The Wet Hair Trend Is Back and More Stylish Than Ever

Written by Ashley Mishler

With makeup and fashion veering towards the ’90s again, it was only a matter of time until the wet-look hair trend returned. This soaking wet style has been making a splash on the runway and with celebrities during this past awards season. With summer on the horizon, what better time for this look to make a comeback?

Zendaya wearing the popular wet-look hairstyle
(via Getty)

Celebrities such as Zendaya, Bella Hadid, Kim Kardashian, and Ciara have all been spotted donning this look lately. And while they make it look so simple, there is actually a proper way to accomplish this style. It isn’t as simple as hopping out of the shower and going on with your day, mainly because your hair will eventually dry and lose that slick, edgy finish.

Bella Hadid wearing the wet-look hair trend
(via Getty)

How to Get the Wet-Look Hair Trend

Depending on your hair type, you’re going to need some combination of hair oil or serum, a gel, a styling cream, a sculpting mousse, or a conditioner. For dryer or thicker hair that sucks up moisture, lean towards a heavy combination of serum and cream first, then top it with a combo of gel and hair oil. For hair that is a bit lighter and finer, opt for a cocktail of conditioner, mousse, and a bit of lightweight gel. No matter what your styling recipe is, you’ll want a good, strong hold hairspray to lock in your look at the end. However, there are a few things to consider when playing around with this look.

Hunter Schafer wearing the popular wet-look hairstyle
(via Getty)

For the wet-look hair trend to appear as sexy and confident as it does, it’s important to keep things sleek. Before applying any styling products, decide where you want your part to be and create a defined line. Then brush and comb your lengths to get them as smooth as possible. Ideally, you’ll be creating this look on damp, towel-dried hair, but it can be done on dry hair as well—just be prepared to use a lot more product.

Regardless of your hair type, you’re going to want to saturate your locks, from roots to ends, with your product cocktail—and we mean saturate. Take special care around the hairline and part line so as to create that defined, sleek finish. Once you’ve balanced out how much product you need and the style is where you want it, consider clipping parts of your hair in place with curl clips, or creaseless hair clips, to help your style set. At the very end, spritz your head with a strong hold hairspray for a sealed, slick finish.

Looking for some more hair trends to try? Here are 6 Strange Hair Trends We’ve Seen On TikTok!