Retro curls and glamour: the waves of 2026-2027
A whiff of cinema, and curls that move.
By Manel, M BRUSH5 min read
N° 04
Trends
The essentials
Retro and glamorous curls are among the 2026-2027 trends: soft Old Hollywood style blow-dries, large-barrel iron waves, brushed curls with 1970s volume. They are created with an iron for a defined, long-lasting curl, or with a round brush for a more natural result, then loosened by hand.
Curls are back, and they carry a whiff of cinema. Glossy waves, curls brushed to a soft blur, a touch of theatrical volume: the catwalks and trend collections of 2026-2027 are looking to the glamour of another era.
But today's version is no helmet. It moves, it comes undone by hand, and it holds thanks to the right gesture rather than hairspray.
Glamour returns through waves
The movement began early. As far back as December 2025, Cosmopolitan announced "soft blowouts" in the Old Hollywood style for 2026: a soft blow-dry finished with rollers then brushed out, for bouncy, glamorous waves.
In January 2026, Stylist devoted an article to the "antique bob" seen at the Golden Globes: a bob with sculpted waves, very glossy, with volume at the roots. In February, Marie Claire UK noted a 1960s glamour with brushed curls at Vivienne Westwood in London.
Then, in September, the Deutsche Handwerks Zeitung presented "Nocturne Heritage", the autumn-winter 2026-2027 trend collection from the German hairdressers' federation. Three of its looks speak directly of curls.
And at the first spring-summer 2027 shows in New York, Bustle noted "Fairytale Hair", soft waves seen at Alice + Olivia and Anna Sui. The movement therefore continues beyond winter.
Three families of curls
Behind the word "retro" lie very different looks. The season's trends sketch out three.
Wide, glossy waves
In the "Nocturne Heritage" collection, the "Celestial Gleam" look relies on large-barrel iron waves. This is the curl of classic elegance: wide, even, catching the light.
Small curls loosened by fingers
The "Starlight Waves" look takes the opposite path: small-barrel iron curls, then loosened with the fingers. The result is airier, more textured, almost bohemian.
Brushed curls, with 1970s volume
With "Midnight Opulence", the same collection returns to 1970s volume, with brushed curls. It is also the spirit of the soft blowout: the curl is worked, then brushed to melt into a bouncy wave.
Today's retro curl does not set: you draw it, then you set it free.
Brush or iron: which technique?
All these curls can be born in two ways.
| Criterion | With an iron | With a round brush |
|---|---|---|
| Tool | The iron | Brush and hairdryer |
| Curl | More defined | Softer, more natural |
| Hold | Longer lasting | Relaxes gently |
| For | A long evening | A natural look |
With an iron, you get wide, glossy waves. With a brush, the curl is born during the blow-dry itself, without an iron.
To compare in detail, read our article on the difference between brush and iron curls. The choice depends above all on your hair and the occasion.
The retro gesture, step by step
A beautiful glamorous curl is built on a solid base. That is the logic of the blow-dry with iron curls.
A voluminous blow-dry first.The root is lifted and the mass worked with a round brush. Without this base, the curl falls flat from the root.
Even sections.Sections of the same thickness, rolled in the same direction, give these waves that answer one another.
Cooling in the shape.This is the secret of hold: a curl released while still hot stretches and relaxes.
Working by hand or with a brush.Depending on the look, the curls are separated with the fingers or gently brushed to melt into a wave.
A light veil.The setting holds the shape without creating a shell.
Curls take a little more time than other finishes: that is the price of their definition.
The mistakes that break the effect
- Brushing too early. A curl that is still warm comes completely undone under the brush. Wait until it is cold.
- Starting with hair loaded with product. Oil and serum weigh the curl down, and it droops within the hour.
- Too much hairspray. It sets the curl and removes all the movement that makes the charm of today's version.
- Forgetting humidity. Rain, fog, steam from a kitchen or bathroom: a curl absorbs moisture from the air and swells. Plan for an umbrella and avoid a hot shower without a cap.
Where to wear glamorous curls?
Retro curls have a sense of occasion. They go with an evening dress, a velvet suit, an intense lipstick. For an evening that lasts until the end of the night, our article on the blow-dry for an evening, a gala and New Year's Eve gives the keys to hold.
But they are not reserved for big nights. A wide wave, lightly brushed, works very well with a jumper and jeans: that is even where it surprises the most.
And to keep them the next day, a loose bun on top of the head and a silk pillowcase work wonders. Everything is explained in our guide to making your blow-dry last overnight.
Retro curls, at your appointment
At M BRUSH, two finishes answer the trend. Iron curls, for defined, long-lasting curls on a voluminous base. The blow-dry with brush curls, for soft curls made with a round brush and a hairdryer, without an iron.
Manel, a qualified hairdresser, welcomes you to her private studio in Lausanne, by appointment. Choose your length, the finish, then a free slot; the address is Avenue d'Yverdon 4, 1004 Lausanne and the confirmation email gives you the directions. Come with clean hair, without oil, serum or styling product.
Fancy waves worthy of an old film? Book your blow-dry with iron curls.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you make retro curls that last a whole evening?
- Start with a voluminous blow-dry on clean hair, work the curls with an iron and let them cool before touching them. A light setting is then all you need.
- Should you brush curls made with an iron?
- It depends on the result you want. Brushed once cold, they melt into very retro bouncy waves; separated with the fingers, they stay more defined.
- Do retro curls suit short hair?
- On a bob, yes: the antique bob is the example, with its sculpted waves. On very short hair, the curl has little length to be drawn.
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