A non-permanent way to add a pop of colour to your hair (Picture: sophiehannah/keilidhmua)
Just when we thought Fashion and beauty DIY had reached peak ingenuity, creatives have wowed us with yet another clever hack.
Legendary stylist Sam McKnight debuted feather roots on the Dries Van Noten catwalk in 2020, and it’s since become the new favourite hairstyle of trendsetters online.
Videos detailing the trend on TikTok have racked up over 119.5 million views, with influencer Sophie Hannah saying she was ‘obsessed’ with the final look.
Not only do feather roots look great, it’s an inexpensive and easy way to switch up your style that’s perfect for festivals, parties and Pride.
All you need is a large feather in the colour of your choice, a comb or small brush, and a good helping of hairspray and gel to get started.
A middle parting works best for this, as does putting your hair in a tight ponytail or bun(s) rather than leaving it down, but you can play around and rework it to suit you.
First, Take your feather and cut the top and bottom so it fits the length of your parting.
Using a spoolie or fine-tipped makeup brush, you then paint a blob of hair gel over the parting where the middle part of the feather (apparently called a rachis) will sit.
It may also help to leave the gel for a few moments to become tacky and give it better grip.
Once you’ve attached the feather in the desired spot, hold it in place and give it a blast with a hairdryer. This will give your look even more staying power.
Then, use your fingers to smooth the strands down into your natural hair, before taking a comb and hairspray and tidying everything up. Simple as that.
Why not add gemstones to the parting for some sparkle? (Picture: sophiehannah)
Alongside trying different colours and sizes of feather, you can also get creative and tailor the result to your aesthetic.
Concealer over the parting can help make it look more natural for example, while gemstones and embellishments give it a party vibe.
The only limit is your imagination, but we would advise you to be selective about where you get your feather and to avoid picking up stray pigeon plumage.
Dyed ostrich feathers (or their synthetic counterpart) suit the hack perfectly, and can be purchased online or from craft shops and florists.
It’s also worth trying the technique ahead of time, as it can be fiddly and you don’t need the stress of an untested hairstyle while you’re getting ready to go out.
Ready to shake more than a tail feather at your next event? Fly on.
It’s perfect for all celebrations including the Pride celebrations taking place in Soho today.
