Hair
Time Is A Flat Circle: '90s Blowout Hair Is The Style To Embrace Right Now
Dust off those heat tools.
by : Monisha Rudhran- Apr 16th, 2021
Instagram: @emmachamberlain, @dojacat, Getty Images
This story originally appeared on ELLE AUSTRALIA
For the last few decades, minimal beauty has been the order of the day. Blowouts were eschewed in place of buns and ‘undone’ hair, crisp lip liner was swapped for lip balms—often untinted—and realness became more attractive than artifice. (Even if we’re all aware that a nonchalant appearance doesn’t correlate at all to how much effort was actually put in.)
Enter, the 90’s blowout: 2021’s glamorous hair trend that’s entirely the opposite of casual.
The era of relaxed, beachy waves was already seeing challengers with the rise of ’70s Fawcett flip, now the ’90s blowout hairstyle is offering an alternative for those who don’t have Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams on quite as heavy rotation.
Reminiscent of the bombshell hair sported by supermodels Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer back in the day, this hairstyle is the kind of high-octane glam with shine, volume and bounce that we’d almost forgotten existed after the past year.
Considering the resurgence of nearly every trend from the ’90s and early aughts over the past year (flared leggings, bucket hats, Princess Di-inspired vintage sportswear, visible G-Strings etc) it’s hardly a surprise that it’s making appearances on the previously low-fi scrunchy-sporting set.
Gen Z style source Emma Chamberlain traded her usual look for a polished ’90s blowout that featured curled ends, while TikToker Addison Rae and actress Hailee Steinfield have been playing with various levels of a blowout over the past few months. Meanwhile, Doja Cat took no prisoners with the ’90s blowout from her ‘Streets’ video.
While it is definitely a more effortful look—you’re going to want to dust off your blowdryer, round brushes and rollers to achieve this hairstyle—the ’90s blowout isn’t prescriptive in how you wear it.
Those with locks on the longer side can look to the likes of eternally high-glam Kim and Kylie Kardashian. We also love the big, uniform waves that undulate around the face as worn by the inimitable singer Kali Uchis.
If your hair is on the shorter side, try this homage to Rachel Green via Hailey Baldwin.
Even shorter? Throw it over in a voluminous deep sidepart.
The ’90s blowout hairstyle has also been embraced on TikTok—and maybe catalyzed—by Lilly van Brooklyn, she of absurdly shiny and bouncy blonde locks.
In a video that’s racked up over half a million likes, she explains how a good hair cut is also helpful for achieving the look. Excuse us while we DM this to our hairdresser with questions about whether we’re suitable for the “round layers and long bangs” chop.
And if you’re still waiting for a shorter hairstyle to grow out? Well, we always have the modern Diana bob.
Read more:
Chrissy Teigen Just Debuted Waist-Length Silver Hair, And Now We Want Waist-Length Silver Hair
How To Style A Messy Topknot So It Looks Chic, Not Just-Out-Of-Bed
23 Times Celebrities Rocked Braids
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