‘The Aussie Rapunzel’ Sophie Jordan on growing a brand, a glossy haircare routine, and a mane like a river of silk

“You know Sophie? The girl with really long hair?” That’s precisely how Sophie Jordan (or as you and the entire Internet may know her, ‘The Aussie Rapunzel’) has long been described.

It’s not exactly a shock that her strands stand out in the memories of many. With an unbelievably glossy, golden river of hair (that soon became her social media signature), Jordan’s mane is the stuff of famed fairytales.

And so, when it came time to find the perfect person to front our ‘High Gloss’ Digital Issue, one name (and one head of hair) came to mind. With her hip-length tresses (which we can confirm from the cover shoot, are even more glorious in person) somehow taking on a literal *twinkling* quality, Jordan is simply ‘gloss’ personified.

How did she acquire this otherworldly gloss factor (and over a million loyal followers along the way)? BEAUTYcrew caught up with Jordan to find out all her high-gloss haircare secrets…

On her journey to becoming ‘The Aussie Rapunzel’...

“Moving to Sydney from Newcastle at 18 came with meeting new people,” Jordan shares of her origin story. “I knew I had long hair (waist length at that time) but I didn't realise how unique it was until people I met started referring to me as “you know Sophie? The girl with really long hair?”. It became my ‘thing’ before I was posting on social media. When I started TikTok in 2020, people were also quick to notice my long hair and my comments were flooded with “how did you get your hair so long and healthy?”. I started replying to comments giving people my hair tips and natural remedies for hair growth and it absolutely took off. Four years later and it is now my full-time job.”

As for the name, it was somewhat bestowed upon her by her audience - ‘Rapunzel’ simply fit her aesthetic too well. “The name The Aussie Rapunzel was created not long after my TikTok journey began,” Jordan explains. “I started meeting people from the social media world, and I found that they never remembered my name Sophie, and everyone referred to me as Rapunzel anyway. Long hair was also very unique to Australians. I decided to own it and “The Aussie Rapunzel” was created - a name that perfectly described my content and brand as well as being memorable to all.”

On how a ‘chemical haircut’ lead to her long-haired life…

‘Long’ and ‘blonde’ aren’t always two things that can coexist in the hair arena, and yet despite her Barbie-blonde colour, Jordan’s hair is both flowing down to her hips and the picture of health. But as it turns out, that wasn’t always the case…

“I have always loved long hair and had hair to my waist all throughout high school. This was until I started bleaching my hair platinum blonde and seeing my hair snap and break off,” Jordan confesses. “I was addicted to being blonder every time I went to the salon and ended up with a “chemical haircut”. I was so devastated as I've always had long, luscious hair and felt like my hair was dry, and damaged and super thin from over-bleaching.”

It was there that Jordan decided to turn sadness into strategy, prioritising growth over anything until her hair could handle it. “I decided to go all natural and start getting my hair back to what it once was and better. This was the catalyst to my hair growth journey.”

On how long hair makes her feel…

“There is something luxurious about having long, glossy hair that makes me feel like a million dollars!,” Jordan explains. “I am a big believer in the concept of “if you look good, you’ll feel good” and if my hair is looking silky and like a million dollars, then it is a million-dollar day.”

“Having long hair makes me feel feminine and unique,” shares Jordan, who is a self-confessed fan of the ‘femme’ aesthetic beloved by modern beauty icons like Sabrina Carpenter (who she names as one of her muses). “I love anything extra and luxurious. I embrace hyper femininity and my favourite features about being a woman.”

On how she keeps her hair so healthy…

It may appear as if Jordan’s hair has magical powers (and we’re not entirely certain it doesn’t), however, her devotion to hair health is what got her (and her hair) to where it is today. There are a few things she simply won’t falter on. The first? Limiting heat. “Heat damage is a major factor when it comes to altering the condition of your hair,” Jordan notes. “I try to limit blow-drying my hair unless it is absolutely necessary and if so, it is always on a low heat setting.”

Second? Protective hairstyles. “Every night I plait my hair, tie it off with a silk scrunchie, and wear a silk bonnet,” she shares. “This way my hair is completely protected overnight for eight hours and it makes it hard for my hair to knot or tangle from friction when tossing and turning.” Third comes hair oiling. “Oiling is a huge must in my haircare routine as it hydrates, protects and detangles hair, all three factors which contribute to healthier hair.”

