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The Ultimate Guide to Coachella 2018 Hair and Makeup Trends

From iridescent shimmer to glitter roots, discover the dazzling hair and makeup looks that turned Coachella 2018 into a festival of bold self-expression.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 30, 2025

From iridescent shimmer to glitter roots, discover the dazzling hair and makeup looks that turned Coachella 2018 into a festival of bold self-expression.

Every spring, music and fashion lovers descend upon the California desert for Coachella, the world’s most iconic festival blending music, art, and daring self-expression. But beyond the beats and star-studded lineups, Coachella is a living runway for hair and makeup innovation. In 2018, festival-goers elevated beauty trends with crystalline shimmer, decadent glitter, and boundary-defying color—transforming the festival grounds into a carnival of creativity. This comprehensive guide dives into every sparkling detail, from iridescent highlighters to glitter-strewn hair, for your ultimate inspiration and practical how-to advice.

Iridescent Highlighter: Layer-On Dimensional Glow

Nothing captured the ethereal energy of Coachella 2018 quite like iridescent highlighter. The secret weapon? It’s all about strategic layering for a multidimensional, prismatic effect that shines under the desert sun.

Layering Technique: Start with a matte blush on your cheekbones as a base, then apply a shimmering highlighter over it. This enhances depth and radiance, giving that coveted holographic finish.
Palette Picks: The Sephora Collection Holographic Face & Cheek Palette emerged as a festival favorite, offering three matte blushes and three luminous highlighters for customizable color combos.
Pro Tip: Apply highlighter where light naturally hits—cheekbones, brow bones, nose bridge, and cupid’s bow. For added drama, layer several highlighter shades for an intense, reflective gleam.

Why it works: By combining matte and shimmer, this approach mimics the way light catches skin for a surreal, fairy-tale glow reminiscent of a desert sunset.

Sephora Collection Holographic Face & Cheek Palette: Get the Look

The festival scene called for versatility—and this palette delivered. With three matte blushes and three highlighter shades, it allowed makeup enthusiasts to build subtle blush or go full glam with layered iridescence.

For a subtle effect: Use one blush, topped with one highlighter, blending out for a soft, natural look.
For maximum impact: Layer multiple blushes and highlighters, focusing shimmer on the highest points of your face.
Application guidance: Always apply highlighter on top of the blush for the richest payoff—“like a glitter top coat on your nails,” according to festival makeup pros.

Under Eye Accent: Crystal and Jewel Embellishments

Moving beyond temples and cheeks, under-eye embellishments surged as both a statement accessory and a clever concealer. By artfully placing jewels or rhinestones beneath the waterline, festival-goers concealed fatigue and created dazzling focal points at eye level.

Best for: Hiding dark circles while drawing attention to your eyes with playful opulence.
Versatile Shapes: Arched jewel strips were especially popular, hugging the eye contour or extending templeward, though freeform gems and patterns abounded.
Not limited to eyes: These jewel strips found their way along the temples, down the ear, and even accentuated the belly button for a holistic, whimsical look.

Style inspiration: Brands like Tarte offered “Mermaid Jewels”—pre-arranged crystal clusters for effortless application and maximum sparkle.

Full-On Mermaid Look: Body Art and Custom Crystal Designs

If Coachella 2018 had a reigning deity, it was the mermaid muse. Attendees covered their faces, chests, and limbs with an array of glitter and crystals, echoing the iridescence of sea sirens and celestial bodies.

Body Glitter: Start by applying a rich glitter gel base to anchor body art and enhance vibrancy.
Custom Crystal Arrangements: Multiple jewel pieces can be arranged to create unique designs that cascade down the torso or spiral along the arms.
Pro tip: Layer larger statement gems with smaller rhinestones to replicate a ‘scales and sparkles’ effect—perfect for mermaid vibes.
Ready-made patches: For those less DIY-inclined, adhesive crystal clusters (like those by The Gypsy Shrine x Easy Tiger Stargazer) offered quick, dramatic transformations.

Or, simply layer a patch over your body glitter base and you’re festival-ready in seconds, no crafting or glue gun required.

Holographic Roots: Festival Hair’s Iridescent Revolution

Gone are the days of plain center parts. Holographic hair roots washed across Coachella, painting epic hair transformations with vivid, shimmering pigment.

Pop of color: Use temporary hair color (think: pastel pink, unicorn violet, or neon blue) to saturate just your roots. This delivers a playful, color-blocked effect that’ll outshine the midday sun.
Glitter layering: Once colored, douse roots in chunky glitter or crystal confetti—festooning braids, buns, or loose waves alike.
Flexible styling: Choose wash-out color and removable glitter for a fresh look every festival day.

The trend worked beautifully with everything from space buns to intricate braids, offering a futuristic finish to any style.

