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A free guide by Lauren Dallas Instagram
60 scroll-stopping Instagram hooks to use in the final 60 days of 2026.
Because we're NOT waiting until January to start growing. 💅 Let's be honest. How many times have you sat down to create content, stared at a blank screen and thought… "What on earth am I supposed to post today?" Or worse, spent HOURS creating a Reel only for people to scroll straight past it. 🫠
Why Your Hook Matters
Here's something I want you to remember:
You can have the BEST content in the world, but if your opening doesn't give someone a reason to stop, they might never see the rest of it.
That's where your HOOK comes in.
A hook is the first thing someone sees or hears in your content. Its job is simple: make the RIGHT person curious enough to keep watching, reading or swiping.
And I've made that part a whole lot easier for you!
Inside this guide, you'll find 60 ready-to-customise Instagram hooks based on widely used, attention-grabbing formats like curiosity gaps, contrarian opinions, relatable problems, storytelling and practical how-tos.
These are hook structures creators regularly use to capture attention, not guaranteed viral formulas. The magic is in making them relevant to YOUR audience.
Ready? Let's go! 🚀
You can have the BEST content in the world, but if your opening doesn't give someone a reason to stop, they might never see the rest of it.
That's where your HOOK comes in.
A hook is the first thing someone sees or hears in your content. Its job is simple: make the RIGHT person curious enough to keep watching, reading or swiping.
And I've made that part a whole lot easier for you!
Inside this guide, you'll find 60 ready-to-customise Instagram hooks based on widely used, attention-grabbing formats like curiosity gaps, contrarian opinions, relatable problems, storytelling and practical how-tos.
These are hook structures creators regularly use to capture attention, not guaranteed viral formulas. The magic is in making them relevant to YOUR audience.
Ready? Let's go! 🚀
DAYS 1–10
PART 1: THE SCROLL-STOPPERS 👀
Curiosity hooks
Best for: Reels, educational carousels and content that reveals something surprising.
DAY 1
"Nobody talks about this part of [your niche]…"
DAY 2
"I wish someone had told me THIS before I started [activity]."
DAY 3
"There's a reason your [desired result] isn't happening…"
DAY 4
"I tried [popular method] for [time period]. Here's what actually happened."
DAY 5
"You're probably overlooking the ONE thing that could improve your [result]."
DAY 6
"Here's what nobody tells beginners about [your niche]."
DAY 7
"I changed ONE thing about [process], and here's what happened."
DAY 8
"Before you try [popular trend], watch this."
DAY 9
"Everyone's talking about [topic], but they're missing THIS."
DAY 10
"If I could only give you ONE tip about [topic], it would be this."
Best for: Reels, educational carousels and content that reveals something surprising.
DAY 1
"Nobody talks about this part of [your niche]…"
DAY 2
"I wish someone had told me THIS before I started [activity]."
DAY 3
"There's a reason your [desired result] isn't happening…"
DAY 4
"I tried [popular method] for [time period]. Here's what actually happened."
DAY 5
"You're probably overlooking the ONE thing that could improve your [result]."
DAY 6
"Here's what nobody tells beginners about [your niche]."
DAY 7
"I changed ONE thing about [process], and here's what happened."
DAY 8
"Before you try [popular trend], watch this."
DAY 9
"Everyone's talking about [topic], but they're missing THIS."
DAY 10
"If I could only give you ONE tip about [topic], it would be this."
TOP TIP 💗
Don't create curiosity without delivering the answer! Your hook should make a promise your content actually fulfils.
DAYS 11–20
PART 2: THE UNPOPULAR OPINIONS 🔥
Contrarian hooks
Best for: Thought leadership, opinion Reels and starting conversations.
DAY 11
"Unpopular opinion: You don't need [popular thing] to achieve [desired result]."
DAY 12
"Can we PLEASE stop telling people to [common advice]?"
DAY 13
"I'm probably going to get hate for this, but [your genuine opinion]."
DAY 14
"More [effort/activity] doesn't automatically mean more [results]."
DAY 15
"Stop wasting your time on [common mistake]. Try this instead."
DAY 16
"The biggest lie people believe about [your niche] is…"
DAY 17
"Everyone says you should [common advice]. Here's why I disagree."
DAY 18
"Your [problem] isn't because of [common excuse]. It might be because of THIS."
DAY 19
"I stopped doing [popular activity], and I haven't looked back."
DAY 20
"You don't have a [surface-level problem] problem. You have a [underlying problem] problem."
Best for: Thought leadership, opinion Reels and starting conversations.
DAY 11
"Unpopular opinion: You don't need [popular thing] to achieve [desired result]."
DAY 12
"Can we PLEASE stop telling people to [common advice]?"
DAY 13
"I'm probably going to get hate for this, but [your genuine opinion]."
DAY 14
"More [effort/activity] doesn't automatically mean more [results]."
DAY 15
"Stop wasting your time on [common mistake]. Try this instead."
DAY 16
"The biggest lie people believe about [your niche] is…"
DAY 17
"Everyone says you should [common advice]. Here's why I disagree."
