Dakota Johnson is one of those actresses who possess an effortlessly cool style that's as timeless as it is trendy. Whether she's photographed stepping in and out of hotels on the streets of Manhattan flanked by adoring fans or attending red carpet movie premieres (most recently for her role in Marvel's Madame Web in February), she always has a finger on the pulse of what's happening in the fashion-and-beauty world.
The actress's signature hair is created by celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend, who also has been behind the looks of Riley Keough, Olivia Wilde, Elizabeth Olsen, and Aubrey Plaza. Below, we're taking a close look at the polished, flowing hairstyle Johnson is frequently spotted wearing, commonly referred to as liquid hair. With the help of celebrity hairstylists and the best products for ultra-shiny, smooth hair, you'll have liquid hair in no time.
What Is Liquid Hair, and How Can I Get It at the Salon?
"[Liquid hair] typically involves applying products (think serums, gels, or oils) to achieve a shiny, wet look! I love the versatility and the modern vibe of these looks! The popularity of liquid hair is coming from the runways, fashion editorials, and being seen on celebrities," says colorist, hairstylist, and Schwarzkopf Professional ambassador Patricia Elness. One of the easiest ways to get the specific look you're after during a salon visit is to use the right terminology in reference to a style or cut.
At the end of your salon visit, you should have a polished, glossy, straight style with movement just like a shimmering waterfall. "Liquid hair is ultra-sleek, shiny hair that, when it moves, looks like liquid. It's best worn straight. Of course, when our favorite celebs wear styles, we always want to try them," says hairstylist and Schwarzkopf Professional ambassador Brendnetta Ashley. "When you head to the salon, you want to ask for a polished blowout. The key to this look is creating a very refined, polished hairstyle." It's also a good idea to bring a few pictures of the hairstyle for your stylist to reference, so be sure to give Pinterest a good scroll for inspiration!
How Can I Get Liquid Hair at Home?
You don't have to book a salon visit to get the liquid look. "With liquid hair being all the rage, it's a look that is fairly easy to create yourself at home. The key to achieving the mirror-like shine off of your color? You want to make sure you are starting with a rich, healthy, high-shine color. Start with a deep color that is not only glamorous but nourishing on your hair," Wendy Burns, lead research hairstylist for Schwarzkopf Keratin Color, tells us. "When it comes to styling a liquid look, less product is more. You don't want to produce a greasy texture or flat color with an abundance of hair products."
Burns also recommends creating a cocktail of a smoothing product and leave-in conditioner to deliver long-lasting, straight strands. For the final touch, spritz the hair with a thermal protectant. Then run a flat iron over your style. Elness encourages proper hydration of the hair by using an anti-frizzing shampoo and conditioner to help get the hair as smooth as possible. After flat-ironing the hair, go in with an oil and a lightweight finishing spray (her favorites are the Fibre Clinix Bonding Light Oil and OSiS+ Elastic Light Hold Hairspray) to add shine and provide all-day hold.
If you're on the hunt for even more products to create a look the unofficial liquid-hair queen, Dakota Johnson, would be jealous of, keep scrolling for an edit of 17 transformative serums, treatments, oils, and more.
Treatments for Satin-Like Strands
Applying Platinum Silkening Gloss's lightweight, shine-enhancing formula on your strands will ensure silky, lustrous hair that's frizz- and flyaway-free. After smoothing the gloss onto damp or dry hair, bring out the eye-catching shine by going over it with some heat.
When you hop in the shower, use the Hair Gloss treatment by Ouai to bring out the best in your tresses. Powered by hyaluronic acid and rice water, this in-shower hair gloss boosts shine while protecting color, reducing frizz, and providing protection against damage, breakage, and split ends.
Colored hair looks its best when it has received maintenance inside and out. Here's a high-gloss clear topcoat celebrity hairstylists use to restore shine and vibrancy to their clientele's hair with a soft and silky end result. What's more, the Color Fanatic Top Coat is offered in a wide selection of shades.
