Our obsession with the ’90s is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, with sheer fabrics, baggy jeans and slip dresses all on heavy rotation this year. When it comes to beauty trends, we’re often a little more wary of embracing the defining looks from our past (read: thin brows and frosted eyeshadow). That being said, 90s hair will always have a special place in our heart, and one look in particular is shaping up to be the defining trend of 2022.
The ’90s blowout look was made iconic by the likes of Cindy Crawford, Jennifer Aniston and Denise Richards, who seemingly always stepped out with red carpet ready tresses, styled to perfection.
Below, everything you need to know about the comeback look, from how to achieve it at home to the best products to keep in your beauty cabinet.
What is 90s blowout hair?
As the name suggests, blowout hair is all about amplifying the shine, volume and bounce of your tresses. It’s timeless appeal all comes down to the implied effortlessness of it all. It’s not too sleek, not too messy but hits that perfect Goldilocks spot of falling somewhere right in the middle.
Not only does this look make you look incredibly polished and put together, but it’s the perfect way to frame your face as well. So if you’re someone who feels their hair usually falls a little flat and changes the look of your entire face in the process, the ’90s blowout is probably a great match for you.
How can you achieve 90s blowout hair at home?
Unlike those effortless looks that actually require a lot of, well, effort, the ’90s blowout is surprisingly simple to achieve at home. It just comes down to having the right tools, and knowing how to use them the right way.
Many hair stylists will tell you that nailing the blowout starts with having the right haircut, and they’d be right. If you’re headed to the salon, it’s important to nail the language when you’re asking for what you want. Long bangs and curled layers are the best friend of the blowout, because it allows you to achieve the right level of face-framing and flick at the ends.
Once you’ve got the right base, you can easily recreate the blowout yourself, just follow these steps in order:
- Prep the hair: Any good beauty look starts with the right preparation. You’ll want to start off by washing your hair and letting it air dry until it’s damp — not soaking wet and not dry. Then you can add something like a styling or volumizing cream, and run it through your hair with your fingers. Lastly, pump a few spritzes of heat protectant spray before you move on to the hot tools section to ensure you aren’t doing any damage.
- Section it off: Once you’ve nailed the base, you’ll need to divide the hair up into sections with a claw clip. Given that the visual effect of the blowout hinges on volume, you’ll want to make sure that you’re capturing every section of hair thoroughly, no stragglers at the back!
- Grab your hot hair brush: Now, you’re ready to pick up the tools and start the blowout process. As you work your way through each section, direct the brush downwards, away from your face and then, once it’s 90% dry, direct the brush upwards to get the flick effect at the ends.
- Add a a few finishing products: We’ll say it once and we’ll say it again, volume really is everything with this look. A few spritzes of texturising spray will allow the hair to keep its shape and add that level of bounce we’re all trying so hard to achieve. You can add a sculpting clay to the very ends as well to make sure the flick stays in place. Lastly, a few drops of hair oil will give you an enviable level of shine to rival that of the sun’s.
Best hair tools for 90s blowout hair
As mentioned, nailing this look is all about having the right tools on hand, and there’s really only one you need to have — a hot hair brush. Below, our top picks of the best in market right now, from the upmarket buys to the more affordable options.
Dyson Airwrap™ Styler Kit, $799 from Dyson
GHD Rise Volumising Hot Brush, $280 from GHD
Mermade Hair Blowdry Brush, $75 (was $109) from Myer
Revlon One Step Hair Dryer and Volumiser Hot Brush, $99 from Hairhouse
Best products for 90s blowout hair
Redken High Rise Volume Duo Volumizer, $23.30 from Oz Hair & Beauty
ghd Bodyguard Heat Protectant Spray, $35 from MECCA
Bumble and bumble Thickening Dryspun Texture Spray, $22 from MECCA
ELEVEN Extra Hold Styling Clay, $24.95 from Hairhouse
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil, $37 from MECCA
