The Hair Pouf Is The Latest 2000s Trend Making An Epic Comeback

The trends of the '90s and the aughts are back in full swing all across the beauty sphere, so it's no surprise that we're seeing the iconic hair pouf once again. You likely remember spending far too much time in front of the mirror perfecting your pouf — and you could likely still secure those bobby pins just right from muscle memory today. While some are recreating the pouf in its original form, we're also seeing more discreet versions of the trend — read: something not so, well, poufy. "We are seeing the pouf return in a more relaxed, chicer way," celebrity hairstylist Sophie Sugarman told Popsugar. "There is no need to go huge. The 2023 version of the pouf is more subtle."

The pouf is a fairly simple trend that can bring some variety to your cycle of hairstyles, particularly if you prefer to wear your hair down more often than up. And whether or not you're ready to embrace the energy of the Y2K era and its hair trends, the pouf is making an epic comeback regardless.

While many of the looks in the pouf renaissance are more subtle, the classic pouf continues to shine brightly. This look is easily achieved with bobby pins, but a small clip or hair tie would work as well to finish the style. You'll also likely want to have the hair spray on hand to smooth down the flyaways and keep the shape.

A prime example of the chic, more subtle pouf of 2023, this style is versatile and flattering — and not to mention great for no-wash hair days. If you aren't sure how to recreate the perfect pouf, simply take a triangular section of the hair that frames your face and lay it back, pinning it down. You can push it forward to create volume, but again, this iteration of the trend is more discreet.

The hair pouf suits wavy hair beautifully and you likely won't need to put in much effort to secure a perfectly situated bump. And if your hair is textured, you're already a step ahead, as it's more likely to take on your desired shape with little intervention. If you aren't in that boat, then some teasing may be required. "Starting from the back of the [pouf] section (near the crown of your head), and working your way to the front, in inch section increments, use a teasing brush to tease the root," hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein told Allure.

Taking the pouf in another direction, you may or may not remember styling your hair into a mini half-up style with, of course, an iconic bump up front. This updated puffy crown is more laid back — literally and figuratively — and casual, yet brings a top-tier charm to the table. Try curling the rest of your tresses for an added element of elegance.

Bridging the gap between pouf and half-up hairstyle, this bumped-up pouf takes a larger section of hair to create an in-between look that completely captures the essence of this iconic Y2K hairstyle. You may need more bobby pins and a firm hairspray to get this one to stay in place, but the effort is well worth the reward.