Big Hair Revival
Written by Chandler Carlstrom
Photography: Isa Oliver & Jayla Hunter
Models featured: Chandler Carlstrom, Hope Goodyear, Nayah Malcolm, Maddie McCrea, and CJ Parker Wideman
Makeup & Hair: Maddie McCrea
In with the old and out with the new—as trends make their way back around, we are saying hello to big hair and goodbye to slick backs and the clean girl aesthetic of gelled hair and pin-straight hair, which became popular on TikTok post-COVID in 2021. While the slick-back movement has dominated the trend cycle for the last couple of years, big hair has now made a comeback, expressing a statement opposite to that of the clean girl aesthetic. The return of big hair isn’t just another recycled trend—it’s a cultural statement that challenges the minimalist “clean girl” aesthetic and reclaims hair as an expression of individuality, attitude, and identity.
Our hair is an extension of our identity—it tells us who you are, what you are, how you’re feeling, where you’re going, what you’re doing, and what movement you are partaking in. Our hair isn’t just an accessory; it’s a statement. What do you have to say while saying nothing at all? From messy buns, slick backs, braids, and wild, crazy curls, it all ties back to our identity. Are you a trendsetter, a follower, or do you just not care?
From Tina Turner in the music scene of the ‘80s, to Sarah Jessica Parker portraying Carrie Bradshaw in the late ‘90s to early 2000s on Sex and the City, to the “bumpit” era of 2008, big hair has taken on all sorts of forms. Hair was the ultimate form of self-expression in the '80s and '90s. It told people who you were with no context needed. It was another layer of identity. We see it in the big rock bands from KISS to Def Leppard. Big hair in the ‘80s embodied one thing: rock ’n’ roll. In different decades, what we want to say with our hair has shifted.Whereas in 2025, big hair looks like embracing one’s curls and a carefree spirit.
And like all good trends, big hair has hit the scene once again. With a new wave of celebrities embracing voluminous styles, the big-hair era has returned in full force. From blowouts to wild, untamable curls, our generation is seeing big hair on big screens and in the music scene, from Chappell Roan’s bold personality to Sabrina Carpenter channeling the ‘70s aesthetic for her album Short & Sweet. With the return of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2023 came the classic “bombshell blowout.” Big hair is more in than ever—and with the advancement of hot tools and extensions, achieving big hair has become increasingly more attainable.
As trends come and go and as big hair makes its long-awaited return, one thing is certain: any trend that stands the test of time will be recycled again and again. When a look hits Hollywood and a global platform, a trend is born—or in this case, reborn. As stories, emotions, and personality shine through hair, follow a trend or steer away from it—let your hair tell the story you want to convey.
