For two weeks, I haven't been able to buy a cup of coffee without a barista asking me, "Does your hair glitter?"
People passing by do a double-take as they glimpse the light catching my strands of gold.
No, it's not fairy dust -it's hair tinsel, a thin, lightweight ribbon that you knot into your hair part. The beauty trend has been sported by glitter queens Ke$ha and Beyoncé, and is popping up on New Yorkers' heads this holiday season.
Christian Storm/Business InsiderI got 5 strands of gold tinsel, for $25.
Just before Christmas, I stopped by Corcoro Salon on Manhattan's Lower East Side, which offers hair tinsel service year-round. The sparkling strands are $3 each ($5 if you have long hair), and the "installation" takes just 10 minutes.
Mako Iijima, an acclaimed Japanese hairstylist and owner of Corcoro Salon, describes the process as "knitting," according to a 2012 Vogue article. After a client picks a shade from a book of tinsel colors, the hairstylist will search the client's hair part for a strong, single strand of healthy hair.
The stylist folds the piece of tinsel in half, and with a few quick painless tugs, ties the tinsel to the hair using a slip-knot method.
The material is heat-resistant, meaning you can continue using a blow dryer, curling iron, or other styling tool. And you can keep your shampoo routine, too.
Amazon.comHair tinsel comes in a variety of colors.
Hair tinsel, which comes in metallic and rainbow shades, lasts two months before eventually falling out. If you need to de-shimmer in a hurry, they can be pulled out gently or hidden in an up-do.
The only downside to hair tinsel? Sometimes I pat my head and freak out when I feel the slip knots on my roots, thinking a bug has embedded itself in my head.
My editor noticed my sparkly 'd0 this morning and trolled me, saying "I saw you and thought you looked a little more like Beyoncé today."
And you know what? I feel a little like Beyoncé.
#Hair #bling as seen on Beyoncé! $4 each, or 6 for $20! Time to get #glam! #hairtinsel #tinsel #dukesanddollssalon pic.twitter.com/WshaSaFPsn
- Dukes & Dolls Salon (@DukesandDolls) June 7, 2013
You can call 212-228-8388 to book an appointment at Corcoro Salon, or order a pack of hair tinsel on Amazon.com for as little as $9.99 for 100 pieces and do it yourself. This POPSUGAR Beauty tutorial should help you get the job done.