12 Hair Tinsel Ideas and How to Put Tinsel in Your Hair

Hair tinsel is one of the easiest ways to add a little sparkle to your hair. A few shiny strands get tied in near the roots, and they stay there for weeks. There is no dye, no damage, and no glitter all over your pillow.

Below, you will find what hair tinsel is, how to put it in yourself, how long it lasts, and how to take it out safely. Then scroll down for 12 hair tinsel ideas, from gold on brown hair to holiday red and green.

What Is Hair Tinsel?

Hair tinsel is a set of thin, shiny strands, usually made of polyester film, that you tie or clamp onto small sections of your natural hair. Some people call it fairy hair or tinsel hair extensions. Each strand is only a fraction of an inch wide, so it reads as a glint of light rather than a stripe of color. Think of these glittery strands as tiny hair extensions that weigh almost nothing.

Because it is attached close to the scalp, tinsel moves with your hair and grows out with it. Most strands are folded in half when you tie them, so one piece of tinsel gives you two shiny strands.

Types of Hair Tinsel

Tinsel comes in dozens of colors. Gold, silver, and rose gold are the bestsellers. Still, holographic, pink, purple, blue, and mixed packs are everywhere, especially around the holidays. If you use hot tools a lot, look for heat-safe packs.

How to Put Tinsel in Your Hair

You can do hair tinsel at home in about 15 minutes. A single tinsel kit usually has enough strands for several looks. Here is the slip-knot method, which needs no tools:

1. Wash and dry your hair first. Slippery, freshly conditioned hair is how knots end up on the bathroom floor.
2. Pick a tiny section of hair. Think pencil-lead thin, about 10 to 15 hairs. Work just under the top layer so the knot hides.
3. Fold one strand of tinsel in half and place the middle under your section, near the scalp.
4. Tie a double knot. Bring both tinsel ends up around the hair and knot them, then knot again. Snug is good. Tight enough to tug your scalp is too much.
5. Push the knot up until it is about half an inch from your scalp.
6. Snip the ends a bit shorter than your hair. Cutting each strand to a slightly different length looks less fake.
7. Repeat with 8 to 20 strands of tinsel, spaced out. Add more around the face and crown, where the light hits.

If your hair is very fine or slippery, try the bead method instead. Thread a section through a small silicone-lined bead with a loop tool, add the tinsel, then flatten the bead with pliers. A stylist can also do it for you in a few minutes.

How Long Does Hair Tinsel Last?

Tie-in hair tinsel usually lasts about 4 to 8 weeks. It does not really fall out; it grows down with your hair. Once the knots sit a few inches below your roots, they start to show, so it is time to take them out or add fresh strands.

Fine hair, lots of brushing, and heavy oils near the knots can shorten that time.

How to Care for Tinsel Hair

• Brush from the ends up. Hold the hair above the knots while you detangle, so you do not drag them down.
• Wash day: your usual shampoo works. Put conditioner from about mid-length down; on the roots it can make the little knots slip loose.
• Braid it loosely for bed. A silk scrunchie on the end helps even more, and you will wake up with fewer knots.
• Flat irons and curling wands: plain tinsel can melt in seconds on high heat. A heat-safe pack (it says so on the label) copes with low settings. Even so, work the iron around the strands.
• Rinse after swimming. Chlorine can dull the shine, so wash it out the same day.

How to Remove Hair Tinsel

Do not pull it out. That rips out the hairs the knot is tied to. Instead, hold the tinsel close to the knot and snip it with small scissors, just below the knot. The tiny bit left behind will slide off when you brush. For bead tinsel, squeeze the bead the other way with pliers to open it, then slide it down and off.

12 Hair Tinsel Ideas

1. Gold Tinsel on Brown Hair

Walk past a tinsel booth in December and gold on brown is what most people ask for. Warm gold picks up the red and caramel in brown hair. Ten or twelve strands spread from ear to ear is plenty. Go past that and it starts to look like a disco ball.

It also brings out any red or caramel already in your hair.

Best for: Brown and dark blonde hair, warm undertones.