Another great option for creating liquid hair on color-treated strands is this gloss treatment by Kérastase. It's a rinse-out salon gloss treatment for color-damaged hair that uses lactic acid to enhance shine and preserve color while also working overtime to strengthen and seal the hair surface.
Smoothing Serums and Oils
When I wear my hair straight, I swear by this frizz-fighting oil to keep the strands tame. The fast-absorbing oil vanishes into the hair in seconds, blocking humidity and delivering hydration for a smooth and shiny finish. I keep it on hand to protect my hair against the Pacific Northwest's near-constant rainfall.
Professional, salon-quality hair doesn't have to come at sky-high prices. Using this lightweight, strengthening hair oil makes all the difference in creating shiny tresses. It's formulated with Glicoamine, patented technology that penetrates the hair and acts as a shield against humidity and heat.
I can't remember what my haircare routine was like before I got my hands on this best-selling hair oil. Powered by the brand's patented TFC8 technology combined with restorative botanicals, it instantly improves the look and feel of the hair by detangling, smoothing, and controlling frizz for shiny and smooth strands.
Trust me when I say you don't have to deal with frizzy hair if you don't want to. One of my favorite ways to keep my hair smooth and water-like is by using this serum. It's crafted with a blend of nourishing oils (marula, camellia, and argan) to boost hydration, strength, and shine for all hair types and textures.
Oribe's luxurious, lightweight oil absorbs instantly into the hair using a formula crafted from the brand's signature complex (watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower), shea butter, sandalwood extract, and so much more. It deeply conditions the hair without weighing it down.
Shine-Enhancing Stylers
Looking for a lightweight and flexible hair spray? This one, by OSiS+ does all that and more with a formula that's layerable, buildable, and non-flaky. Both Elness and Ashley recommend using this hair spray (in either the Elastic Light Hold or Freeze Medium Hold) paired with an oil to deliver the sleek, satiny liquid look.
Whether you're creating liquid hair at home or having it done at the salon, using a smoothing blowout cream can take your sleek style to the next level. Drybar's Liquid Glass High-Gloss Smoothing Blowout Cream enhances shine and protects from heat up to 450°F using a quick-absorbing formula with jojoba and sunflower oils.
I'll always love a good multipurpose product that cuts down on styling time. Virtue's 6-in-1 universal styling cream primes hair to add softness, shine, and light hydration while strengthening, polishing, and protecting from heat. It is also completely color-safe.
This blow-dry styling booster and leave-in spray detangles the hair while protecting against heat damage and preventing breakage and moisture loss. It also adds softness and smooths the strands with aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, and pomegranate for perfect liquid hair every time.
Helpful Hair Tools
JS Health's stylish and ergonomic hair tool can be used to effortlessly detangle and smooth the hair from root to tip using lightweight bristles that are designed to be gentle on your strands. While you're brushing, try adding a little bit of pressure on the scalp for a messaging effect that promots blood flow for a healthy scalp and hair.
If you don't already have this Act+Acre hair comb, it's time to hop on it. It's designed with wide-spaced teeth for gentle detangling and features a shorter second tooth to make parting your damp and dry hair easy. It also does a great job of preventing breakage and frizz.
T3's oval-shaped Polish Shine Hair Brush smooths strands and boosts shine using nylon ballpoint bristles gently detangle and boar bristles for a flossy finish that's free of flyaways. The layered bristles stimulate blood flow at the scalp and distribute natural oils to the strands.
Get ready for the liquid hair of your dreams! Here's a hand-finished comb that can be used on wet or dry hair to detangle and style the strands to perfection. Not only is it absolutely gorgeous to look at, but it's completely versatile and calibrated to ensure ease of comb-through for all hair types.
Crown Affair's The Brush No.001 is a handcrafted beechwood dual-bristle brush made from ethically harvested boar bristles and high-quality nylon. It distributes natural oils through strands, combats frizz, and gently detangles the hair while gently adding volume where your hair needs it the most.
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