Healthy, lustrous hair that catches the light as it swishes never goes unnoticed, does it? “I’ve noticed a return to more ‘done’ hair – more polish and finish,” says celebrity hairstylist – and Vogue contributing editor – Sam McKnight. “Think shine, volume and gloss. Luxe hair is definitely having a moment.”
Not just any old shine, either. McKnight uses the term “photo flash shine” to describe this kind of hair’s capacity to reflect light. “It’s the kind of light-reflective finish you notice when someone takes a picture with the flash on. I created the look a lot backstage at the spring/summer 2024 shows – think Balmain, 16Arlington and DSquared2, and more recently at Moncler’s Grenoble show.”
Hair gleaming with health was all the glam models needed at the 16Arlington show last season, with all textures sharing a luminous finish in common – Paloma Elsesser’s enviable curls glowed even more than her skin. And at Moncler’s recent show in snowy St Moritz, the models’ hair outshone the snow.
How to achieve megawatt shine? “It’s all about keeping hair feeling super light and clean,” says McKnight. “Freshly cleansed and rinsed thoroughly so there’s no conditioner residue. I also recommend using lightweight styling products to boost shine and smooth strands – frizzy or fluffy hair won’t reflect the light.”
If you’re someone with curlier hair, apply a hydrating balm or leave-in conditioner onto squeaky clean hair. “Smooth the cuticle as you twist your curls around your fingers for defined texture, which helps add shine,” says McKnight. “If you are diffusing it dry, keep the speed and heat low.”
Whatever your texture, McKnight always finishes a hairstyle with one or two drops of oil – just one reason why he recently launched his own version: Hair by Sam McKnight Love Me Do Oil. “It’s my secret to runway-ready gloss,” he enthuses. Blending argan, camellia and sunflower seed oils, the super nourishing formula instantly smooths flyaways and, crucially, doesn’t weigh hair down.
It’s part of a wave of shine-boosting formulas that have boosted the market recently. Ouai’s Hair Gloss is designed to be used in place of your usual conditioner and – thanks to a combination of hyaluronic acid, rice water, panthenol and sugar beets – hydrates, fortifies each strand and delivers on the gloss front, too. Kérastase’s Première Intensive Repairing Oil envelops and repairs the hair (and promises to make it an impressive four times as shiny), while the OG Color Wow Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray doesn’t just fend off damaging UV rays, but also lends a veil of glossy shine to every hair type.
Here, some gloss-boosting wonder products to try now.
Hair By Sam McKnight Love Me Do Nourishing Oil
£32
Cult Beauty
Untitled / Hannah Coates / 13 February 2024 at 13:53
£30
LookFantastic
GHD Chronos
£289
Cult Beauty
Kérastase Première Intensive Shine Repairing Oil
£41.95
Sephora
Color Wow
Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray
£28
LookFantastic
GlaziPlex Bond Repair Mask
£19.99
Superdrug