The action sports community has a way with words. Snowboarders speak in a dialect of gnarly backside rodeos, frontside lipslides and melon grabs – while skiers chase pow, live to shred, and do it all in their steeziest ‘fits.
The latest phrase added to the ever-perplexing lexicon? Slut strands – the Gen Z hair hack rapidly taking over TikTok feeds everywhere.
Defined by two thin, wispy pieces of hair that frame the face while wearing hefty snow gear, slut strands have become a cool-girl shortcut for female athletes across the globe. Olympic stars such as Eileen Gu, Chloe Kim and Anna Gasser have all championed the look, collectively plucking twin tresses from beneath their helmets to assert their femininity on the slopes.
In fact, the trend has gained such traction within the female snow community that failure to embrace the style now borders on faux pas – joining the ranks of Jerry Gaps, fluffy hoods and visors (note – many of these are still contested within the community so literally do what you want).
This wasn’t always the case. For years, women were baited for sporting the look, which served as an identifier of promiscuous chalet-girl activity. Mountain sports have long been dominated by men, and while studies suggest women remain generally more risk-averse, a growing wave of fearless female athletes is actively challenging the status quo. Today, the community is reclaiming the loaded stereotype, embracing their divine femininity in the mountains and debunking casual sexism in sports. Hence, for many female athletes, the hairdo is much more than a transitory fad.
With some celebrity backing, the subcultural movement has officially entered the mainstream. Guest In Residence’s Ski Lodge collection campaign showcased brand founder Gigi Hadid styling out a platinum pair, while Kylie Jenner jetted off to Aspen in a leopard print Richard Quinn x Moncler one piece flanked by lengthy caramel tendrils.
The hack is also beginner-friendly. Mountain sports are a high stakes affair and notoriously exclusive, with ski holidays requiring a wardrobe that’s second to none – think cutting-edge technical jackets and gorpcore essentials from hype-worthy beanies to base layers and thermals.
Those in the know take great pride in their slope style, splashing out on top-of-the-range staples from the hottest brands in the business. But a hairstyle? Free, simple and unapologetically girlish.
As to how to execute the look? We spoke to Marianne Goransson, Creative Director at Taylor Taylor London, about how to nail the slut strand trend for 2026.
How to create the look:
“The beauty of this trend lies in its simplicity in just two steps” the expert says. “For the sectioning use a tail comb, isolate two very thin, symmetrical strands from the front hairline. The placement should fall naturally along the cheekbones. The rest of the hair is typically pulled back into a sleek low bun or a high ‘model off duty’ ponytail.”
© Getty Images“To keep these strands looking intentional rather than accidental we recommend using just a drop of Davines OI Oil to the strands. This adds a glass like shine and prevents the ends from looking crispy or dry. If you are after a more matte, cool-girl vibe, a quick spritz of Davines This is a Dry Texturizer gives the strands enough grip to stay in place without losing their movement.”
She continues: “While the name might feel like a micro-trend, the aesthetic itself is pretty timeless and we’ve seen versions of this on everyone from Bella Hadid to Dua Lipa and even a softer, more polished iteration on Meghan Markle. As it’s low-commitment and works on almost every face shape – we don’t see this disappearing anytime soon.”
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