How to get ice cream hair: Simple Steps, Perfect Style

Scroll through TikTok lately and you might have noticed a particular hairstyle popping up everywhere. It's got a rounded, almost helmet-like top and those distinct, swoopy ends that flip out just so. People are calling it "ice cream hair," and yeah, it kind of looks like a scoop sitting atop your head, complete with a little flick at the bottom. It started gaining traction, especially among younger guys, turning into a whole thing online.

What's the Buzz About Ice Cream Hair?

So, What Exactly Is Ice Cream Hair?

Alright, let's talk about this whole ice cream hair thing. If you've spent any time scrolling through social media lately, particularly TikTok, you've probably stumbled across it. It's a hairstyle that went viral, seemingly out of nowhere, and now everyone's either trying it, making fun of it, or asking their barber about it. At its core, it's a short-to-medium length cut with a distinctive shape: a rounded, somewhat voluminous top that tapers down, ending in a sharp, upward or outward flick, usually around the ear or jawline. Think of a classic men's haircut but with the ends styled in a very specific, almost cartoonish flip. It's less about a messy, textured look and more about a clean, defined shape.

Why Call It "Ice Cream Hair"?

The name isn't some deep, artistic descriptor. It's pretty literal, which is honestly part of the humor behind it. The rounded top section, when styled correctly, really does resemble a scoop of ice cream sitting on a cone – your head being the cone, naturally. The flipped-out ends? Those are like the little drips or the edge of the scoop melting just a bit. It became a meme because of its distinct, almost uniform appearance when done "right." It's one of those looks that's instantly recognizable, and like most viral trends, it spread like wildfire, prompting countless tutorials and, yes, plenty of jokes.

What makes the "scoop" stand out?

• A noticeably rounded crown
• Cleanly cut sides, usually shorter than the top
• Ends that are deliberately styled to flip upward or outward
• A look that relies heavily on blow-drying technique

Who's Rocking the Scoop?

Initially, this look blew up primarily among young Caucasian guys on TikTok. You saw it everywhere – in dance videos, skits, and, of course, hair tutorials demonstrating how to get ice cream hair. It became a sort of uniform for a particular segment of the platform. However, like many trends, it started showing up in other places and on different people. While the core "scoop" shape remains popular with the initial demographic, variations have appeared. For instance, some African American women have been seen sporting a similar flipped-out bob style, though their techniques and hair textures give it a different overall feel than the viral TikTok version. It shows how trends can evolve and adapt as they move across different communities.

Haircut Essentials: Setting the Stage for Ice Cream Hair

Look, you can't just roll out of bed with a messy mop and expect to style it into ice cream hair. This look starts with the right foundation, and that means a specific haircut. You need some length on top – we're talking at least four inches, maybe a bit more depending on your hair texture, so you have something to actually sculpt into that rounded scoop shape. The sides are typically kept shorter, often faded or tapered, which helps emphasize the volume and shape on top, creating that "scoop on a cone" effect. Crucially, you need layers, especially through the front and top section. Heavy, blunt hair just won't flip correctly; layers remove weight and add flexibility, making it possible to get that signature upward flick without wrestling your hair into submission.

The Main Method: How to Get Ice Cream Hair with Heat Styling

Prep Your Hair for the Scoop

you've got the right haircut – the foundation is solid. Now comes the fun part, or maybe the slightly frustrating part, depending on your coordination with a blow dryer. Styling ice cream hair is all about heat and technique. You absolutely cannot skip the prep. Start with clean, towel-dried hair. It shouldn't be soaking wet, but damp enough to work with. Before you even think about picking up that blow dryer, you need a heat protectant spray. Seriously. You're about to blast your hair with hot air to force it into a shape it doesn't naturally want to be in, and skipping this step is just asking for damage. Spray it evenly through your hair, focusing on the ends because that's where the magic (and the most heat) happens for the flip.

Blow-Drying for the Perfect Scoop and Flip

This is where you actually learn how to get ice cream hair. Grab your round brush – a medium size usually works well for most hair lengths suitable for this style. The goal is two-fold: create volume and shape on top and get that pronounced flip at the ends. Start with the top section. Using the round brush, lift sections of hair upwards and back, directing the airflow from your blow dryer underneath the hair as you follow the brush. This builds the rounded volume that gives you the "scoop." As you move down to the ends, particularly around the sides and front where you want the flip, things get specific. Position the brush underneath the hair and curve it upwards and outwards as you dry, directing the airflow to set that curve. It takes practice. Think of it like sculpting – you're using the brush and heat to mold the hair into that flipped shape.

