Hair tinsel is a fun and trendy way to elevate your hairstyle for a special occasion or simply to add a touch of sparkle to your everyday look. These glittery, temporary hair extensions give your tresses a shimmery, dimensional look, similar to luminous babylights, but without the long-term commitment of hair dye. You might think achieving this look requires a trip to the salon, but the process is surprisingly easy to do at home. This article will cover everything you need to know about applying hair tinsel at home, from the tools and techniques to maintenance and removal.
Hair tinsel falls under the category of "extensions," but unlike traditional extensions designed to add length and thickness, hair tinsel is all about adding dimension and shine. According to celebrity extensionist Priscilla Valles, hair tinsel is made from a similar material to the tinsel you’d find on a Christmas tree. However, hair tinsel has a special bonding method that allows you to attach it to your roots. It's incorporated into the hair by tying a piece around a section of hair, using a special tool that loops around the tinsel. Available in a variety of colors, hair tinsel can be applied to all hair types, including straight, wavy, curly, and coily textures.
Before you begin, you'll need to gather your supplies. A hair tinsel kit typically includes strands of tinsel, microbeads (optional), a hook tool, and pliers. Tinsel comes in various lengths, typically between 20 and 47 inches (51 and 119 cm). If you have short hair, opt for the shorter lengths to avoid waste. Have fun picking a tinsel color! Fiery red and copper hair colors are still trending, especially when accented with hints of subtle sparkle. Want to add a pop of color to your hair without going through the trouble of bleaching or dyeing it? I decided to try out the iridescent multi-colored strands.
There are several methods for applying hair tinsel at home, each with varying levels of difficulty and longevity. This article covers how to install hair tinsel with a hand-tied slip knot, microbeads, or hair extension tape. The two most common techniques are the slip knot method and the microbead method.
The slip knot method is a temporary fix, perfect for those who want to rock hair tinsel for a short period. It requires minimal tools and can be easily done at home with just hair tinsel and a little concentration.
Read also: Sparkling Hair Tinsel Instructions
Installing your hair tinsel with microbeads is another way to get the look. It lasts much longer than the slip knot method. Similar to the way beaded extensions function, a microbead is placed near the roots to secure the tinsel to your hair. Most hair tinsel will come with a pack of microbeads, a hook, and pliers-all of which you’ll need for this method. Many hair tinsel kits come with a packet of microbeads that have a layer of silicone on the inside to keep them from slipping down your hair. Choose a bead that’s closest to the color at the roots of your hair.
Choose up to 20 pieces of tinsel and fold them in half so each side is the same length. Place a second piece of single-sided tape with the sticky side toward the tinsel to firmly secure it to the first tape. Secure it by sandwiching the tinsel and your hair between the original 2 pieces of tape and a new piece of tape. Make sure the tape isn’t too close to your hairline or it may be visible.
Figuring out how to put tinsel in your hair is the hardest part. Once it’s in, maintaining the look is relatively straightforward.
If you’re wondering if you can wash your hair with tinsel in, the answer is yes, though we suggest being as gentle as possible when lathering up to avoid loosening the knot or microbeads. Similarly, you’ll want to be careful when brushing or combing your hair-an aggressive approach could tug on the tinsel and make it more likely to fall out. Washing your hair can cause your tinsel to come out sooner, especially if you rub your scalp vigorously. The good news is you probably don’t need to wash your hair daily. Evan says, “Generally, most people do not need to wash every day. Johnson says the most important thing with any type of extension is to be gentle and don't rip on it too much. On wash days, use lukewarm water and gentle massaging to prevent unnecessary tugging on the knots securing the tinsel. For conditioner, apply it to your ends and avoid the roots where the tinsel is tied to your strands. For an extra-shiny finish, use the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Glossing Shampoo for Intensifying Shine and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Glossing Conditioner for Intensifying Shine. Together, the pH-balanced duo gently cleanses and leaves hair looking healthy and intensely glossy-the perfect complement to your metallic streaks.
Generally speaking, it's best to avoid using heat on hair tinsel, when possible. Though some types of hair tinsel are designed to withstand high temperatures, not all are-and unless you’re certain your tinsel is heat resistant, you should lay off the hot tools for the time being. “Make sure you find tinsel that is heat-safe so you can curl it in your hair so it matches the texture, because it does not come curly,” says Valles. Most hair tinsel is designed to withstand some level of heat. However, it’s important to protect it-and your real hair-with a heat protectant before using a blow dryer or other heat tool. And make sure to adjust the settings to your heat tools. If you absolutely can’t part ways with your blow dryer or flat iron, be sure to prep your strands (tinsel included) with a heat protectant. We love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer and the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Leave-In, both of which help protect against temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Another tip: Use your hot tools on the lowest temperature setting to achieve the results you want.
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With hair tinsel on, you can brush your hair as you’d normally do. But if you're a particularly aggressive brusher, we’d recommend brushing gently. Use a soft-bristle brush or a wide-tooth comb, and gently detangle from the ends up.
When cared for properly, hair tinsel can last up to a month. The exact amount of time depends, of course, on how well it’s applied, how you care for your hair, and which method you use. As a general rule, microbeads last a bit longer than slipknots, which may loosen and slip out on their own after a few days or weeks. Limiting how often you wash your hair may help your hair tinsel last longer, as less washing means less manipulation.
When you're ready to take the tinsel out of your hair, feel for the knot of tinsel near your scalp.
When you're ready to take the tinsel out, find the tinsel knot in the hair near your part. Use your thumb and ring finger to pinch the tinsel and strands of hair. Keep your thumb and ring finger on the hair and tinsel at the scalp. Then, stretch the index and middle finger of your same hand up by 2 inches (5.1 cm). Open the latch of the hook for hair extensions and place it onto the hair and tinsel so the hook catches. Draw the tool down towards your thumb and slide it through your thumb and ring finger. Turn the tool so the open side of the hook faces up. Slide it back towards the strand of hair and tinsel. Use your free hand to pull the end of the tinsel and hair.
Tape-in tinsel hair needs to be removed with a special tape-in extension remover. Just apply the remover to the tape at the top of the tinsel. Allow it to sit for up to 2 minutes and then gently peel the tapes apart.
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First, Valles recommends getting your hair wet by misting it with a spray bottle filled with water. “Then cut the tinsel using the scissors as close to the root [as possible]” Valles continues. Once you’ve removed the sparkle from your strands, Valles says it’s important to wash and condition your hair as normal to remove any bonding or residue left over in your hair. One of our favorite shampoo and conditioner duos of the moment is the Matrix Food for Soft Hydrating Shampoo and Detangling Hydrating Conditioner, which is infused with avocado oil and hyaluronic acid.
When you look up photos of hair tinsel online, you’ll likely find the glittery strands on straight and wavy hairstyles. However, tinsel can pop on curly and coily hair textures too - it will just require a bit more patience and manipulation with hot tools. We’re mesmerized by the subtle flecks of gold in this client’s warm-toned, caramel blonde hair. Box braids are a classic and beloved protective hairstyle for their versatility. If you're looking to add a little sparkle to your hairstyle, try tying some tinsel in your hair!
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