Wet-look hair is already taking over at fashion week

For a sleek hair trend, there's one detail we've seen making a splash repeatedly – on the red carpet and the runway – and that's wet-look hair. There's something about just rinsed, shower-fresh strands that add another dimension and a whole extra layer of sultriness to a look. It's the next step on from ‘I woke up like this’ bed hair. Instead, it gives a sporty wash and go spontaneity that we can really get on board with, and it leans into the mermaidcore movement that's continuing to influence trends in 2024.

Just recently, wet-look hair got the sign off from Haute Couture fashion week in Paris, where Kylie Jenner and JLo both tapped up the aesthetic to take their outfits up another level.

It's not always that “high fashion” or “event” looks served up by A-listers with glam squads translate into wearable trends that the rest of us normal folk can tap into, but already we've seen a softer entry-level of the look adopted by the street style set, with misted roots incorporated into creating sleek-looking ponytails and buns. In the GLAMOUR office, team members having been tapping up the wet-look roots trend to disguise third-day hair.

But, to make a statement for a night out or a girls dinner, we reckon the root-to-tip wet look aesthetic will catch on for cool-girls wanting to take their style and expression up a notch.

How to style wet-look hair?

So, how can we achieve this look? Actual wet hair won't stay wet, so your strands need a little extra help. For a style that looks dewy and still feels nice, your best bet is a hair oil. You could choose to just apply it through the roots and leave your ends dry, or take it the whole way down.

Hair gel will give you a wetter-looking consistency, but it can also become a little crispy as it dries, so bear that in mind when choosing between the two. And feel free to add in some hair shine cream for some added glow. Part your hair how you wish: centre, side or completed slicked back and tuck it behind the ears for a cool, modern finish. For extra detail you can use a wide-tooth comb so you get the comb marks through.

How to wear wet-look hair?

The beauty of this trend is the versatility it offers across different hair textures and lengths.

Kylie paired messy midi-length messy waves with a glistening scale dress for pure mermaidcore vibes at the Maison Margiela Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 show in Paris.

Pierre Suu

JLo switched out her long layered hair for a slick, sculptural, flicked misted bob at Schiaparelli.

Florence Pugh shows how striking the style can look on dinky cropped strands.

Simone Ashley paired wet-look mermaid waves with a mermaid-worthy glistening purple gown (complete with hood).

Of course, it wouldn't be a trend if our favourite beauty influencers weren't in on it, right? We saw @lovelybryana serving up juicy curls. She walked through how to create the look over on her YouTube channel. She re-soaks damp hair with a brush dipped in water. Next, she applies a deep conditioning mask from root to tip (try Amika's Soulfood Nourishing Mask, £20).

Brush it through to loosen any tangles. Next Bryana recommends smoothing Eco Style's gel £5.99 through the hair to help shape it before adding Design Essentials Curl Defining Gel, £14.99, which gives more of a wet-look finish on top.

Brush it through to ensure the hair at the top of your head lies as flat and smooth as possible. Last use some edge control to sculpt the sections around your hairline and tie a scarf over the style as it dries to keep it in place.

We spotted bob queen, Taylor Lashae, rocking a sporty slicked-back wet look. Her stylist, @erickinvisible used products from Bumble & Bumble to achieve the look. Try combing some of the High Hold Gel, £20.40 through strands to lock the style in.

Khloe's hair stylist, Andrew Fitzsimons, created “just out of the ocean waves” using his Andrew Fitzsimons Hair Model Volume Wave Spray and Fantasy Curls Nourishing Cream.

The hair at Di Petsa's AW23 show was very much mermaid inspired.

Kourtney Kardashian's slicked-back 'do for the 94th Academy Awards elevated her signature blunt bob with lashings of product to produce the sleek, just-emerged-from-the-ocean look.

Jeff Kravitz

Kim Kardashian glossed up an XXXL ponytail but giving it a wet-look finish.

Of course, there's always the more low-maintenance approach, favoured by model Kaia Gerber, who literally combs wet strands back and out of the way while she waits for them to dry.

For a colourful spin, pair the style with a summer-ready peachy-strawberry shade, like singer Charlotte Lawrence.

This simple style is elevated thanks to the wet finish.

If you fancy a new wet-look take on beach hair, we're obsessed with Joelle Fletcher's just-dipped waves. “This style is a great way to add a sexy va-va-voom to your overall look and it’s actually not that hard to achieve,” says celebrity makeup artist and hairstylist, Emma Willis, who created the look.

"The straight-from-the-beach look is the perfect vibe to dress up any summer style." To recreate it, “once you’ve curled individual small sections [using a narrow tong like the Babyliss Pro Dial, £40] all over, apply a generous amount of UNITE’s Elevate Mousse, £16.49, from root to ends," she says. “Then coat the top layer of your hair with Oribe's Glow Wax, £48, for a wet look finish.”

For more from GLAMOUR's Beauty Editor, Elle Turner follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk.