The beauty industry has recently experienced some surprising comebacks, with the “Farrah Fawcett” trend bringing glamour back into our beauty routines during the pandemic. Now, another prominent figure from the early 2000s is drawing attention to past hairstyles. The movie “Priscilla,” which premiered on October 27th, showcases a bouffant hairstyle that steals the show.
The bouffant style was extremely popular in the 1950s and ’60s, featuring hair raised high on the head with a rounded shape. Iconic bouffant wearers of the past include Brigitte Bardot and Lisa Marie Presley. While singers like Amy Winehouse and Adele adopted it as part of their musical personas, the hairstyle never made a significant comeback since the mid-20th century.
However, lately, we have seen many bouffants on the red carpet thanks to stars like Dua Lipa, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ariana Grande, and Aimee Lou Wood. While some may be surprised by the return of this ’60s-inspired hairdo, hairstylist Sam McKnight, who has worked with prominent personalities such as Princess Diana and Kate Moss and created several bouffants backstage at Fashion Weeks, isn’t. He believes that there’s always a ’60s fashion resurgence going on and that people are drawn to that era because it was the last time when people spent a lot of time on their hair, and there was one style that everyone wore.
It’s worth noting that the popularity of bouffant hairstyles can be traced back to Europe in the late 18th century when Marie Antoinette and Léonard Autié introduced the trend. They created updos that were adorned with various accessories like feathers, flowers, and miniature ships to celebrate French naval victories. The trend resurfaced in the early 1900s during the Gibson Girl era, named after Charles Dana Gibson’s illustrations depicting upswept bouffants that ended in chignons at the crown of the head. Later on, the pompadour style became popular during the 1950s rockabilly culture, named after Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s royal mistress. The invention of hairspray led to even bigger hairstyles by the end of that decade. The bouffant became iconic during the 1960s thanks to pop stars such as Dusty Springfield, The Supremes, and The Ronettes.
The bouffant hairstyle, which originated from rock ‘n’ roll, has retained its popularity among musicians to this day. Many music icons such as Cindy Wilson, Kate Pierson of The B-52s, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Andra Day, and Ariana Grande have made a statement with the bouffant. The renowned hairstylist, McKnight, states that the bouffant is all about showing off and outshining others. This style fits perfectly in the world of rock where extravagance is celebrated. Additionally, the bouffant adds height to the head, creating a flattering silhouette for anyone who wants to feel taller and more grandiose. Whether you prefer a dramatic or a casual look, this style can be adjusted to suit your personal taste, and it works well with all hair textures.
