The slicked-back bun and glass-smooth blowout had a long run, but they’re fading. Red carpets and runways have moved on to something softer and airier: brushed-out waves. The curls are still there, only combed loose into something with movement and body instead of crunch. After five years of the “clean girl” aesthetic, this is the trend that lets you stop fussing.
It’s about feel over perfection. Rather than defined, sculpted curls, you get silhouette, volume, and a texture that moves on its own.
What Are Brushed-Out Waves, Exactly?
Brushed-out waves start as set curls that you comb or brush through until they soften into airy, diffused texture. The finish reads relaxed and elegant rather than obviously styled. STIL Salon Style Director Neale Rodger, speaking to Who What Wear, describes it as “soft, brushed-out glamour with a modern feel.”
The distinction matters. A traditional beach wave is piecey and defined, usually with a product-heavy, slightly crunchy finish. A brushed-out wave takes that same curl and loosens it, so the texture turns voluminous and matte instead of sculpted.
As Rodger puts it, “the curls are there, but they’re not the main event—it’s more about the movement, volume and silhouette they create once they’re brushed out.” There’s a hint of old Hollywood in the result, but it lands as current and wearable.
Why Bohemian Texture Is Back in Fashion
Fashion trends travel from the runway to everyday wardrobes, and hair tends to follow. British Vogue flagged one look coming down the pipeline: the boho, Chloé girl wave, spotted during Paris Fashion Week on Alexa Chung, Georgia May Jagger, Claudia Schiffer, and Pamela Anderson.
The pull toward bohemian texture tracks with a wider preference for authenticity in styling. Beauty World News connects the trend to repeated nods to past decades, the 1970s especially, with softness reframed as a kind of modern luxury.
The Red Carpet Shift
The Emmys made the shift away from polished styling hard to miss. YVE Style reported that the 78th Emmy Awards red carpet was “alive with hair that featured airy textures and brushed-out waves,” with Olivia Munn, Quinta Brunson, and Selena Gomez all in soft, touchable waves.
That outlet frames the new boho wave as a mix of late-2000s and 2010s relaxed glamour with ’70s influences layered in. What separates this version from earlier ones is refinement. It feels sophisticated rather than festival-driven.
How to Get Brushed-Out Waves at Home
No salon appointment required. The core technique is three steps: set a curl, let it cool, brush it out. The Cool Hour makes the point that the signature finish depends on resisting the urge to leave curls as they are. You work through them with a wide-tooth comb or soft bristle brush until they loosen into soft, airy waves.
Hairstylist Anthony Nader of RAW starts before any heat touches the hair. In his boho waves guide, he applies heat protectant spray and plumping foam to the mid-lengths and ends, then scrunches and runs his fingers through so the hair picks up uneven texture from the start.
Step-by-Step Technique
- Prep with product. Apply heat protectant and a plumping foam to mid-lengths and ends, then scrunch to build uneven texture.
- Dry fully. Blast-dry with a hairdryer; use a large round brush to smooth any rougher sections.
- Keep your natural part. Nader skips a strict, clean part line to keep the lived-in feel.
- Add waves in alternating directions. Sam McKnight told Grazia to twist one section toward your face and the next away, which mimics natural movement.
- Brush it out. Once cool, comb through with a wide-tooth comb to loosen the curl pattern without erasing it.
- Tame frizz sparingly. A drop of hair oil over the ends, only if you need it.
Working With Natural Waves
If you already have waves or curls, most of the work is done. Start with damp hair, apply a curl-defining cream, and diffuse until fully dry. Let everything cool, then brush through with a wide-tooth comb to loosen the pattern into that soft, airy finish.
Brushed-Out Waves vs. Classic Beach Waves
The beach wave never fully left, but the 2026 version looks different. E! Online reports Kaia Gerber, Shay Mitchell, and Zara Larsson reviving a softer, more touchable take: flatter roots, less crunch, more lived-in texture.
The two compare like this:
| Feature | Classic Beach Waves | Brushed-Out Waves |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Piecey, defined | Airy, diffused |
| Product feel | Crunchy, textured | Matte, touchable |
| Volume | Moderate | High, cloud-like |
| Root | Can be heavy | Flatter, relaxed |
| Wave direction | Often uniform | Alternating, irregular |
| Overall vibe | Styled | Lived-in, effortless |
It comes down to movement. Behind the Chair describes this season’s texture as softer, airier, and more voluminous, with a brushed-out finish that feels lived-in rather than piecey.
The Secret Ingredient: Imperfection
The hardest part of this look is accepting that it shouldn’t be perfect. British Vogue quotes Sam McKnight, who says the key to boho hair is imperfection: “Truly tousled hair is cool and effortless, it doesn’t try too hard.”
Restraint applies to product, too. The Boho Bombshell cut in British Vogue calls for undone texture that’s matte, touchable, and full of character, with the instruction to “use a texturising spray but with restraint.”
Embrace a Little Frizz
A little frizz is part of the deal, especially on naturally wavy hair. A Reddit thread among wavy-hair users captures the change in attitude: frizz comes with the territory, the hair still looks good, and it tends to settle on its own a while after brushing.
Rooted volume finishes the effect. The Boho Bombshell look builds body from the crown, a subtle lift at the root that reads as bombshell without tipping into overblown.
Who Should Try This Trend
Brushed-out waves work on most hair types and lengths because the technique adapts to your natural texture instead of fighting it. On fine hair, the brushing-out process adds real volume. On thick or coarse hair, the loosened curls soften a heavier texture into something more fluid.
It also fits a range of lifestyles. Because it’s meant to look undone, it holds up through the day and even improves a little as it relaxes, with no touch-ups needed for a stray flyaway.
For anyone moving away from high-maintenance styling but still wanting a finished, intentional result, this is a strong pick. You get glamour without the stiffness of a traditional blowout.
Conclusion
Brushed-out waves swap polished perfection for movement, volume, and a lived-in finish. The look borrows ’70s softness and old Hollywood glamour but feels modern, and it has already taken over the red carpet from the Emmys to Paris Fashion Week. The method is straightforward: set a curl in alternating directions, let it cool, and brush it out with a wide-tooth comb for that airy, touchable texture.
Three principles do most of the work: use product with restraint, keep your part natural, and leave room for imperfection. For more detail on getting the look at home, go back to the step-by-step technique from stylist Anthony Nader. Grab a texturising spray, a wide-tooth comb, and try the brushed-out wave before your next event.
FAQ
What is the difference between brushed-out waves and beach waves?
Beach waves are typically piecey, defined, and slightly crunchy. Brushed-out waves are airy, matte, and voluminous. The brushed-out version takes the same curl and loosens it with a comb for a softer, more lived-in finish.
How do you brush out curls without ruining them?
Wait until your curls have fully cooled, then use a wide-tooth comb or soft bristle brush to work through them gently. The goal is to loosen the curl pattern, not erase it, so go slowly and stop once you hit a soft, airy texture.
Do brushed-out waves work on fine hair?
Yes. The brushing-out process adds noticeable volume, so it’s a good way to build body and movement on fine hair. A plumping foam before drying and some lift at the root push the effect further.
What products do I need for brushed-out waves?
A heat protectant spray, a plumping or texturising foam, and a texturising spray used with restraint. Add a wide-tooth comb for brushing out and a drop of hair oil to tame frizz on the ends, and you’re set.
Is a little frizz okay with this trend?
Frizz is part of the appeal. The brushed-out, bohemian look leans into imperfection, and some frizz tends to settle on its own a while after you brush through your waves.
Why is bohemian hair texture trending again?
Fashion has shifted toward bohemian influences, with softer silhouettes and ’70s-inspired styling back on the runway. Hair is following, with celebrities and stylists favoring authentic, touchable texture over the sleek “clean girl” aesthetic of recent years.