounds like: taking the time to shampoo your hair not once, but twice.
Much like hair oiling, a select few have known about this beauty secret for years, but the cat is out of the bag thanks to social media helping to make it common knowledge. By double shampooing, you are more likely to fully remove any product or dirt buildup on your scalp since your last wash day.
Birmingham explained that double cleansing hair pre-conditioner is "a new trend, and one that many people are now embracing."
What Do the Pros Think?
The tip is high on Cimbule's priority lists, as she added: "double cleansing is probably one of the most important things that I recommend to my clients. If my clients exercise a lot, use products on their hair, and apply dry shampoo regularly, there is just too much of a buildup and grease on our scalp. To make sure that the hair is healthy and stays clean for longer, double cleansing is a must."
Whilst it's an easy step to add in to your hair care routine, Birmingham warns not to become too obsessed with double cleaning, explaining that: "It's a trend that can be overdone, so do not double cleanse every time you wash your hair as this will strip natural oils and have an adverse effect on the hair.
"Instead, I would advise doing this once every two weeks maximum—this is more than enough for both hair and scalp care."
Shampoo Bars
What Is It?
This next trend is the a product rather than a hack, and is perfect for those looking to integrate a sustainable switch into their hair care routines.
With '#shampoobar' gaining over 204 million views, its clear that hair lovers are now on the hunt for eco-friendly product alternatives that are as kind to the planet as to your hair.
Plastic shampoo bottles are slowly being replaced as environmentally friendly alternatives appear on the shelves of the hair care aisle, but not all of them are created equally.
What Do the Pros Think?
Smith said: "While undeniably more sustainable, I've had mixed experiences with shampoo bars, many leaving the hair feeling waxy and stiff. I recently discovered shampoo sheets, which were hugely impressive and feel like the perfect compromise between bars and traditional liquid shampoo."
There are a number of bars available, catering to all different hair types and needs. Even though our experts aren't fully sold on shampoo bars, they do work well for some situations, as Cimbule said: "Shampoo bars are great for short hair, and great for traveling."
If you are using a shampoo bar, make sure to form a lather in your hands before using your fingers to distribute the product through the scalp evenly.
Scalp Health
What Is It?
Adding in an extra trend she couldn't leave out, Cimbule wanted to bring the conversation around to scalp health. The topic has gained over 3.7 billion views under '#scalpcare'.
She explained, "Scalp products are having a moment in the spotlight. As people got very invested in their skin hair, now they are investing in scalp and hair care. Healthy scalp means healthy hair."
Popular scalp health practices include using sulfate-free shampoos, treatments to target scalp concerns, and massaging the scalp with a tool or even just your fingers.
What Do the Pros Think
"By using a scalp treatment or scalp scrub, the clients are making sure that there is no dirt, grease, dead skin or product build up on their scalp. This allows hair follicles to grow strong and healthy."
It's not just beneficial for your hair health, as she continued, "These treatments have become as mindfulness rituals for some and really gives us time to stop and take care of ourselves. I would recommend doing a scalp treatment once every two weeks."
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