The hack
In 2015, Suki Waterhouse popularised rinsing your hair in Coca-Cola to add body and texture to fine hair. It’s now having a revival online, but can it replace expensive hair products?
The test
I washed my hair with my usual shampoo, then rinsed it in regular Coke. Leaving the cola in my hair, I then blasted it with a hairdryer to see the final results. It felt drier and stiffer than usual, and a little thicker – the sort of texture you’d get using a salt spray. That could be because the sugar in cola coats your hair, creating more density and making it feel thicker. But it did feel a little sticky and I think people with curly or coiled hair could find it makes it knottier. I have other reservations, too. First, full-fat Coke is a precious hangover commodity and shouldn’t be squandered on hair washing. Second, my friend’s usually aloof sausage dog kept trying to eat my hair.
The verdict
It’s a no from me, because hair-styling products just perform at a higher level. Try Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Texture Mist (from £10 for 50ml) to create gentle texture and hold. For extra volume, a sprinkling of a noughties favourite hair dust such as Schwarzkopf got2b Powder’ful Vegan Volume Root Boost Styling Hair Powder (£5) gives the desired look without the sugary side effects.
• This article was amended on 21 October 2022. An earlier version referred to the high-fructose corn syrup in Coca-Cola; however, in the UK Coca-Cola is sweetened with sugar.
