I Just Tried Out 'Hair Tinsel,' The Trendy New Accessory That Makes Your Head Sparkle
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.
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54a1c343eab8eac54042bb1b-800-/melia-hair-tinsel-v-skitch.jpg" border="0" alt="melia hair tinsel" width="600">
Just before Christmas, I stopped by Corcoro Salon<span> 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.</span>
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.
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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.
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">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."</span>
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">And you know what? I feel a little like Beyoncé.</span>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
#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</blockquote>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">You can call 212-228-8388 to book an appointment at Corcoro Salon, or order a pack of hair tinsel on </span>Amazon.com<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> for as little as </span>$9.99 for 100 pieces<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> and do it yourself. </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">This POPSUGAR Beauty tutorial should help you get the job done.</span>
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<b>See Also:</b>
<ul><li>The Story Behind The Strangely Empty Times Square Building Where The New Year's Eve Ball Drops Every Year</li><li>The Best-Dressed People Of 2014</li><li>You've Been Tying Your Scarf All Wrong — Here Are 3 Ways To Stay Warm This Winter</li></ul>