Another day, another beauty lesson on TikTok. “Irish hair” or “Irish curls” are the latest focus to start getting the recognition they deserve on the platform, with many users discovering for the first time that their hair texture, despite the name, is prevalent around the world.
What is “Irish hair”?
The term has been picking up momentum in it’s eponymous country, Ireland, but also in America, Canada, Australia and beyond. Essentially, the natural hairstyle features a contrasting mix of textures.
“Irish hair is a unique mix of curly or wavy strands underneath, with a straighter top layer,” explains Jason Collier, Jerome Russell Bblonde Key Opinion Leader. “This distinct hair type is often attributed to the Celtic heritage that contributes to various textures within the same head of hair, leading to a natural, sometimes unpredictable volume and movement,” he adds.
“Typically, those with ‘Irish hair’ have curlier or wavier hair at the nape of the neck, and lower sections, whereas the crown and top sections usually stay straighter and sometimes finer, which can create a contrast,” Jason explains. Sound familiar? Hundreds of users have reported identifying with the hair type.
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TikTok content
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How to style “Irish hair”?
As with all hair textures, the best way to make the most out of Irish hair is to familiarise yourself with the different natural textures within your hair and what they respond to, both environmentally (like humidity and product-wise).
“You’ll want to focus on moisture and defining each texture. The curlier sections often require extra hydration, so using a lightweight sulphate-free shampoo, followed by a nourishing conditioner can help soften and define the waves or curls underneath,” says Jason. “A leave-in treatment or curl jelly applied specifically to the curlier sections, will help keep the curls bouncy without weighing down the straighter top layers,” he adds.
For your hair’s health in general, “weekly deep-conditioning treatments are also recommended to add extra hydration and maintain the health of each strand,” says Jason.
As with all curly hair types, getting your drying routine right will make a huge difference. “It’s best to air-dry or use a diffuser on low heat, as excessive heat can disrupt the curls and straight sections,” Jason advises.
How to style Irish hair to enhance your curl patterns
The specific way you style your hair will depend on what you want to achieve – whether you want to play up the contrasting textures or match them.
“If you aim to enhance the natural contrast between textures, use a curl-enhancing cream or mousse on the underneath curls, gently scrunching them to amplify volume,” says Jason. “The straighter top layers will benefit from a lightweight smoothing serum or oil to keep flyaways at bay and add shine without weighing down the curlier parts,” he says.
As for cuts, “layered haircuts can work best for Irish hair, as they allow the curlier sections to peek through and create more shape,” Jason explains.
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How to style Irish curls to make your hair texture more uniform
If you’d like to create more uniformity across your hair, “consider using a curling tong on the straighter top sections to match the waves underneath or using a straightener to smooth everything out,” says Jason. “Just don’t forget the heat protectant,” he adds. Alternatively, we’ve seen the girls on TikTok, damping down the straighter top layer of their hair and applying curl creams and jellies, then scrunching to encourage the top layers to match the bottom.