The rise of the curl icons

Once upon a time in Hollywood, curls were the chaos to be controlled. If a character had curly hair, they were either going through it, needed a makeover, or were definitely the quirky best friend. But the curl tide has turned.

These days, we’re finally seeing curls in the spotlight, not just the ‘before’ photo. Big, bouncy, unapologetic texture is having a moment – and we are very much here for it.

From “fix your hair” to “serve the curl”

Let’s be real. If you came of age in the 90s or early 2000s, you probably absorbed the message that straight = pretty and curls = problem. The media told us that the natural state of curly hair was something to be ‘fixed’.

But not anymore. Curls are on runways, red carpets, album covers, and timelines. We’re no longer hiding behind a GHD. We’re leading with the fro, the wave, the coil, the spiral. The curl has entered her main character era.

Curl icons we love (and why we’re obsessed)

Emmy Rossum – The OG curl icon for many of us. Her viral video about embracing her natural hair hit curly girls deep. Emmy’s curls are soft, strong, and totally unbothered – and we love her for keeping them front and centre.

Tracee Ellis Ross – Queen of volume. Her curls have range, okay? Big, bold, glossy, and full of joy – just like Tracee. She doesn’t just embrace her curls; she builds empires with them.

Zendaya – Hair chameleon extraordinaire. She can rock a slick bob or a full-on fro, but her natural curls still make a regular appearance, and we love that she gives them just as much red carpet airtime as the glam looks.

Chappell Roan – Glitter queen and rising pop icon, Chappell gives us unapologetically queer, curly energy with every performance. Her wild, voluminous hair is as much a part of her signature look as the neon makeup and platform boots. A curl rebel, in the best way.

Lorde – Her early career curls were a whole mood. That dark, tangled, witchy energy? Iconic. She gave every moody, poetic teen with wild hair a sense of permission to stop brushing and start thriving.

Timothée Chalamet – Yes, this list is mostly women – but we’ll make room for Timothée. His fluffy, floppy curls are the blueprint for “effortlessly cool,” and he’s proof that curl envy is 100% gender neutral.

The internet made it mainstream

While pop culture gave us curl icons, the internet gave us a movement. YouTube, Instagram, TikTok – they exploded with curly tutorials, honest product reviews, and routines from actual curlies. We swapped the old “tame the frizz” narrative for “learn what your hair actually needs” – and that changed everything.

Curls are the moment

More brands are curl-friendly. More celebs are going natural. And more of us are embracing the bounce we were told to flatten. The curly girl era isn’t just here – she’s flourishing.

So here’s to the curl icons. The ones who made us feel seen. The ones who gave us inspo. And the ones who remind us daily that flat hair might be fine – but big, bold curls? They’re unforgettable. Go forth and fluff your roots. The curls are calling.

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