Rosalía’s halo hair has become one of those beauty moments that sends the internet into a collective swoon. It’s soft, angelic, a little mystical, and secretly very wearable. The look sits right in that sweet spot where high fashion flirts with everyday glam, and suddenly everyone wants to know how to copy it for date nights, red carpets, and casual Tuesdays where you feel like casting spells.
Here’s the good news. You don’t need a glam squad or a celebrity-sized budget to recreate it. You just need a little technique, a few clever tricks, and the willingness to look slightly ethereal for the day.
Let’s break it all down so you can glow as if you came straight from a spotlight of your own.
What Makes the Halo Hair Look So Special
Halo hair is all about illusion. The style creates a soft ring of light around your head by strategically placing highlights, gloss, or shine in the hair’s top layer. Instead of streaky balayage or chunky highlights, halo hair focuses on brightening the crown, part, and face frame while letting the rest of the hair take a backseat. The effect is very editorial.
It gives the vibe of someone who’s been main-character-coded by the universe, without trying too hard.
Step One: Start with the Right Base
If your hair is dark, the halo effect will look bold and luminous. If your hair is lighter, the effect becomes soft and romantic. The key is contrast. You don’t need a dramatic dye job, but you do need a foundation that allows the brightness at the top of your hair to stand out.
A colorist can finesse the exact tone, but if you’re DIY-ing the vibe, stick to a gloss or toner one shade lighter than your base color.
Step Two: Create the Halo Light
This is the magic step. The halo usually centers around:
- The top of your crown
- The middle of your part
You’re aiming for soft dimension, like your hair naturally reflects a spotlight. If you’re working with a pro, ask for micro-highlights placed only on the top layer. If you’re doing this at home, a highlighting pen or temporary shimmer spray can mimic the effect while staying commitment-free.
Step Three: Style with Texture That Shows Off the Light
Rosalía often pairs this look with loose, effortless waves or soft updos that keep the halo effect visible. This isn’t the moment for heavy curls or flat-ironed perfection.
Step Four: Bring On the Shine
Gloss is everything with halo hair. Without shine, the effect falls flat. A few ways to get the sheen are with lightweight hair oil like the OGX Coconut Miracle Oil Penetrating Oil, shine spray like TRESemmé Lamellar Gloss Shine Spray, a glossing serum like Kérastase Gloss Absolu Glaze Drops Anti-Frizz Hair Oil, or a clear topcoat treatment at the salon.
Avoid anything heavy that could weigh down the crown. You want gleam, not grease.
Step Five: Maintain the Glow
Halo hair is surprisingly low-maintenance because it grows out softly. To keep it looking fresh, refresh the gloss every few weeks and touch up the highlights every couple of months. Dry shampoo can also help keep the top layer lifted and bright.
Think of it like maintaining a ring light that’s built into your head.