Jordan makes sure to keep her shower shelf carefully stocked too, as there’s a specific range she relies on for her hair’s radiant shine and silky feel. “I’m obsessed with everything about the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss range,” she tells BEAUTYcrew. “It not only helps my hair feel shiny and healthy but it makes your hair look expensive and luxurious.”

“Besides the iconic scent, packaging and ingredients, the results were my favourite thing about the range,” she admits. “It gives you expensive, luxurious-looking hair for a fraction of the price. I’ve tried many in-salon glossing treatments, and I find the results to be similar to when I use the Glycolic Gloss range, however, glossing treatments in the salon are a lot more expensive.”

There are four steps that make up the routine, and Jordan raves about them all. “For a sulfate-free shampoo, the [Glycolic Gloss Elvive Shampoo] ($9.49 at Chemist Warehouse) lathers incredibly without tangling the hair too much. I usually find with sulfate-free shampoos, my hair ends up matted and knotty however this was not the case with the Glycolic Gloss range. The Conditioner ($9.49 at Chemist Warehouse) is super hydrating and creamy and I love that it contains 11 per cent glycolic acid, which is going to give your hair lots of shine. The hero product for me was the 5 Minute Lamination Rinse-Off ($14.99 at Chemist Warehouse) - not only did it make my hair super glossy and shiny but the lamination locks in all the moisture and protects my hair from potential external damages. After five minutes, my hair felt completely detangled. I haven't seen anything like the Leave-In Serum ($14.99 at Chemist Warehouse) before and it caught my eye as it visually had 2 of my favourite things - pink and sparkles. I use the serum on my wet hair before I blow-dry and style to create an uber sleek and expensive hair look. I also love using it on dry hair to lay down any flyaways or for a slick back ponytail.”

On her signature ‘glass hair’ look…

Spoiler alert: Jordan is a super fan of the ‘glass hair’ aesthetic. “It is difficult to have long hair that also looks and feels healthy, so I love that the glass hair trend does just that,” she says. “My go-to hair look is sleek and straight - some might think this is boring, but it is timeless and classic. My hair also looks best in its natural form which is straight. I use the Glycolic Gloss Leave-In Serum to lay down any flyaways to ensure smooth and silky hair from roots and ends.”

Next time you’re feeling for yourself on wash day, think of Jordan, who admits her full wash and style routine is a “major arm workout”. It’s “30 minutes to wash and one hour to blow-dry and style” - not for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure. As for capturing the results once all is said and sleek, “for a great hair selfie, strong lighting in combination with sleek, shiny hair can never go wrong – this combo will make your hair look like it is glowing and flowing like a river of silk.”

To keep it that way, Jordan always carries a hairbrush in her bag (because “long hair and windy days never make for a good blowout”). Too right she is…

On the pressure to always present her ‘glossy’ side...

“I love everything glossy,” Jordan admits. We told you she was a perfect fit to front ‘The High Gloss Issue’! “I always have glossy nails, I’ll always opt for dewy makeup and lip gloss is also a must! I love the overall glossy look as I feel it accentuates my natural beauty.”

But of course, with any platform, there comes pressure. And for Jordan, said pressure surrounds keeping her entire life looking as ‘glossy’ as her hair. “As a beauty and haircare creator, there's a pressure to constantly embody the very ideals I encourage —effortless glamour, impeccable style, and inner glow. My audience looks to me for inspiration, wanting my life to reflect the glossy perfection portrayed in my content.”

“This means constantly maintaining a polished appearance, staying up to date with the latest trends, and showcasing a lifestyle that represents beauty and sophistication. While it's incredibly rewarding to inspire others, the pressure to maintain this 'glossy' image can be intense at times. However, I see it as an opportunity to demonstrate that beauty is not just about appearances, but also about confidence, self-care, and how you carry yourself.”

As for the kind of self-care she turns to, Jordan shares that “lighting a candle, putting on a face mask and taking a bath” is her “favourite way to unwind. A margarita and some reality tv with this combo can’t go wrong either.”

Because hey, even if the on-camera ‘gloss’ drops away for a moment (or for the length of an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), we trust that Jordan’s hair is glossy enough to carry things…

Image credits: BEAUTYcrew/Will Horner
Photography: Will Horner
Hair: Georgia Ramman
Makeup: Shella Martin

Want more 'High Gloss' features like this? Read the rest of our digital issue.