Glitter Liner: Spark Up Your Eyes

When desert dust met disco fever, glitter eyeliner emerged as the ultimate makeup accent. This wasn’t your average metallic flick—attendees sported vibrant, sparkling lines in every color of the rainbow, often doubling up with different hues for playful contrast.

Creative technique: Use bold colors on your top lash line and switch to another glittery shade beneath the lower lashes for a multidimensional effect.
No perfection required: Unlike traditional black liquid liner, glitter formulas (like Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner) are forgiving—embrace uneven, organic swipes.
Festival-friendly: The formula resists smudging in the heat, letting your sparkle survive long sets and sun-soaked parties.

Mix shades like teal, gold, and violet to make your eyes the focal point of your festival look.

Glitter Paste: Daring Body Art and Statement Shimmer

If a single swipe of highlight was your comfort zone pre-festival, Coachella 2018 introduced glitter paste as the ultimate boundary-pushing accessory. It became totally acceptable—trendy, even—to cover your body in shining pigment, transforming bare skin into abstract art that rivaled any on-stage spectacle.

Application method: Apply glitter paste with a dense paintbrush or even fingertips to create thick, uniform coverage.
Versatility: Dab it on shoulders, legs, or collarbones, or go all-out with a statement “glitter top” effect across the chest.
Longevity: Festival-specific formulas (as seen in Models Own Festival Glitter Gel) are designed for extended wear, so your sparkle stays put through heat and crowds.
Hair styling: Glitter gel also doubled as a hair accent, giving buns and braids an extra dose of festival drama.

The shimmering allure of glitter paste blurred the lines between fashion and art, turning bodies into twinkling canvases under festival lights.

Table: Trending Coachella Beauty Looks 2018

Trend	Key Features	Products Highlighted
Iridescent Highlighter	Layered matte blush and shimmer for multidimensional glow	Sephora Collection Holographic Face & Cheek Palette
Under Eye Accent	Jewels and rhinestones beneath waterline or along temple	Tarte Mermaid Jewels
Mermaid Body Art	Body glitter and custom crystals on face, chest, and arms	The Gypsy Shrine x Easy Tiger Stargazer, various jewel stickers
Holographic Roots	Temporary colored roots finished with chunky glitter	Temporary hair color, festival glitter gel
Glitter Liner	Multi-color glitter eyeliner on upper and lower lids	Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner
Glitter Paste/Body Glitter	Thick, artistic application on body and hair	Models Own Festival Glitter Gel

How To: Achieve a Standout Coachella Look

Feeling inspired? Here’s how to recreate some of the top looks spotted across the festival grounds:

For the iridescent glow: Apply a matte blush along your cheekbones, top it with a shimmering highlighter, and accent with more highlight on brow bones and your cupid’s bow.
For mermaid eyes: Place jewel stickers under your eyes in a gentle arch, pairing with pastel shadows or glimmering liner for added impact.
For glitter roots: Use a temporary hair dye just at the root, then press in chunky glitter or iridescent confetti using styling gel or a glitter paste.
For statement body glitter: Brush festival-grade glitter paste liberally on bare skin. Layer with body jewels for a mermaid effect.

Festival pro tips:

Plan for layering: Build your looks from base color to sparkle for the richest effects.
Use skin-safe adhesives or pre-made jewel patches to save time and reduce irritation.
Pack makeup wipes for easy removal post-festival.
Don’t be afraid of bold color—Coachella celebrates fearless creativity!

Why Coachella Changed the Festival Beauty Game

Coachella 2018’s beauty trends reflected more than fleeting fashion—they represented a collective embrace of bold self-expression and meticulous artistry. The interplay of color, light, and texture pushed creative boundaries and set new standards for festival glam worldwide. Attendees wielded makeup, hair color, and glitter not just as accessories, but as statements of identity and joy. From first-timers to seasoned festival veterans, self-expression and inclusivity took center stage, making Coachella not only a music event but a celebration of beauty innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How do you keep glitter and jewels on your face and body all day in festival heat?

A: Apply cosmetic-grade glitter and skin-safe adhesive gels or patches created specifically for prolonged wear. Opt for products formulated for festivals to ensure comfort and longevity, and avoid regular craft glues.

Q: Can you wear these beauty trends with minimal makeup?

A: Absolutely. Many festival-goers paired bold glitter accents or roots with dewy skin and natural features, letting the sparkle and embellishments serve as the main attraction.

Q: How do you remove heavy glitter and makeup after the festival?

A: Use oil-based removers on your face and body to gently dissolve glitters and adhesives, followed by a gentle cleanser. Avoid rough scrubbing, and consider bringing makeup wipes to the festival for easy removal on the go.

Q: Are there eco-friendly glitter options for festivals?

A: Yes, there are biodegradable glitters available that provide the same sparkle without harming the environment. Look for plant-based brands at major beauty retailers.