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If you, too, count the reveal of Anne Hathaway’s Princess Diaries makeover as a core memory, the viral “princess blowout” is a must-try trend. The nostalgic look combines soft curls, sleek texture, and plenty of volume for a final look fit for royalty—but to nail it, you might have to break a mainstream styling “rule.”
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Chances are you’ve been told to curl your hair away from your face since the first time you picked up an curling iron. But recently TikTok is discovering the face-framing magic that comes from turning your curls inward. Whether you’re using a traditional hot tool, a thermal brush, or rollers, the real secret to the princess blowout is shaping your front pieces to curl under and toward your face.
“For me, hair coming toward the face gives a classic nod and has a more romantic feeling,” says Philip Downing, creative director and gairstylist at Bed Head. As for which haircuts work best with this style? “Layered haircuts are best for volume and to boost one’s hair movement,” Downing says. “If the hair is one length, long and heavy, it’s gravity’s best friend—soft layers and a cool ’70s curtain fringe is optimal for this particular look.”
Below, we asked pro stylists for more tips on how to achieve the princess blowout you’ve been dreaming of since you were six. (Because let’s be real, all of our routines could use a little more whimsy right now.)
How to prep your hair for a princess blowout
The quintessential princess blowout packs plenty of root volume (think ’90s), which is easiest to establish right after a wash. “Prep is key, and using a lightweight shampoo and conditioner will support in the volume process,” says Downing. "Then it’s all about the volumizers. My go-to is a cocktail of Queen for a Day and Small Talk in wet hair—these combinations will swell the hair and give weightless volume with support.”
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If retaining volume is a challenge, Jamie Campos, head of education at The Rootist, recommends using a small amount of root-lifting spray on towel-dried hair. As always, make sure to use a generous amount of heat protectant. If you have thick or frizz-prone hair, opt for a cream version (which can double as a blowout primer) for an extra-glossy finish.
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How to style a princess blowout
“Following prep, we’d want to blast dry most of the moisture out of the hair, focusing on drying hair away from natural root growth to give volume and root support,” Downing says. He says a round brush will be your best friend at this phase, with smaller barrels giving more curl and larger ones providing more volume and smoothing action.
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Once your hair is mostly dry, it’s time to focus on shape. “Section the hair and work with a hair dryer fitted with a vented nozzle to reduce frizz,” Campos says. “Lift each section up and forward so heat and tension shape the root—that held tension is what creates real lift, so lock the root in before you shape the curl.”
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If you’re styling your whole look with a blow-dryer, Campos recommends rolling each section off of the round brush and over a Velcro or foam roller. Roll the hair from tip to root, and secure the roller close to your scalp while letting the hair cool completely. Alternatively, you can switch off to a wide-barreled curling iron or a thermal brush at this phase.
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“Once blow-dried, a curl wand or an iron can be used to create curl and movement," Downing says. “A modern technique will be to curl the hair in different directions, so the hair doesn’t look too set in place, alternating with a twist of the iron toward the face, then away from the face.” His pro tip is to hit each section with Masterpiece hairspray before curling, to lock in shape and shine.
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Campos also prioritizes curl variation and movement: “Curl direction matters, but I believe in keeping it soft,” she says. “Curl most sections away from the face, and let the front curtain pieces curl slightly toward the face for a flattering frame.”
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To finish, carefully remove rollers using a twisting motion to prevent snags. Campos recommends “gently brushing with a paddle brush to reveal full volume and big bounce.” If you’re still seeing frizz or flyaways, she recommends using your hands to work a spray or two of BioBrew through your hair, which “adds shine while keeping the roots airy.” Once you’ve refined your curls, lock in your final shape with a workable-hold hairspray.
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How to refresh a princess blowout on second-day hair
The true beauty of a well-executed blowout? You can usually get more than one day of wear out of it. When reviving your princess blowout on second- or third-day hair, “My rule is, Do not wreck the shape or add frizz,” Campos says. “Target the roots where oil and sweat live by using a precision dry shampoo, like The Rootist Dry Shampoo Brush. I can tap product exactly where I need it and avoid the frizz aerosol sprays can create."
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If your curls have fallen flat, Campos recommends running a lightly dampened paddle brush through the hair, then using a round brush with low heat to “reactivate volume.” A little dry texture spray can also snap your ends back into shape.
Assuming that you don’t find out you’re the long-lost princess this week, we hope this blowout at least makes you feel like one.
Grace McCarty is the associate beauty editor at Glamour.
