Noughties hair tendrils are the cool-girl detail we're obsessed with
Noughties nostalgia seems to be going no-where, but one of our favourite throwbacks is the slinky hair tendrils all the cool-girls have brushed off and brought back.
Celeb fans include Beyonce, J-Lo, Hailey Bieber, Rihanna, Margot Robbie, Dua Lipa, Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski and we can't scroll through TikTok without spotting them.
The dinky little strips of hair, aren't as chunky, or as much of a commitment as a fringe, but they still make a statement. And, when you don't fancy them, they weave straight back into hair, as they're simply the little face-framing sections of your haircut, let loose and pulled forward.
They work when you put your hair up, whether that's a bun, or a ponytail, and their renewed popularity times very conveniently with the explosion in Pammy Anderson updos that everyone –from Kim Kardashian to GLAMOUR's coverstar, Charithra Chandran – has been wearing.
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The look has even been given the seal of approval by Queen Bey, who dressed-down a sky-high ponytail with some loose tendrils.
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GLAMOUR's columnist and the A-lister's go-to hairstylist, Jen Atkin pegged hair tendrils as the trend to go stratospheric last year. "Tendrils are absolutely back," she said. "I think they’re flirty, sexy and frame women’s faces nicely." She created some noughties tendrils for Hailey Bieber just this week as she headed out in LA.
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And, incidentally, she was one of the first to resurrect them for the red carpet (she created a tendril bun updo for Em Rata back in 2019).
So, what's with their return? For starters, the past is a good place to look for inspiration, Jen says. "The ‘90s and ’00s play a huge role in that, especially with the tendril pieces in the front," she explains. Movies like She’s All That and Pretty Woman are circling back round and we want to give it our 2022 spin.
Then there's the fact that lots of us jumped on the fringe train and now have front sections that are growing out. If your normal fringe is too long, you can slip most of it back into a ponytail or bun, but just pull out a couple of smaller pieces.
As for how to make it look modern, "you can either go a little heavier with them by grabbing larger pieces right at the part, or you can be more playful and grab random pieces right above the ear and further up the hairline," says Jen. In general though, she reckons less is more. "I love when hair looks effortless, natural and somewhat undone."
Here's how to get the look in 6 simple steps...
1. Prep damp hair with OUAI wave spray and blowdry on a medium speed and heat.
2. Using a 1 1/2” barrel curling iron, wrap sections of hair around in alternating directions, pulling on them while they’re hot for a looser effect.
3. Apply OUAI Dry Texture Foam throughout and Tancho Stick on roots.
4. Pick out tendril pieces in the front and create two ponytails close in proximity, one above another and secure with a hair tie or bungee.
5. Take both ponies and wrap into a messy French twist, secure with French hair pins.
6. Accessorise! Snap clips are really making a comeback. I’m seeing so many of them on the gram and girls getting so creative using them to add a little glitz to their look.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out our guide to the latest hairstyles 2019.
8 ways to style your tendrils...
@brittsully / InstagramLaidback
Everything is kept loose, from the relaxed ponytail to the casually waved tendrils at the front. Use your fingers along the front strands to create texture and separation.
@jesscreationss / InstagramNatural
YouTube Jess Gamble left her natural curls to do the talking. With pieces kept loose at the front of her face and around her ears.
@maneaddicts / InstagramAccessorised
Scatter snap clips, embellished bobbi pins and barrettes through hair.
@brittsully / InstagramHigh-low
Off duty braids are paired with high fashion earrings to make this look feel modern.
Getty ImagesMessy
How to make a Chanel dress feel positively casual? Pair it with relaxed, undone hair and chunky tendrils.
@yalinahair / InstagramSlick
Add another dimension to a slick snatched ponytail by pulling a couple of pieces loose at the front.
Getty ImagesStraight
J-Lo was serving peak 90s with ultra straight tendrils blended out with honey highlights.
@brittsully / InstagramBoho
Tendrils play really well into a more relaxed style – the trick to make it look like they've fallen loose naturally – I woke up like this bed hair, but with a bit more gloss.