DAY 18
"Your [problem] isn't because of [common excuse]. It might be because of THIS."
DAY 19
"I stopped doing [popular activity], and I haven't looked back."
DAY 20
"You don't have a [surface-level problem] problem. You have a [underlying problem] problem."
TOP TIP 💗
A little controversy can grab attention, but make sure you genuinely believe what you're saying. We're here to start useful conversations, not arguments for engagement.
DAYS 21–30
PART 3: THE 'THAT'S LITERALLY ME' HOOKS 🫠
Relatable hooks
Best for: Personal brands, small businesses, service providers and talking-to-camera Reels.
DAY 21
"POV: You've been trying to [goal], but [relatable struggle] keeps happening."
DAY 22
"Tell me I'm not the only one who [relatable habit]."
DAY 23
"If you've ever [specific frustrating experience], this one's for you."
DAY 24
"Things I thought were normal until I started [journey]."
DAY 25
"Me pretending I'm fine after [relatable business or niche struggle]."
DAY 26
"Nobody warned me that [activity] would involve THIS much [unexpected challenge]."
DAY 27
"Raise your hand if you're tired of [common frustration]."
DAY 28
"That awkward moment when you realise [surprising truth]."
DAY 29
"Can we normalise [positive behaviour your audience needs permission to do]?"
DAY 30
"If you're feeling behind because you haven't [milestone], read this."
Best for: Personal brands, small businesses, service providers and talking-to-camera Reels.
DAY 21
"POV: You've been trying to [goal], but [relatable struggle] keeps happening."
DAY 22
"Tell me I'm not the only one who [relatable habit]."
DAY 23
"If you've ever [specific frustrating experience], this one's for you."
DAY 24
"Things I thought were normal until I started [journey]."
DAY 25
"Me pretending I'm fine after [relatable business or niche struggle]."
DAY 26
"Nobody warned me that [activity] would involve THIS much [unexpected challenge]."
DAY 27
"Raise your hand if you're tired of [common frustration]."
DAY 28
"That awkward moment when you realise [surprising truth]."
DAY 29
"Can we normalise [positive behaviour your audience needs permission to do]?"
DAY 30
"If you're feeling behind because you haven't [milestone], read this."
TOP TIP 💗
Relatable content works best when it's SPECIFIC.
Instead of "Running a business is hard," try "When you've spent three hours creating a Reel and it gets 200 views."
See the difference?
Instead of "Running a business is hard," try "When you've spent three hours creating a Reel and it gets 200 views."
See the difference?
DAYS 31–40
PART 4: THE SAVE-WORTHY HOOKS 📌
Educational hooks
Best for: Tutorials, carousels, checklists and actionable content.
DAY 31
"3 things I'd do differently if I started [journey] today."
DAY 32
"Save this before you [specific task]."
DAY 33
"Here's how to [desired result] without [common obstacle]."
DAY 34
"5 mistakes that might be holding back your [result]."
DAY 35
"The beginner's guide to [specific topic] in under 60 seconds."
DAY 36
"Steal my exact process for [specific outcome]."
DAY 37
"Here's what I'd focus on if I only had 30 minutes a day for [goal]."
DAY 38
"Do THIS before you spend money on [product/service/tool]."
DAY 39
"4 questions to ask yourself before [important decision]."
DAY 40
"Your step-by-step checklist for [desired outcome]."
Best for: Tutorials, carousels, checklists and actionable content.
DAY 31
"3 things I'd do differently if I started [journey] today."
DAY 32
"Save this before you [specific task]."
DAY 33
"Here's how to [desired result] without [common obstacle]."
DAY 34
"5 mistakes that might be holding back your [result]."
DAY 35
"The beginner's guide to [specific topic] in under 60 seconds."
DAY 36
"Steal my exact process for [specific outcome]."
DAY 37
"Here's what I'd focus on if I only had 30 minutes a day for [goal]."
DAY 38
"Do THIS before you spend money on [product/service/tool]."
DAY 39
"4 questions to ask yourself before [important decision]."
DAY 40
"Your step-by-step checklist for [desired outcome]."
TOP TIP 💗
If you want people to SAVE your content, make it worth coming back to.
Think templates, checklists, examples and practical steps they can actually use.
Think templates, checklists, examples and practical steps they can actually use.
DAYS 41–50
PART 5: THE STORYTIME HOOKS 💬
Storytelling and proof hooks
Best for: Building trust, sharing results and showing your audience what's possible.
DAY 41
"Let me tell you about the time I completely messed up [experience]."
DAY 42
"I went from [starting point] to [real result]. Here's what changed."
DAY 43
"Six months ago, I never imagined I'd be [current milestone]."
DAY 44
"Here's what happened when I finally stopped [unhelpful habit]."
DAY 45
"The moment I realised [important lesson] changed everything."
DAY 46
"I almost gave up on [goal]. Then THIS happened."
DAY 47
"Behind every [result] is a whole lot of [less glamorous reality]."
DAY 48
"Here's what my [journey/business/process] ACTUALLY looked like behind the scenes."
