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Everyone wants Mikey Madison's glittery locks in Anora

Thanks to Sean Baker film, Tinsel Hair is trending again

Everyone wants Mikey Madison's glittery locks in Anora Thanks to Sean Baker film, Tinsel Hair is trending again
Everyone wants Mikey Madison's glittery locks in Anora Thanks to Sean Baker film, Tinsel Hair is trending again

It’s a fact: everything comes back. If fashion is all about cycles and recycling, beauty is no exception. Make-up and hairstyles often look to the past, especially the 1990s and the early 2000s. From blue eyeshadow to the indie sleaze aesthetic, from icy make-up to crimped hair, from French manicure to concealer lips, there are many trends that we’ve reintroduced into our routines, sometimes unchanged, other times updated. Among them, some scream a certain need to shine, to feel light, to glow—perhaps an unconscious response to the challenging times we are living in. What ties them together are glitter and iridescent, metallic finishes. We’re talking about glitter mascara, glitter freckles revived by Taylor Swift, and above all, Tinsel Hair, recently showcased on the big screen by the protagonist of Anora, one of the most acclaimed films of 2024.

Tinsel Hair: From the 1990s to Today

One of the first sightings of tinsel hair on the red carpet was in 2010, when Beyoncé appeared at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the 52nd Grammy Awards. Queen B stole the show, winning six awards, including Song of the Year for Single Ladies. For the occasion, the singer wore a blush pink gown by Stephane Rolland, Casadei shoes, and dazzling Lorraine Schwartz jewelry, which sparkled as much as the golden metallic strands in her hair. From that moment, tinsel hair became a favorite accessory for celebrities and girls, especially during summer festivals and concerts. For a few years, these colorful strands faded from mainstream attention, until K-pop stars brought them back into the spotlight, followed by Katy Perry in Play, her Las Vegas residency show. The nostalgia for Y2K style and a certain maximalist beauty trend ensured that tinsel hair infiltrated contemporary trends, as millions of TikTok videos and social media posts inspired by the protagonist of Anora demonstrate how to apply and care for them.

The Tinsel Hair of Mikey Madison in Anora

Anora opens with a five-minute sequence set to the remix of Greatest Day by Take That, a sweeping shot that takes the viewer through a New York strip club. Amidst the crowd of men and lap dancers, the film’s protagonist is revealed: Anora—or Ani, as she prefers to be called. The sex worker, played by Mikey Madison, moves sinuously, her long brown hair flowing beautifully, made striking by strands of pink and bright purple shimmering under the club’s flashing lights. Madison delivers a powerful performance in this bitter version of Pretty Woman, where a young sex worker falls in love with the son of a Russian oligarch. To embody the role, Madison moved to an apartment in Brighton Beach a month before filming began. She immersed herself in the local clubs, restaurants, and cafés that Ani might frequent. This experience was as crucial to her character development as the costumes, makeup, and hair. Five beauty details define Anora’s aesthetic: winged eyeliner, false lashes, Makeup by Mario lip liner in Almond and Toasty shades, a nude acrylic nail set adorned with gemstones and butterfly designs, and, most notably, tinsel hair. The idea to add a glittery or sparkling element to her hair came from hairstylist Justine Sierakowski, inspired by Adrienne Maloof from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Applying the strands took six hours, with minimal washing and constant re-tying after high-energy scenes. The effort paid off—Ani’s shimmering hair strands and the way they catch the light add a touch of extra magic to the film.

What Are Tinsel Hair?

They are not glitter gels or sparkling highlights achieved with hair dye. Tinsel in English means shiny decoration. As the name suggests, tinsel hair are colored extensions with an iridescent finish added to the hair. Also known as shimmer extensions, icicle hair, fairy hair, or hair bling, they can come in a variety of tones from gold and silver to bold, vibrant hues. These are thin strands, often made from materials like polyester or silk, carefully attached near the roots to add volume and sparkle. It’s a fun and easy way to experiment without committing to permanent dyes or other treatments that could damage the hair. How many strands to add and what colors to choose is entirely up to personal taste.

@rose.sol.designs Replying to @neenoor so easy and lasts ages if you do the knots tight enough!! #hairtinsel #hairtutorial #hairdiy 1991 ft. Nicki - cinderell.xl
@tudkun Transform your hair in 4 easy steps #hairtinsel #tudkunwoman #hairtutorial
@walker_ash Problem solved, pretty much LOLS #hairloss #hairtok #tinselhair #makeuplovers #hairlovers #hair original sound - walker_ash
@rose.sol.designs Replying to @neenoor so easy and lasts ages if you do the knots tight enough!! #hairtinsel #hairtutorial #hairdiy 1991 ft. Nicki - cinderell.xl
@tudkun Transform your hair in 4 easy steps #hairtinsel #tudkunwoman #hairtutorial

How to Apply Tinsel Hair?

To apply tinsel hair, you can choose between a professional method or a DIY approach. Going to a hairstylist ensures that the roots won’t be damaged during the process and that the extensions will stay in place longer. There are several techniques to add iridescent strands, such as adhesive bands, micro-links, or micro-rings that use small metallic loops to secure the natural hair strand with a clamp. The most popular technique, and the easiest to recreate at home, is the single-strand method, where each colorful strand is tied around a section of hair using a special slipknot, positioned as close as possible to the scalp. Before starting, it’s essential to wash, dry, and brush your hair thoroughly to remove any knots or tangles. If opting for DIY, TikTok is full of tutorials showing how to apply tinsel hair.

Tinsel Hair: How Long Do They Last and How to Care for Them

The lifespan of these extensions can range from 2 to 8 weeks, depending on the application method and the type of hair. Removing them is quick and easy, usually done by the hairstylist who applied them. Occasionally, individual strands may slip out during regular washing and brushing. Taking care of them isn’t complicated: use a wide-tooth comb, hold the extensions firmly at the roots, and brush gently, starting from the ends. The extensions can be washed, blow-dried, and styled just like natural hair. Can you use heat styling? It depends on the material of the strands—some are designed to withstand heat, while others are not. A tip: tinsel hair looks especially stunning in braided hairstyles.