The idea of glitter hair has been around for decades. “Tinsel hair first appeared in the early 2000s when the hair extensions market exploded in general,” says Rachael Gibson, the Hair Historian. “As well as seeing wider availability of extensions for more traditional services like length and volume, we started seeing options for more fun, fashion looks – like really vibrant colors.” Who could forget the infamous feather hair extensions of the mid-2010s or the iconic festival hair covered in chunky glitter from the same era? “The desire for sparkly hair goes back further though; glitter hairsprays were popular in the 80s and 90s, my favorite Vogue cover from 1984 features a bonkers silver look, and of course Cher was wearing tinsel wigs back in the 70s too,” says Gibson. Guido Palau recently released his own glitter hairspray for Zara too, proving that glimmering hair is on the rise.
Gibson also points to flapper evening wigs, which were made of metallic bullion embroidery thread designed to glitter under stage lights. It’s also incredibly low-technology to achieve the effect. Typically, strands of tinsel are simply taped in and you’re good to go. You can buy DIY kits online, or go to a hairdresser, and tinsel typically lasts one to two weeks depending on how it’s cared for.
Now that the 2010s aesthetic is back on the rise, it’s no wonder tinsel is so ubiquitous. “I lived through tinsel hair the first time round and it felt really exciting and innovative, especially as it tied in with the explosion of modern digital culture too,” says Gibson. “I vividly remember filming tinsel hair extensions backstage at Ashish SS15 using Kira Kira; the original sparkle filter app, which launched around the same time. It was a real fashion show moment, which immediately had traction online because it was so visual and shareable.” Hair tinsel is so easily tied to a very, very nostalgic aesthetic of the past: Tumblr visuals, chunky glitter makeup, early Beyonce, Kesha and cult brands like Meadham Kirchoff and Heatherette.
Make-up artist Monica Monteiro started wearing hair tinsel about two years ago and hasn’t taken a break since. “I love that it looks like the hair from my Barbies from the 90s,” she says. “They make me feel magic, and like I’m a whimsical creature.” Likewise, the artist and content creator Taylor Quitara first experimented with hair tinsel around 2009 when she was a tween modeling for the iconic pre-teen fashion haven Limited Too/Justice. “My revival of hair tinsel was this past Halloween when I was recreating a Galliano runway look,” she says. “Then I kept the tinsel and started incorporating it into my everyday style. I love how it catches the light and can be cute but also badass if you want it to be. It’s also a nod to my youth which is sweet.”
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