The 90s Blowout: How to Get Big, Bouncy Hairat Home

A 90s blowout is a big, bouncy blow-dry: lots of lift at the roots and ends that curl away from the face. You can do it at home with a large round brush, or more easily with Velcro rollers. It works best on shoulder-length or longer hair with long layers and face-framing pieces. The look has stayed popular because it makes hair look thicker and polished without looking stiff.

The right haircut for it

The cut does half the work.

• Long layers: give the curls something to wrap around.
• Face-framing layers from the cheekbones: create the signature flick away from the face. See face-framing layers.
• A butterfly cut is basically designed for this look. See the butterfly haircut.
• One-length hair tends to fall flat by midday.

Ask your stylist for “long layers and face-framing pieces that I can blow out with a round brush.”

What you need

• Volumizing mousse or root lift spray
• Heat protectant
• A large round brush (about 2 inches across) or Velcro rollers
• A blow-dryer with a concentrator nozzle
• Clips to section your hair
• Light hairspray

Method 1: Round brush

1. Prep. Apply mousse to damp roots and heat protectant through the lengths.
2. Rough-dry until your hair is about 80 percent dry. Flip your head upside down for more root lift.
3. Section. Clip the top half up.
4. Dry in sections about the width of your brush. Lift each section straight up from the scalp, dry the root, then roll the brush down to the ends and wrap them around it.
5. Cool before you release. Hit the section with the cool shot button, or leave the brush in for a few seconds as it cools. This is what sets the shape.
6. Face-framing pieces last. Roll them away from your face.
7. Finish. Flip your head, shake gently, and mist with light hairspray.

Method 2: Velcro rollers (easier)

1. Prep and rough-dry as above, until hair is almost dry.
2. Take sections from the crown forward and blow each one smooth for a few seconds.
3. While it’s still warm, roll it onto a large Velcro roller, away from your face.
4. Leave the rollers in for 15 to 20 minutes while you do your makeup.
5. Remove, then brush through gently with your fingers or a wide brush.

The roller method puts less heat on your hair and gives more volume for most people.

Keeping heat damage down

Blow-drying every day can be hard on hair. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests limiting blow-drying and hot tools, using low or medium heat, and using a heat protectant. One good blowout that lasts three days is gentler than three rushed ones. Our heat protectant guide and how to blow-dry hair cover the basics.

Making it last

• Night one: loosely pile hair on top of your head in a scrunchie, or put the front pieces in two rollers.
• Morning: add dry shampoo at the roots and re-curl just the front with a round brush.
• Avoid: heavy creams and oils at the roots, which flatten volume.

Related guides

• The Italian Bob in 2027
• Layered Haircuts for 2027
• How to Make Hair Look Thicker

See the volume on your own face

Big volume changes the shape of your face more than people expect. Hairover lets you upload a clear photo, get a hair analysis, and try hairstyles on your own face in Style Studio, so you can see whether a layered cut with a blowout suits you before you book.

Try layered, voluminous styles on your own photo with Hairover.