Bigger isn’t always better, but when it comes 2024 hair trends, it sure seems to be. Because big hair is back and, well, bigger than ever.
From disco curls and Beyoncé-inspired Texas blowouts to the phenomenon that is Matilda Djerf's hair, it's clear that sleek styles are taking a back seat to big hair. We had some hints with the rise of ’90s blowout (and viral hot brushes like the Revlon One Step), but hair has kept getting bigger and bigger—and looking more and more familiar. Like all trends, Texas hair calls back to a past era.
“Looks from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s are coming back and providing inspiration for this big-hair trend,” celebrity hairstylist Lacy Redway tells Glamour, pointing to beauty icons like Brigitte Bardot, Donna Summer, Dolly Parton, Diana Ross, and Cindy Crawford as inspirations.
It's true: In the past few months alone, Beyoncé proved everything’s bigger in Texas—including hair—with her single “Texas Hold ’Em,” and Emily Ratajkowski, Blake Lively, and Keke Palmer have worn ’70s-inspired disco curls. Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus’s Tina Turner tribute hair (obviously) pulled inspiration from the ’80s, while Lana Del Rey and Selena Gomez channeled ’60s icons like Bardot with thick and fluffy bangs.
Short haircuts have pumped up the volume too. Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Madelyn Cline are all currently sporting va-va-voluminous supermodel bobs and lobs, which reference Crawford as well as Christy Turlington.
Clearly, beauty lovers of all ages are embracing the more-is-more mentality, regardless of the decade they pull inspiration from. It's a welcome change after years of quiet-luxury minimalism. Sometimes bigger just really is better (or at least more fun).
“Hairstyles have their cycle and come back with new names, shapes, and aesthetics, and trends over the past few years have been toned down,” Redway says. Some of those trends include low-key looks like mermaid waves, which “had volume at the bottom but not as much height at the top,” but now we’re back to seeing volume that starts at the root, which, according to Redway, “adds height and drama.”
But the best part of pulling inspiration from history? “There are so many new ways to modernize the look today by using interesting shapes, use of different products, and even mixing different styles into one, like adding braid elements into your big Texas-inspired hair,” says Redway, noting she created an iteration of this hairstyle for Jourdan Dunn.
As for how to master your own take on the style? "The methods can vary depending on your hair type,” says Redway. Some hair might require more product, for example, especially if it’s naturally thin or oily.
To ensure maximum volume no matter your hair type, however, Redway suggests prepping hair with volume spray or mousse before you start to heat-style. “This will add extra height and hold to your hair right from the start,” she says. Her suggestions for the job? Nexxus Unbreakable Care Root Lift Thickening Spray and Nexxus Volume Medium Hold Mousse before blow-drying.
Next you’ll want to blow-dry—or use a dry brush like the Shark Flexstyle—with a large round brush, and elevate each section away from the face or where it normally falls. “This will add even more volume to the roots,” Redway says.
Once your hair is dry, set your roots in Velcro rollers until they cool, to help to keep their height, and once they’ve set, tease the hair with a teasing brush. “Set it with a hairspray that will keep the style in place all day,” she says, pointing to Nexxus XXL Volume Medium Hold Hairspray as her go-to. “The formula sets style for up to 48 hours and is perfect for both helping to tease out big hair and set the style.”
For an alternative with fewer steps, you can also use hot rollers on dry hair for voluminous hair. (Pro tip: Zendaya's hairstylist used T3 hot rollers to style her 2024 Oscars hair.)
Before you know it, a new bombshell (blowout) will be entering the villa. Shop the essentials for your big-hair journey below.
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Danielle Sinay is the associate beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @daniellesinay.
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