2. Silver Tinsel on Black Hair

On black hair, silver tinsel looks like tiny streaks of starlight. The contrast is so strong that even five or six strands get noticed.

Cluster them near your part. It is the spot people look at, and it catches overhead light.

Best for: Black hair and cool undertones.

3. Rose Gold Tinsel on Blonde Hair

Blonde hair can swallow gold and silver, because the colors sit too close together. Rose gold fixes that. Its pink tint stands out against blonde without looking loud, so you do not need to match your hair exactly.

Unsure which blonde you are working with? Our blonde hair color chart lays out every shade.

Best for: Blonde and light brown hair.

4. Holographic Rainbow Tinsel

Holographic tinsel flips between pink, blue, and gold as you move. It works on any hair color, which makes it an easy pick if you cannot decide.

Photos love it. Under a phone flash, every strand shows a different color.

Best for: Any hair color, parties, and festivals.

5. Red and Green Holiday Tinsel

For December, mix a few red strands with a few green ones. It is festive without needing a headband or a bow. Pair it with one of our holiday hairstyles for a full party look.

Swap the green for gold if you want something a little more grown-up.

Best for: Holiday parties and family photos.

6. Icy Blue Winter Tinsel

Pale blue tinsel on platinum or silver hair looks like frost. It is a quieter way to do winter sparkle.

On darker hair, the same blue reads brighter and a little more playful.

Best for: Platinum, silver, and ash blonde hair.

7. Pink Tinsel

Pink tinsel is pure fun. On dark hair, it looks almost like a few peekaboo streaks, with no dye needed.

Choose hot pink for dark hair and baby pink if you are blonde.

Best for: Dark hair, or a first try at pink with zero dye.

8. Purple Tinsel

Purple is a little fun and a little moody at once. On brown hair, violet strands look almost like amethyst, and they get richer in candlelight or a dim bar.

Try mixing purple and silver for more sparkle.

Best for: Brown and black hair.

9. Tinsel in Braids

Braiding the tinsel into your hair spreads the sparkle along the whole braid. Dutch braids and fishtails show it off best. See more braid ideas in our braided hairstyles guide.

Tinsel goes in before you braid, not after. Keep the braid loose, too; a tight one pulls on every knot.

Best for: Festivals, concerts and long days on your feet.

10. Tinsel in a High Ponytail

Pull your hair into a high ponytail and the tinsel swings every time you turn your head. Brush the top smooth first, then let the strands fall through the tail. Want a polished base? Try one of our sleek ponytail ideas.

Place a few strands near the hairline too, so the front sparkles when you face forward.

Best for: Nights out and long hair.

11. Tinsel in Curly Hair

Tinsel peeks out of curls in a really pretty way, like little sparks inside the volume. Tie it to a slightly larger section so it does not get lost. More curl ideas live in our curly hairstyles post.

Go easy on heavy creams near the knots. They can make the strands slip.

Best for: Curly and coily hair.

12. Tinsel on a Short Bob

Short hair works too. On a bob, cut the tinsel a little shorter than your hair, so the ends tuck in and do not poke out.

Tie them into the top layer. Anything underneath stays hidden on short hair.

Best for: Bobs, lobs, and short haircuts.

How Much Does Hair Tinsel Cost?

Doing it yourself is cheap: a home kit with a few hundred strands usually costs less than $20. Salons and pop-up booths often charge per strand, roughly $1 to $3 each, or a flat price for a set. Prices go up at holiday markets and festivals, and they vary by city.

If you book a stylist to do it, a tip is always appreciated. Our hair salon tip calculator does the math for you.

Is Hair Tinsel Bad for Your Hair?

Not when it is done gently. The knot holds onto a small group of hairs, so it does not put much stress on any one strand. Trouble starts when tinsel is tied too tightly, left in for months, or yanked out. Keep the knots snug but not tight, remove them with scissors, and give your hair a short break between rounds.

Keep reading: holiday hairstyles, peekaboo hair color ideas, braided hairstyles, and our random hairstyle generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Hair tinsel is cheap, quick, and easy to undo, which makes it one of the lowest-risk ways to change up your look. Start with ten strands in one color. If you love it, add more next time, or try a holographic pack for the holidays.