How to Get Glass Hair: Celebrity Stylist Chris Appleton's Top Tips

Celebrity stylist Chris Appleton was named the best hairdresser at the Hollywood Beauty Awards. And it’s really no surprise - given his iconic, show stopping transformations.

chris appleton One of his go-to signature looks? Glass hair. It’s been rocked by Kim K, J.Lo, and more.

It’s no secret that his go-to product to create this sleek, sexy style is Dream Coat.

BUT there’s one more product that’s absolutely essential. Today we’re breaking down the full glass hair routine so you can recreate the style at home.

How to Get Glass Hair in 4 Easy Steps

Step One: Wash Your Hair

You cannot create glass hair unless you start the styling process with super clean hair. You need a smooth, clean surface in order to ensure maximum shine.

The first step in learning how to make hair shiny like glass starts with your shampoo. Chris says, “It’s critical to use a shampoo that leaves no residues on the hair." But unfortunately, just about every shampoo in the market contains ingredients that actually don’t easily rinse off (like, silicones, thickening resins, conditioning and pearlizing ingredients).

That seems crazy, right? Well, today’s shampoos promise to do more than just clean the hair. They promise to thicken or de-frizz or moisturize etc. BUT... you can’t do both!

In order to do more than clean the hair, you need ingredients that will stick to the hair (have nothing to do with cleansing) and this means that you are not starting out with a clean slate.

The solution? Color Wow Color Security Shampoo. This gentle sulfate-free formula does not contain any ingredients that are engineered to stick to the hair; that are difficult to rinse off.

Color Wow shampoo promises only to leave your hair super clean, free from residues, and that’s exactly what it does.

Step Two: Condition!

The next step in making hair shiny like glass is to follow up with a detangling conditioner that provides the hydration your hair needs.

Chris’ go-to is Color Wow Security Conditioner, because it’s formulated without typical conditioning agents that can oxidize and turn your hair dark or brassy.

Step Three: Apply Dream Coat

Next up is Chris’ not-so-secret weapon - Dream Coat Supernatural Spray.

This anti-frizz treatment waterproofs your hair to stop frizz, even in the worst humidity. Be sure to saturate your strands thoroughly after washing hair and conditioning your hair.

Step Four: Blow Dry with Tension

The key to activating Dream Coat is the combination of tension and heat. Using a smoothing brush (like the Dream Smooth Paddle Brush) Chris takes a section of hair and begins to dry it while maintaining tension.

woman having dream coat applied to her hair and then blow drying with tension afterwards

The result is silky, smooth, brilliantly shiny hair. “The level of glossy shine is incredible. Nothing can create a mirror-like-finish like Dream Coat...and keep the style humidity-proof for days,” says Chris.