By Helena Madonna

In the language of beauty, shine has always meant more than surface. It signals youth, health and luxury. The dramatic rise of light-focused trends mirrors a broader shift towards wellness, self-care and the pursuit of achieving that glow from within (or at least from a strategically placed ring light).

We're slugging layers of skincare with glassy intentions, dabbing shimmer across cheekbones and chasing the kind of hair that reflects more light than it absorbs. At this moment, the beauty world is choosing mirror over matte. From glossed strands to dewy skin to chrome nails, shine is being redefined as the ultimate luxury flex. In this era, filters aren't tapped, they're worn.

In a world where almost every image is filtered and Facetuned, it was only a matter of time before hair demanded its own kind.

Gloss is not just about colour, but finish and presence. Think of it like a lacquered veil that smooths and seals, leaving strands with a controlled high-shine finish – without the commitment or permanence of dye.

Whether clear or tinted, a hair gloss won't rewrite your hair's DNA but it will help refine it. Gloss coats the hair shaft like a soft-focus lens, catching the light in all the right places and signalling luxury, health and effort – without all the effort.

It's the haircare world's version of a topcoat. Hair gloss has made shine become not just a statement but the standard.

Glass hair is likely already on your radar if you're a lover of shine.

The term gained traction in 2017, when Kim Kardashian’s ultra-sleek bob on the Met Gala steps proved that anti-volume styles could be just as bold. Since then, beauty lovers have been captivated by its mirror-like finish.

For the uninitiated, glass hair is a hyper-polished look with a wearable, high-gloss surface – achieved through meticulous product layering that creates a reflection so smooth, it rivals the surface of glass.

It all starts in the shower: a hydrating shampoo and conditioner lay the foundation, followed by a leave-in conditioner and gentle detangling to prep the canvas. Priming is non-negotiable: opt for Evo's Lockdown treatment for unruly strands or Kevin Murphy's Ever.Smooth for finer textures.

Then comes the discipline: a smooth blowout with a round brush, airflow directed downward and a shimmer mist applied section by section. The final step is precision flat ironing. The result? Hair so sleek, it doesn’t just catch light, it commands it.

Glow doesn't need to stop at the crown – allow it to travel. Down the nape, across the collarbone, spilling into chrome-tipped nails and glinting off mirrored jewellery. This is less about coverage and more about reflectivity.

From Pat McGrath's gloss-drenched runway looks to the rise of liquid highlighters and chrome press-ons, shine has migrated from hair to skin and accessories. It's a full-body gleam: cheekbones glisten, manicures look dipped in molten metal and oil-drenched legs shimmer with a high-sheen finish.

It's a curated interplay of glassy surfaces that blur the line between skin and shine. Glow is no longer confined to your strands – it's a full bodied statement.