What Is a 90s Blowout?

A 90s blowout is a blow dry style with big, round volume at the roots and ends that curve under. Think of the smooth, bouncy hair from 90s TV and magazine covers. It is a styling look, not a haircut, so you can get it on hair you already have.

What is a 90s blowout?

It is a way of drying and shaping hair, not a cut. Your stylist lifts the roots for height, smooths the middle, then turns the ends under so they curve toward your neck.

Three things make it read as 90s rather than just a nice blow dry:

• Height at the crown. The roots are dried straight up so the top has real lift
• Ends turned under. The bottom curves in, not out. This is the detail most people miss
• Face-framing pieces swept back. The front sections curve away from your face, then fall back toward it

The finish is shiny and smooth. There is no beachy texture and no messy piece anywhere. That polish is part of the look.

90s blowout vs a regular blowout

Most salon blowouts aim for smooth and natural. The 90s version goes bigger in two ways.

• Volume. A standard blowout keeps the roots flat and tidy. A 90s blowout dries them straight up for height
• Direction of the ends. A standard blowout leaves the ends straight or flicked out. A 90s blowout turns them under
• Shape at the front. A 90s blowout sweeps the front back on purpose. A standard one does not

Same tools, different shape. If you ask for a blowout and do not say more, you will probably get the standard version.

How to do a 90s blowout at home

You need a hairdryer with a nozzle, a large round brush, and about twenty minutes. A brush around two inches across works for most lengths.

The round brush method

1. Start with damp hair, not wet. Rough dry until it is about 80 percent dry
2. Add a volume mousse at the roots and a heat protectant through the ends
3. Clip the top half up and work on the bottom half first
4. Take a section about two inches wide. Put the brush under it at the root and lift straight up while you dry
5. Pull the brush down the section, then roll it under at the end and hold the dryer there for a few seconds
6. Repeat all the way around, then let the top half down and do the same
7. Finish the front sections by rolling them away from your face
8. Hit each section with cool air before you let it go. This sets the shape

The step most people skip

The cool air step is the one people skip, and it is the one that makes the curve hold. Warm hair falls out of shape as it cools in the wrong position.

How to do a 90s blowout without rollers

You do not need rollers at all. The round brush method above is how most salons do it, and it is faster.

If you want extra hold without rollers, try this. Dry each section as normal, then wrap it around the brush and leave the brush in place for thirty seconds while it cools. You are using the brush as a temporary roller. Slide it out gently so the curve stays.

A straightener can also work for the ends. Clamp the section near the bottom and rotate the iron under as you pull it through. It gives a tighter curve than a brush, so use a light hand.

Can you get a 90s blowout without heat?

You can get close, but not all the way. The volume at the roots really does need airflow.

For a heatless version, put damp hair in large velcro rollers or two loose braids and sleep on it. You will wake up with a soft bend and some body. What you will not get is the polished shine or the height at the crown, since both come from a dryer and a brush.

If heat damage is your worry, using a heat protectant and medium heat helps protect your hair.

What to ask for at the salon

The word blowout on its own will get you the standard version. Be specific about three things and bring a photo.

• Say 90s blowout by name. Most stylists know exactly what you mean
• Ask for the ends turned under. This is the detail that separates it from a normal blow dry
• Ask for lift at the root, not just volume. Volume is vague. Lift at the root tells your stylist where to aim the dryer

At Numi, book a blowout in Scarsdale, from $45. If you want a tighter curve on the ends, ask about the blowout and curling iron.

Does your haircut matter?

Yes, more than people expect. The style needs something to hold onto.

• Length. Anything past the chin works. Shorter than that and the ends have nowhere to curve
• Layers. Some layers help a lot. They give the crown somewhere to lift from. One blunt length can go flat
• Face-framing pieces. These make the front sweep possible, and almost any layered cut gives you them
• Bangs. Not required. If you have curtain bangs, they blend into the front sweep naturally

If your hair is one blunt length and you love this look, ask your stylist for a few long layers. That is usually all it takes.

How long does a 90s blowout last?

Two to three days on most hair. Fine hair loses the volume first, often by the end of day two. Thick hair holds the shape longer but can lose the shine.

A few things stretch it. Sleep with your hair loosely piled on top of your head, not down. Skip the shower steam and use a shower cap. Refresh the roots with dry shampoo before they look greasy, not after. We go deeper on this in our guide to how to make your blowout last.

Is the 90s blowout back in style?

Yes. Searches for it run around 4,400 a month and have held steady there since spring.

Over the past two years that number has moved between about 4,400 and 6,600. So interest is holding rather than fading, which is more than most revival styles manage.

90s blowout questions, answered

Want a 90s blowout in Westchester?

A good blowout is mostly technique. Where the dryer points, how each section is wrapped, and whether the stylist sets it with cool air before letting go. Those choices decide whether it lasts one night or three days.

Numi Hair Salon is in Scarsdale. We are rated 4.9 stars across more than 2,470 Google reviews. We have been voted Best of Westchester and named one of the Top 100 Salons in the U.S. Bring a photo of the look you want and we will match it to your length and texture.

See our blowout services in Scarsdale or Book Your Appointment at Numi Hair Salon.