How To Make The Wet Hair Look Last All Day

The wet hair look has always been a statement-maker, but we saw a huge increase in the popularity of this bold 'do at Paris Fashion Week in 2024. With celebrities like Kylie Jenner rocking up with sleek, oily finishes on their locks, the look was launched to style stardom again. And like many trends, what began on the red carpet eventually found its way to the masses with summer 2024's hydro hair craze.

"The wet hair trend has definitely made a comeback in recent years due to red carpets and runways!" says celebrity and bridal hairstylist Lucy Gedjeyan of Lucy Luna Beauty. "We've seen numerous celebrities rock the look in a variety of ways!" And while the name might imply that a spritz of water is all you need to recreate the style, slightly more effort goes into achieving the wet hair look — and ensuring it actually lasts. 

Gedjeyan confirms that you'll need to begin with the right products to ensure a long-lasting finish, including "oils, leave-in conditioner, shine mist, and styling cream." Once you've got the look down, you can preserve it with hairspray. "Once you've used all your hydrating and wet products and you've achieved your desired look, feel free to generously spray a strong hold hairspray all over for a style guaranteed to last," Gedjeyan tells Glam exclusively. 

While Lucy Gedjeyan explains that you can make your wet hair look last longer with hairspray, you still need to create the right foundation for this edgy style to last. "A wet hair look simply can't be wet as that won't last and your hair will return to its original state," she shares in an exclusive conversation with Glam. "Plus, when you use oils and leave-in conditioners, you can actually create any texture you want beforehand and have it enhanced by the products."

Among the wet hair look products that Gedjeyan "can't live without" are oils and shine mists, which she says "are perfect for creating the illusion that the hair is wet." Additionally, she reveals that "leave-in conditioners and styling creams help with creating texture and separating strands for a more pricey look." Your leave-in conditioner can be applied to wet hair after shampooing, then wait until your hair is half dry before going in with your styling cream. At this point, you can start to mold the hair to your ideal style, whether that's sleek with a middle part or in a tight bun. After you've created your style, finish with your oil, shine mist, and hairspray.

One of the best things about the wet hair look is its versatility — this style can look chic on a wide variety of 'dos, whether you prefer to keep it down or put it up. "We've seen celebrities have their wet hair look in an updo, or tousled and down!" Lucy Gedjeyan shares exclusively with Glam. Looking for inspiration among recent celebrity red-carpet pics is a great place to start, but remember that you can be creative with a wet hair look. From pulled back to long and sultry to combed over, anything goes. If you're reluctant to don a full wet hair look, you can ease your way into this style by going for a wet scalp and dry ends. 

The wet look also works on all textures, but your approach should be slightly different depending on if your tresses are straight or curly. For curls, in particular, you might want to introduce a strong-hold gel and mix it with your hair oil. Apply them to your hair with a fine-tooth comb and then allow your hair to fully dry. And if you want to nail the wet hair look with straight hair, make sure that your hair oil and any gels or creams you're using are lightweight. Apply from roots to ends before finishing with Gedjeyan's go-to product — hairspray.