20 Crimped Hair Looks To Sport This Season
Crazy for crimped hair? So are we. Whether you’re a newbie to the trend or a crimping connoisseur, we’re here to show you which styles should be on your radar.
Crimping is a way of styling hair into tight, zig-zag shaped waves, which result in a crinkly, wavy look. These hairstyles became popular in the ’90s with stars like Britney Spears, Hilary Duff and Christina Aguilera championing the look. Now, it’s having a moment on TikTok, with crimped hair videos generating over 15.4 million views.
Get yourself kitted out with hair crimpers or straighteners to try the look, or you can even wear braids overnight to achieve heatless crimped locks.
Need some hair style inspo? You’ve come to the right place…
Natural-looking Crimped Hair
Modern, chic, natural…the list goes on. This look is wearable for casual and formal events alike – and we think it’s simply stunning. For the same vibe, crimp your hair with a parting and allow your crimps to develop into a non-uniformed finish.
Runway Crimped Hair
The runway is always a great source of hair inspiration. This look is all about straight hair at the roots that develop into full, crimped hair at the forehead line. It looks great in a lob (long bob) cut too, plus the style is super-manageable at this length.
Editor’s tip: Protect your hair with TRESemmé Heat Defence Spray, for a damage-free and long-lasting styling.
Wavy Vintage Crimped Hair
Hair crimpers often give hair a distinct zig-zag finish, but if you like the idea of bigger ‘kinks’ as seen above, try using a crimper with a wider wave plate or a slim straightening iron. Trust us, you’ll look like you’ve just walked out the salon.
Pro tip: To achieve larger crimps, use a straightener and rotate your wrist in alternating directions as you move down the length of your hair, then finish styling with TRESemmé Freeze Hold Hairspray.
2-in-1 Crimped Style
Our motto? Business at the front and party at the back. This look is all about straight and slicked-back hair at the front, developing into a medium-height crimped ponytail. Remember to crimp the lengths of your ponytail for a thick, full finish.
Editor’s tip: Add more drama and volume to the lengths of your ponytail with TRESemmé Extra Hold Hairspray. Try lifting your ponytail while spritzing the hairspray and directing it towards the roots, as not only will this seal your style but it also creates extra bounce.
The Single Crimp
The beauty of crimped hair? Even one small crimp can make a big impact. This minimal yet charming look is super-stylish, so channel your inner street style influencer at Fashion Week and try the look now.
Crimped Party Braids
Let’s be honest, the party doesn’t start until you walk in with your crimped party braids. We’re loving these Dutch braids with crimped hair – oh, and the added glitter of course.
Classic Crimped Ponytail
Crimped hair, but make it polished and refined. Get the look with a low ponytail, incorporating subtle crimps on small sections of your hair. Remember, in this case, less is more.
’70s Disco Wave Crimps
Give your hair a ’70s vibe by leaving a few inches along your parting crimp-free. Then, crimp the rest of your hair to your heart’s delight – and don’t be afraid to crunch up those crimps with your hands for extra volume.
Celebrity Crimped Hair
The question is, which celebrities have worn the crimped hair look best? Well, we’re lusting over hairstyles by Kim Kardashian, Amanda Seyfried and Gigi Hadid, who have all proudly sported crimps recently.
Hollywood Glam Crimped Hair
Throwback time! Scarlett Johansson’s crimps may be from 2004, but they’re giving us all the Great Gatsby-esque vibes we need to create a modern twist to the look. Got a bob? Don’t be afraid to crimp your hair, just pair with a bold red lip and dangling earrings for a truly glamorous feel.
Voluminous Crimped Hair
If you’re looking for a crimped hairstyle that packs a punch, take cues from supermodel Tyra Banks – giving us all those barbie doll hair vibes. Once you’ve crimped your tresses all over, grab your hairspray and go to town with the backcombing.
Next, work the top section of your hair up into a half beehive and pin in place. Once you’ve secured your locks, smooth the front section and pull out wisps of crimped hair to frame your face.
Timeless Crimps
Britney Spears really showed us how crimped hair was done back in the day, didn’t she? Do like the star and loosely curl your strands, then crimp as much or as little as you desire. We loved it then and we love it now.
Frizzy Crimps
Although we’d normally tell you how to fight frizz, this crimped hair look is an exception. Whether you’re hair is naturally frizzy or you want to create a faux frizz vibe, you’ll want to brush or comb your locks while they’re still warm from crimping. Then, backcomb the hair from underneath for added volume.
Crimped Hair ft. a Fringe
We love this pulled-back pony, complete with a brow-grazing fringe and lightly crimped locks. You’ll notice that Ariana Grande regularly wears the style at red carpets and concerts – and when the star sports a trend, naturally we follow…
Zig-zag Curl Crimps
Hello, big, zig-zag waves. Choose this style for fuller-looking locks, large waves and voluminous hair. If you’ve got fine, think hair, this hairstyle gives the perfect illusion.
Costume Crimps
Whether it’s for a fancy dress party, a themed day or Halloween, crimps make for the perfect dress-up hairstyle. To get a doll-like look, curl, crimp and tease your tresses until they’re big and voluminous. Voilà!
Festival Crimp
Festival-style crimps are in style right now. This look combines braids with a half-up, half-down style and all-over crimping, giving you just the right amount of texture and vivacity. Just gorgeous!
Free-flowing Crimps
Add dimension to your look with a crimped finish. Credit: Instagram.com/frankapostolopoulos
Ditch the rule book and create this rebellious crimp look. To try it out, simply pick up random sections of your hair and crimp away. Finish by brushing out each section to make the look a little more wild, but don’t fret – it’ll still look effortlessly pretty.
Dramatic Crimped Ponytail
Keep with the random crimping look, but this time pair it with zig-zag curls and a smoothed-back ponytail. The variety of crimps and curls in this look is to-die-for, giving us all the red-carpet event vibes.
Barely There Crimps
What you need to know
When was hair crimping popular?
Crimped hair was a hype during the ’80s and ’90s and celebrity fans included Barbra Streisand, Cyndi Lauper and Demi Moore, which helped make it one of the most coveted hairstyles of the time.
Is crimping your hair trending?
It certainly is! With the return of many of our favourite ’90s hair trends (think butterfly clips, micro braids and bangs) crimped hair is making a comeback too.
Does crimping damage your hair?
Like any hairstyle that uses heat, crimping isn’t completely damage-free, so you should always make sure to protect your hair by using a heat protection spray before using any heat.
How can I keep my hair crimped all day?
The key to making your crimped hair stay is hairspray. Using hairspray at every stage of the crimping process (before and after crimping each individual section and at the end to set the whole look), will ensure your kinky waves stay defined and frizz-free.
How can you crimp your hair without a hair crimper?
You’ll need some straighteners and basic braiding skills to recreate the crimping effect without a hair crimper.
Here’s how to do it. After washing your hair, apply some mousse for extra volume and dry your hair. Then, divide your hair into small sections, prepping each section with some hairspray before tightly braiding using the regular 3-strand braid method. Once all of your hair is in braids, take your straighteners and clamp each braid from the roots to the ends. When you take the braids out you’ll be left with kinky, zig-zag waves that look just like if you’d used a crimper. Easy peasy!
Want to give crimped hair a go? For more help, watch our video tutorial here and check out our guide to creating crimped hair without a crimper.
