What Is Irish Hair (& Why Is It All Over TikTok Right Now)?

As a beauty editor, I have a knack for finding the next buzzy hair trends and terms. But whether I’m trying out mermaid braids or doing a deep dive on the bixie cut, the names just keep getting more intricate…and rather specific. So when I stumbled across ‘Irish hair,’ I didn’t waste any time doing more research, because what does it all mean? If you’re just as confused as I am, I did the heavy lifting for you. I spoke to two professional hairstylists to learn more about Irish hair, and to find out if it’s more common than we think. 

• Libby Brenner is a hairstylist and curl specialist based in Wooster, Ohio. She graduated from The Salon Professional Academy in 2008 and has over 16 years of experience. She specializes in a multitude of curl services such as cutting, styling and coloring. She also excels in other non-curl services such as all-over cut/color, highlights and facial waxing. 
• Jacelyn Bautista is a stylist at NYC The Team hair salon in New York City. Bautista specializes in cutting and styling and has been in the industry for over ten years, having worked with Whoopi Goldberg at The View. She trained with AVEDA and Vidal Sassoon.

Also known as Irish waves, it usually means you have straight locks on top and wavier strands underneath. “This particular texture combination is typically seen in those with Irish heritage, so that is how it got its name on social media,” Brenner explains. “Plus, most people with Irish hair have high density with coarse strands, which can feel very heavy.”

Is Irish Hair Common? 

Absolutely. In going viral on TikTok, the current conversation about Irish hair goes to show that tons of people (myself included) have mixed textures in their hair—and that’s OK. As Brenner explains, “It’s very common and I see it quite often in my chair. However, everyone’s natural curl pattern is different, so it can be hard to spot. People may also style their hair with hot tools, so you may not even know they have waves.”

Since it’s pretty common, there are a few tricks to finding out if you have Irish hair. Once you wash, Bautista recommends examining how your hair looks after it dries without any styling products. Do you notice any difference? Is it straight in some spots, but wavy/curly in others? Brenner also suggests looking at examples of people with multiple curl patterns to compare them to your own hair. “I have had so many people see pictures of Irish hair and tell me that a light bulb went off. They feel relieved to know that they aren’t the only person with two or three varying hair textures,” she says. 

How Do You Manage Irish Hair?

It can be frustrating to manage multiple hair textures, but the experts have found a way to work with both without giving up entirely. The first step is reducing your heat usage. As Brenner explains, “When you decide to embrace your Irish hair, you’ll want to avoid switching back and forth between heat styling and wearing it naturally. Heat styling can damage your waves and make the straighter pieces of your Irish hair more straight and flat.”

Another way is reevaluating your wash routine. Find a shampoo and conditioner that works for your wavy *and* straight hair. You can even narrow your search down by taking into consideration other hair needs (i.e., thinning, dryness, color-treated, oily scalp, etc). Finally, learn how you style your Irish hair, but I’ll get to that in a minute. 

The best place to start when it comes to styling Irish hair is to choose how you want to rock your hair: straight or wavy. From there, it’s easier to smooth or accentuate your wavy pattern. If you want to go for straighter locks, grab your trusty flat iron (and heat protectant) for a sleek look. 

But if you’re looking to sport your wavy hair, Brenner suggests applying styling gel and raking the product on soaking wet hair. Then, flipping your head forward, scrunching up volumizing foam before spritzing on some hairspray for more shine and hold. One more thing: Brenner warns those with Irish hair to stay away from heavy creams, as they can weigh hair down. Consider lightweight products that add lift and movement to locks.