Crimped Hair Is Back, But It Looks Nothing Like the Version You Remember

Published: October 2, 2026 Last Updated 21 minutes ago by FPN

Crimped hair has returned to the runway, and surprisingly, it does not look stuck in the past.

The zigzag texture that once defined ’80s party hair and early-2000s beauty is appearing again, but the new version is far more restrained.

Instead of covering the entire head in tight ridges, hairstylists are using crimping in selected sections, mixing it with smooth lengths, loose waves, and sculptural shapes.

New York Fashion Week made the case particularly clear.

At Christian Siriano’s Spring/Summer 2027 show, hairstylist Lacy Redway created what she called the “enchanted crimp”, placing pronounced ridges through otherwise sleek, glossy hair.

The contrast made the texture feel less like a nostalgic throwback and more like a deliberate fashion detail.

Christian Cowan offered another interpretation, with Justine Marjan incorporating crimped pieces into updos and low ponytails before blending the texture with irregular flat-iron waves. 

At Area, hairstylist Joey George took the idea further, using structural crimps around the face to emphasise the models’ features. Three different approaches arrived at the same conclusion: crimping no longer has to take over the entire hairstyle.

What Makes the New Crimped Hair Trend Different?

The old approach was straightforward. Hair was crimped from root to tip, creating rows of tight zigzags and plenty of volume.

The result became closely associated with the most recognisable beauty looks of the ’80s and ’90s before making another appearance during the Y2K revival.

The current crimped hair trend is working with contrast instead. 

Smooth hair can be interrupted by a few ridged sections, or crimped pieces can be tucked into an updo where the texture appears only when the hairstyle moves.

The technique can even be concentrated around the face, turning the crimp into a form of framing rather than the main event. This difference changes the mood completely. 

At Christian Siriano, Redway kept the hair sleek and reflective before adding horizontal bands of crimped texture.

The glossy surface made the ridges look almost graphic, while the limited placement stopped the hairstyle from becoming overly voluminous.

Other runway interpretations have been looser. 

Christian Cowan mixed crimped sections with uneven waves, creating a deliberately imperfect finish.

The combination makes the texture easier to imagine outside a runway setting because the hairstyle does not depend on every strand having the same pattern.

This is also where the trend becomes more interesting for different hair lengths and textures. 

You can use crimping under a ponytail for hidden volume, around the front of an updo for a visible accent, or through selected sections of longer hair.

A smaller crimp can create tighter texture, while larger wave tools produce a softer result.

Why Is Crimped Hair Coming Back Now?

The timing makes sense within the larger return of nostalgic beauty. 

Fashion has spent the past few seasons revisiting familiar references and styling them differently.

Crimped hair fits neatly into that cycle, but the runway versions suggest that designers are more interested in reinterpretation than exact reproduction.

There is also a growing appetite for hair that has visible texture. 

At the Spring/Summer 2027 shows, beauty teams moved between sleek finishes, exaggerated volume, knots, and deliberately irregular shapes.

Vogue’s New York Fashion Week beauty report specifically highlighted crimped looks from Christian Siriano and Area among the season’s notable hair moments.

The celebrity world has already helped keep the texture familiar.

Crimped and crimp-inspired styles have appeared across different eras on stars including Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Saweetie and Keke Palmer, making the technique recognisable even when the styling changes.

More recently, the runway has given the look another direction by stripping away much of the excess that made old-school crimping so distinctive.

That is why the current version feels easier to wear.

You do not need an entire head of tightly patterned hair to participate in the trend. A few textured pieces can transform a ponytail or bun, while brushed-out crimps can add volume without making the hair look rigid.

How to Wear the Crimped Hair Trend Now

The easiest way to approach crimped hair in 2026 is to treat the texture as an accent.

Start with smooth or naturally styled hair, then add crimps to selected sections rather than automatically working through the entire head.

A few pieces around the face can make a simple hairstyle feel more directional, while hidden crimps underneath a ponytail can add texture and body without becoming the focus.

Heat protection matters because crimping requires a heated tool, and repeatedly pressing the same section can put unnecessary stress on the hair. 

The hair should also be completely dry before using a crimping iron.

For a softer finish, you can gently run a flat iron in alternating directions along the hair to create loose bends instead of the more defined pattern a traditional crimper produces.

For anyone who remembers crimped hair from childhood or the Y2K era, the new version may take some convincing. The style is familiar enough to trigger recognition but different enough to feel fresh. 

The runway has essentially taken the crimper out of its nostalgia box and given it a more considered role.

Crimped hair is back. The difference is that this time, you do not have to crimp everything to make the look work.

Photo: Getty Images