Summer’s humid temperatures don’t mean that you have to retire your free-flowing curls. Quite the opposite, in fact, now that “cloud curls” are having a moment.
According to hairstylist Tom Smith, who originally coined the name of the trend, cloud curls refer to the “curved, light, and airy texture of the curls.” They should intentionally form “a halo of gentle volume,” he continues. “They’re less about defined ringlets and more about diffused texture and natural expansion. The look is ethereal and floaty.”
As low-maintenance as they are chic, cloud curls have a diffused quality that sets them apart from other curl styles. “Regular curls often follow a tighter or more structured pattern, but cloud curls are intentionally soft-focus, with less control and more air,” Smith says. “Typically, cloud curls are short enough that the silhouette remains rounded with a good amount of root lift and no obvious parting.”
Why are cloud curls having a moment right now?
Smith alerted us to cloud curls last year, but the hair trend has really gained steam in recent weeks, with celebrities like Miley Cyrus increasingly leaning into the look.
Some of its appeal may be seasonal, because hair tends to naturally fluff up in summery temperatures, and we can’t be bothered to use unnecessary heat to try to tame it.
“But it’s also part of a bigger move toward individuality and freedom in how we wear our hair,” Smith notes. “We’re slowly stepping away from hyper-glossy, overcontrolled hair and leaning into something gentler, and more free. Cloud curls feel emotional and romantic, and they really speak to the authenticity of textured hair.”
In other words, rather than scoop your curls into a low bun—or fight your natural texture with straighteners—cloud curls are all about embracing that gorgeous halo of soft, fluffy curls. Better still, Smith says he’s seeing people with all curl types embracing cloud curls.
Cloud curls 2.0 are about more deliberate shapes, he says. “Think rounded silhouettes, diffused layers, and curls that are shaped with intention but never tamed too much. There’s an increased confidence in wearing volume and a celebration of airiness rather than heaviness or bulk.”
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How to create cloud curls
Smith emphasizes the importance of a good cut. “Ask your hairdresser for a rounded shape with soft, diffused layers that encourage volume at the crown and a halo effect around the face,” he says. “You want to avoid overly defined layering or hard, weighty lines. Instead, think cloudlike in structure as well as texture.”
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Specifically, when it comes to natural textured hair, he recommends dry-cutting “to sculpt the silhouette organically and accurately. Consider how much you plan to stretch out your natural texture daily and discuss that with your stylist first.”
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How to style cloud curls, according to your hair texture
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“Start by enhancing moisture and softness—a cloud curl needs pliability and weightlessness,” says Smith. “Use a lightweight leave-in serum, followed by a styling gel such as Olaplex No.10, that can be massaged away to encourage definition without stiffness. Diffuse with a low-speed hair dryer to contract the length, or air-dry in twists that are gently fluffed out for more definition.
“For maximum airiness, you can also consider gently stretching out your texture with the comb attachment on the Dyson Airwrap, or using a gentle brush and medium heat on your hair dryer,” he continues. “The goal is volume and softness with lifted roots and gently separated coils.”
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“Apply a lightweight, strong-hold, curl-enhancing foam or mousse through damp hair, scrunching upward to encourage lift,” says Smith. “Diffuse using a medium-heat setting on your hair dryer, tipping your head upside down to create that floating volume.
“Once dry, gently separate any tighter ringlets with your fingers, and shake out the roots for that soft, cloudlike shape,” he continues. “Scrunch as desired and don’t be scared to fluff it up. If your roots are prone to flatness, a light puff of styling powder such as the Evo Hair Haze Styling Powder can really help with long-lasting lift.”
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While it’s possible to tap into the cloud-curl trend if you have straight hair, it does require some time to build texture into the hair, says Smith.
“A small curling iron or wand is needed to twist small sections of your hair into curls,” he says. “Take irregular sections—not straight lines—winding the hair around the curling iron and holding it 90 degrees from your scalp. Gently finger-comb the curls out as you go, and use a texture spray for hold and a modern airy finish.”
This article was previously published in Glamour UK. For more from Fiona Embleton, Glamour UK’s associate beauty director, follow her on @fiembleton.
