Oil-Slick Hair Is The Perfect Blend Of Bold And Wearable

Bold hair colors are a great way to express yourself, but an intense dye job isn't for everyone. Between the maintenance required to upkeep bright hair colors and the damage they can cause if bleach is involved, trends like rainbow hair might come with too many downsides for some. But you can still achieve a similar kaleidoscopic look with much less effort with the oil-slick hair trend.

"The oil-slick hair trend is a color application trend that gives your hair a beautiful, inky look that resembles the appearance of oil floating on top of water!" explains Lindsay Worthen, Ogle Schoolʼs veteran cosmetologist and campus director. In an exclusive chat with Glam, the hair guru points out that the oil-slick look is an increasingly popular alternative to other colorful trends, including the vivid prism hair look that trended on TikTok in 2023. "This shimmery effect is achieved by using tones of deep blues, greens, purples, and magentas and is typically applied to darker hair," she adds. "The main advantage of this trend compared to traditional dye jobs is the subtle grow out process that fades beautifully to softer tones."

The technique, created in 2019 by London-based celebrity hair colorist Jason Hogan, is particularly useful for those with brown or black tresses who want to experience mermaid-like hair, which typically features pastels and rainbow palettes on blond locks. Though oil-slick hair is simpler than other dye jobs, it's best to leave this one to the professionals since there are often multiple colors involved. All you need to do is know what to ask for!

Not to be confused with summer 2024's trending hydro hair, a variation of the wet-hair look, oil-slick hair has risen in popularity since its 2019 beginning, so there's a good chance your hair stylist will have heard of it already. Lindsay Worthen recommends simply asking for "oil slick" when you get to your appointment, but it also can't hurt to bring some inspo photos just to ensure you're on the same page. 

As for the exact shades you should ask for when creating this look, it's really up to you. Worthen advises keeping in mind your natural color, as that can affect how the dyed colors come out. "Although you can achieve the oil-slick trend with a variety of colors, I would recommend using cooler jewel tones, such as purples, greens, and blues, for the classic oil-slick look on a darker hair base," she suggests exclusively to Glam. "The lightness and darkness, as well as the undertone (how warm or cool your natural hair is), will determine how your end result color is formulated." 

Inspo photos will help you find the exact look you're going for, but there are lots of ways to wear this trend, whether you go for ombré or balayage rainbow colors or an all-over job. You could even go for an oil-slick part line — a variation of the vibrant, colorful roots Billie Eilish brought back in 2023. You can also make your oil-slick rainbow tones as saturated as you like, though keep in mind that more vibrant hair colors (particularly pastels) may fade quicker. Whatever style you go for, oil-slick tresses remain a more digestible alternative to full rainbow hair.