EDITOR’S NOTE: K-Everything: A CNN Original Series is hosted by Daniel Dae Kim and explores the global impact of South Korean culture. You can now watch the series on CNN International, CNN All Access and HBO Max.
Long, shiny locks shimmer in video after video on TikTok and Instagram. This isn’t just glossy hair — it’s “glass” hair, so perfectly polished its sheen is mirror-like.
The K-beauty craze is an evolution of the “glass skin” trend that sees radiance and luminosity as a signifier of overall health, says Rena Kim, global communications lead at CJ Olive Young, South Korea’s biggest beauty retailer.
“The Korean haircare market has traditionally placed strong emphasis on consistent cleansing routines and maintaining smooth, glossy, well-groomed hair,” says Kim.
Glass hair is an extension of that, with a range of products and practices to help tresses lie flat through conditioning, strengthening and protecting, rather than high-heat straightening or weighing down with products, she adds.