DAY 49
"If I could go back and tell my beginner self one thing, it would be this."
DAY 50
"One of my biggest lessons this year? [genuine insight]."
Best for: Building trust, sharing results and showing your audience what's possible.
DAY 41
"Let me tell you about the time I completely messed up [experience]."
DAY 42
"I went from [starting point] to [real result]. Here's what changed."
DAY 43
"Six months ago, I never imagined I'd be [current milestone]."
DAY 44
"Here's what happened when I finally stopped [unhelpful habit]."
DAY 45
"The moment I realised [important lesson] changed everything."
DAY 46
"I almost gave up on [goal]. Then THIS happened."
DAY 47
"Behind every [result] is a whole lot of [less glamorous reality]."
DAY 48
"Here's what my [journey/business/process] ACTUALLY looked like behind the scenes."
DAY 49
"If I could go back and tell my beginner self one thing, it would be this."
DAY 50
"One of my biggest lessons this year? [genuine insight]."
TOP TIP 💗
You don't need a dramatic life story to create engaging content.
Your audience wants to learn from your experiences, including the mistakes, the lessons and the messy middle.
And when sharing results, use real numbers and context rather than making promises you can't back up.
Your audience wants to learn from your experiences, including the mistakes, the lessons and the messy middle.
And when sharing results, use real numbers and context rather than making promises you can't back up.
DAYS 51–60
PART 6: THE END-OF-YEAR GROWTH HOOKS 🚀
Reflection, urgency and fresh-start hooks
Best for: December content, planning, goal setting and converting attention into action.
DAY 51
"Before 2026 ends, here's what I want you to know about [topic]."
DAY 52
"You're not behind. But here's what you CAN do before the year ends."
DAY 53
"Things I'm officially leaving behind in 2026…"
DAY 54
"If you want [goal] in 2027, start doing THIS now."
DAY 55
"Here's your reminder that you don't need to wait until January to [goal]."
DAY 56
"The biggest mistake I made in 2026 taught me THIS."
DAY 57
"3 things I'm doing differently in 2027 to improve [result]."
DAY 58
"Your 2027 glow-up starts with this ONE decision."
DAY 59
"If you're serious about [goal] next year, save this."
DAY 60
"365 days from now, you'll wish you'd started [action] today."
Best for: December content, planning, goal setting and converting attention into action.
DAY 51
"Before 2026 ends, here's what I want you to know about [topic]."
DAY 52
"You're not behind. But here's what you CAN do before the year ends."
DAY 53
"Things I'm officially leaving behind in 2026…"
DAY 54
"If you want [goal] in 2027, start doing THIS now."
DAY 55
"Here's your reminder that you don't need to wait until January to [goal]."
DAY 56
"The biggest mistake I made in 2026 taught me THIS."
DAY 57
"3 things I'm doing differently in 2027 to improve [result]."
DAY 58
"Your 2027 glow-up starts with this ONE decision."
DAY 59
"If you're serious about [goal] next year, save this."
DAY 60
"365 days from now, you'll wish you'd started [action] today."
TOP TIP 💗
End-of-year content is a great opportunity to reflect, share lessons and help your audience plan what's next.
But remember: a new year doesn't automatically create new results. The actions you take do.
But remember: a new year doesn't automatically create new results. The actions you take do.
BONUS: THE HOOK-TO-FOLLOW FORMULA 💗
01
WHO is this for?
Does your hook speak to the kind of person you actually want following your account?
02
WHAT am I giving them?
A practical tip? A fresh perspective? A relatable moment? A solution?
03
WHY would they want more?
Does this post connect to the bigger topics you regularly share?
04
WHAT should they do next?
Save it? Share it? Comment? Follow? Choose a CTA that makes sense for the content.
HOW TO USE YOUR 60-DAY HOOK CHALLENGE
- Pick ONE hook each day.
- Replace the bracketed sections with details from your niche.
- Create a Reel, carousel or post around that idea.
- Make sure the content delivers on the hook.
- Track which posts attract saves, shares, profile visits and follows.
- You don't need to force a daily posting schedule if it doesn't suit your business. You can batch these ideas or use the list as a 60-day inspiration bank.
- And remember: don't judge every post on views alone. Look at whether you're reaching the right people and giving them a reason to stick around.
Growing An Aligned Audience On Instagram Takes Strategy
I share that strategy more in depth in a free Masterclass you can watch.
Secure your free seat below.👇
Secure your free seat below.👇
Free Training
From Content To Customers: How To Grow An Instagram Account That Actually Pays You
A stacked 60-minute masterclass revealing how I grew from 0 to 101K followers in 9 months and built 10 income streams from Instagram — without spending hours engaging or dancing in Reels.
In this training you'll learn:
1️⃣ Why starting a new account from 0 was my biggest advantage (and how to train the algorithm to work for you)
2️⃣ The 3 content types you're probably missing (and the AI system I use to post 2–3 times a day)
3️⃣ My "Micro-Monetisation Method" — how to start generating income with only a few hundred followers
