There’s ‘letting your hair down’, and then there’s Angelina Jolie’s cascading curls as debuted at a Hollywood premiere for her new Oscar-tipped film Maria over the weekend. Classic Hollywood waves they weren’t; her stylist Renato Campora created undulating curls that were relaxed and sexy but also beautifully defined, possibly with the help of Maria Nila True Soft Argan Oil, £16, which Campora has previously used on the star to create glossy, Pre-Raphaelite-style curls.
Campora describes his particular styling strength as ‘reinterpreting glamorous styles of the past for the modern age’, so he nailed his own brief with Angelina’s imperfect spiral curls, and the flipped parting creates an even more romantic effect, plus it’s a brilliant trick for adding instant zhoosh to thin and fine hair. He was possibly helped here by Maria Nila Volume Spray, £25, too, which he’s reached for in the past to give Jolie’s roots a lift.
Speaking of romance, Angelina’s ringlets tap into one of the biggest (literally) hair trends this winter: ‘romcom’ waves, which hark back to the voluminous, carefree curls worn by the stars of 2000s romcoms. We present Kate Hudson’s 1970s-style curls in Almost Famous and Sarah Jessica Parker’s iconic natural curls in Sex And The City. Both actresses have naturally curly hair, which makes us think that Jolie might, too, given how convincing her curl pattern looks, but whether you’ve got au naturel waves or not, it’s a chic style that perfectly offsets partywear, (especially glitzy party jewellery), and it’s as easy to achieve as it’s easygoing. Just leave the salt spray on the dressing table.
Romcom curls aren’t the same as the more casual beach wave; they’re loose ringlets that are more defined and fuller and they add contrast to an otherwise cosy and functional winter wardrobe, yet look as fresh and flowing against silk as they do knitwear.
If your hair’s not naturally curly, try spritzing already blow-dried hair with a root-lift spray before curling, to provide both heat protection and hold that’s not stiff or helmet-like. From there, use a larger, barreled hair tong, such as ghd Curve Soft Curl Tong, £159, (which clocks in at a diameter of 32mm) to create polished but not too pristine curls in five to eight seconds per section, depending on your hair’s thickness. The finer your hair, the less time it needs for curls to set.
The all-important finishing touch is to very gently brush curls out with a wide-toothed comb, for a beautiful rippling effect that still maintains some curl separation, à la Jolie or SJP.
Blessed with a crown of curls already? Stylist and co-founder of botanical beauty brand Rahua Fabian Lliguin recommends “applying hair mousse (try Rahua Aloe Vera Hair Mousse, £38) throughout damp hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to distribute the product, then scrunch and diffuse or air-dry.” Flipping your head upside down as you diffuse will create even more swish.
And lastly, in news that may terrify many, a retro curl staple may be making a resurgence in 2025, according to Katie Allan, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Mayfive Hair. “Voluminous curls, textured waves and teased roots are seeing a strong comeback,” she says. “Perms are rising in popularity, especially when it comes to creating softer, more natural-looking waves.” Thankfully, modern perm solutions are far gentler than their 1980s counterparts and results vary from loose, effortless-looking waves to subtle finishes that enhance an existing curl pattern. You heard it here first...
