The Pouf Hairstyle Is Back and Better Than Ever

If you went to school any time in the 2000s, you likely remember seeing hallways littered with UGG boots, PINK sweatshirts (with no less than two tank tops underneath), and the pouf hairstyle. Now, we may have mastered a new way of layering, but UGGS are most definitely back, and in a twist of events that no one saw coming, so is that iconic (sometimes cringy) pouf.

Don’t just take our word for it — look at Jennifer Lopez, Meredith Duxbury, and Bella Hadid. Paris Fashion Week last year quickly became the unofficial-official birthplace of the Bring Back the Pouf campaign, with Victoria’s Secret model Nadine Leopold and Nicola Peltz Beckham pairing their high fashion looks with . . . the bump. Since then, the divisive hairstyle’s momentum hasn’t slowed down. And we have to admit, most of these looks are not the old-school, front-and-center puff we debuted in grade schools of the early aughts. It’s more modern, updated, and, dare we say, kind of chic.

Ahead, we spoke to a stylist to get expert tips for bringing the hairstyle trend into the year 2024.

Experts Featured in This Article

Sophie Sugarman is a celebrity hairstylist who works with clients like Nicola Coughlan, Asha Banks, and more.

The Modern Pouf Hairstyle

So the pouf is back. But you don’t want to look like you’re cosplaying as your younger self from 15 years ago, which is why there are ways to modernize it. “We are seeing the pouf return in a more relaxed, chicer way,” celebrity hairstylist Sophie Sugarman tells PS. If you remember, the original pouf was quite the statement with a lot of height, but that’s no longer the case. “There is no need to go huge,” she says. “[This] version of the pouf is more subtle.”

That’s the way many of beauty’s biggest It girls are wearing it. Keeping it smoother and using a larger section of hair almost creates the illusion of a half-up, half-down look. It works on all hair types to add volume and intrigue, and is “the perfect opportunity to add an accessory like a cute bow or clip,” Sugarman says.

How to Do the Modern Pouf Hairstyle

This hairstyle works on all haircuts, hair types, and lengths. To start, style your hair as you normally would. You can curl it, give yourself a blowout, airdry, or with your natural curls or coils. Then you’re ready to form your pouf. “Section off the face-framing pieces and pin [them] back at the crown of the head using the Unite Le:Play Hairspray ($36) to tame flyaways and add flexible hold with a satin finish,” says Sugarman. “It is a workable hairspray that’s strong enough to hold styles in place, yet flexible enough to brush out and refinish into other hairstyles.”

You can use bobby pins, a fancy hair clip, or a bow to secure your bump in place at the back of your head. Sugarman recommends ending with a spritz of shine spray. We like the Amika Top Gloss Hair Shine Spray ($29).

Don’t worry: you can leave the lace tank top at home.

Jessica Harrington is the senior beauty editor at PS, where she writes about hair, makeup, skin care, piercings, tattoos, and more. As a New York City-based writer and editor with a degree in journalism and over eight years of industry experience, she loves to interview industry experts, keep up with the latest trends, and test new products.