• Always use heat protectant.
• Work with damp, not soaking wet, hair.
• Use a round brush to lift and shape the top.
• Angle the brush and airflow *underneath* the ends for the flip.
• Repeat sections until the shape holds.

Refining the Flip and Finishing Touches

Getting that flip just right can be tricky. Sometimes the ends just want to lay flat, or they flip inwards instead of outwards. If you're struggling with the round brush technique for the ends, here's a little hack some people use: grab a baseball cap. Seriously. Once the top is mostly dry and shaped, put on a cap and use the blow dryer to direct hot air upwards underneath the brim, focusing on the ends that are sticking out. The cap helps guide the hair into that upward flip shape as it dries. Once you've got the shape you want, hit it with a blast of cool air from the blow dryer to set it. Finish with a light-hold hairspray, focusing on the ends, to help keep that flip in place without making it look stiff or crunchy. Remember, the goal is a defined shape, but it should still look like hair, not a plastic helmet.

Troubleshooting Your Scoop: Fixing Ice Cream Hair Issues

So you've tried the blow-drying technique, you've got the right cut, but your ice cream hair isn't quite scooping or flipping like the TikTok videos. Welcome to reality. This style looks simple, but it's surprisingly finicky. The most common headaches? The ends refuse to flip outwards and just lie flat or curl inwards, or the top lacks that crucial rounded volume and just looks... sad. Humidity is the enemy, turning that crisp flip into a floppy mess faster than you can say "melted." Sometimes, it's simply about product – too much makes it greasy and heavy, too little and it won't hold shape. Other times, your hair's natural texture is just fighting you every step of the way, which, frankly, happens more often than the tutorials let on. Troubleshooting your scoop involves figuring out which specific battle you're losing.

Keeping it Fresh: Maintaining Your Ice Cream Hair Look

Daily Touch-Ups and Product Choices

Alright, you've nailed the blow-drying, the scoop is scooping, and the flip is flipping. Now, how do you keep it from looking like a melted mess by noon? Daily maintenance for ice cream hair is less about starting from scratch each morning and more about touch-ups. Humidity is your arch-nemesis, so a quick blast with a blow dryer and round brush might be necessary to revive the flip if things start drooping. Product choice is key here. You don't want anything too heavy that weighs the hair down – that kills the volume and the flip instantly. Think light-hold sprays or maybe a texturizing powder at the roots for a lift, but go easy on the ends. Too much product turns that defined flip into a greasy, crunchy disaster. It's a delicate balance, like trying to carry a real ice cream cone on a hot day.

Washing, Sleeping, and Dealing with Regrowth

Washing your hair too often can strip it of natural oils, making it harder to style and potentially leading to frizz, which is the antithesis of that clean ice cream shape. Aim to wash every two or three days if you can manage it. When you do wash, focus shampoo on the scalp and let it run through the ends. Condition the ends, but rinse thoroughly. Sleeping with ice cream hair is a challenge. A silk or satin pillowcase can help reduce friction and prevent the flip from getting crushed or tangled overnight. Some brave souls try sleeping on their back very carefully. Regarding regrowth, this style requires regular trims to maintain the shape and the crucial layers for the flip. Letting it grow out too much means the top gets too heavy, and the ends lose their ability to flick properly. Don't get lazy with barber visits if you're committed to the scoop.

• Use a silk or satin pillowcase.
• Wash hair every 2-3 days.
• Focus shampoo on the scalp.
• Condition only the ends and rinse well.
• Get regular trims to maintain shape and layers.

Scooping Up the Final Thoughts

So, there you have it. Getting ice cream hair isn't exactly rocket science, but it does require a specific starting point with the haircut and a bit of practice with the blow dryer and brush. You'll need those layers and enough length on top to actually form the "scoop" and get that flip. Styling is key – heat protectant is non-negotiable unless you enjoy the smell of burning hair, and the wrist flick is your secret weapon for the flipped ends. It's a look that's definitely tied to a moment on social media, and like most trends, its shelf life might vary. But hey, if you're going for the viral scoop, now you know the steps involved. Just don't be surprised if some days it looks more like melted soft serve than a perfect scoop.