You only have to open Instagram or TikTok to notice that one particular hair trend is totally taking off right now. Fluffy hair is making a major comeback, and we're here for it. But what exactly is fluffy hair? Clueless's Alicia Silvertone is perhaps one of the most well-known poster girls for the trend, and we're also looking back to '90s supermodels such as Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer for their bouncy runway blowouts. It is characterised by lots of rounded layers, volume, flicked-under ends and lengths that have a springy bounce. The finish is less glossy than Hollywood waves yet more "done" than beach waves. Think more of a focus on texture and volume. And with influencers such as Matilda Djerf taking on the trend and innovations such as the Dyson AirWrap paving the way for the look to be created at home, the '90s fluffy blowout look is one of the biggest trends right now—and hairstylists agree.
"Like fashion, hair is circular, and just like clothes, '90s hairstyles have made a comeback," notes Fernando Spano, senior stylist at Neville Hair and Beauty. "The '90s model look is all about polished blowouts and moving away from heavy product-reliant hairstyles," he says. As he notes, this kind of look doesn't need lots of product; it should feel weightless and bouncy. We caught up with hairstylists who have shared their top tips for creating the '90s supermodel blowout—runway walk optional.
How to Create Fluffy Hair
Claudia Schiffer at Chanel's SS95 show in Paris with her iconic '90s blowout.
Starting this look with freshly washed hair (that is about 80% dry) is key. Use a clarifying shampoo to give hair that swishy, fresh-out-of-the-salon feeling, and use a lightweight conditioner as opposed to a mask. You want to avoid weighing down the hair. If you really want to go full-on Claudia Schiffer, flip your hair into a side parting to create more volume as you blow-dry.
"To create the fluffy hair look, I would prep the hair with L'Oréal Techni.Art Pli, an amazing thermo-modelling spray that will help you get this '90s fluffy hair," says Barry Maddocks, UK creative director for Haringtons. "Then, to get that extra lift in the root area, I would use the Pure Flow 60mm Ceramic Round Brush by Kent Brushes," he says, which helps to add shape and bounce to the hair. Ensure you use the smoothing nozzle of your hair dryer to direct hair down as you wind your hair around the brush. This will add shine to the hair. "Once dried, I would simply spray in L'Oréal Professional Techni.Art Savage Panache—this is a power spray that gives you outrageous texture—using the palms of my hands to give that absolutely stunning finish," he says.
Using a round brush and hair dryer at home can be tricky (hairdressers always make it look so easy in the salon), and depending on your hair type, you might find that your curls drop out quickly. Rather than reaching for your hair spray to lock them in, another option is to blow-dry your hair with a round brush and then secure each section into Velcro rollers as they cool. This will help the hair set into shape, and your bouncy blowout will last much longer. If you're in a rush, blast the rollers with the cool setting on your hair dryer. If you're after a really easy way to create the look at home, you can opt for a heated tool, such as the Dyson AirWrap or the T3 AireBrush, which will do the heavy lifting for you.
To finish off the style, look for powder-based hair products, such as dry shampoo or volumising hair powders, which will add volume and that fluffy texture.
Shop the look:
This zingy shampoo from The Body Shop helps to remove product build-up from the roots to leave hair fresh and swishable. It's the ideal prep for fluffy hair.
Ojai's Detox shampoo helps to power through product build-up at the roots, leaving hair clean and silky.
If you have fine hair and are looking for a boost of volume, make hair mousse your friend. Apply to damp hair and blow-dry hair upside down to ramp up volume at the roots and through the lengths of your hair.
The Dyson AirWrap is finally back in stock (run, don't walk) and is really worth the investment if you usually have regular blow-dries at your salon. It comes with several attachments that work on all hair types, and it uses minimal heat to help protect your hair from damage.
T3's heated styler has two attachments, one for smoothing and a round-brush attachment for creating those flicky supermodel layers.
A round brush will help give layers a rounded shape and keep the salon-worthy bounce in your hair for longer.
After blow-drying your hair with a round brush, roll sections of hair into Velcro rollers. Once cooled, you can unravel them to reveal long-lasting bounce.
This dry shampoo stands head and shoulders above other ones to give second-day hair a refresh while adding volume and texture.
Volumising powders are perfect for creating fluffy hair. The one feels totally weightless and adds a cool-girl, undone look to the hair.
This particular Oribe product has reached cult status for a reason. It helps to give volume at the roots while adding an effortless texture through the lengths.
Up next, The 10 Affordable Haircare Brands That Your Hair Will Thank You for Using