Disco Curls Are Trending - Here's How To Achieve The Revived '70s Look

Everything old is new again, or so the saying goes. In 2023, that can be applied to everything from what we're wearing to how we're styling our hair, particularly when it comes to the '90s. In fact, the '90s are also making a comeback in fashion. Suffice it to say that, this year, we're borrowing liberally from the past to create a look that's at once timeless and modern. Disco curls are just one such hairstyle that we're taking inspiration from, which originated long ago — the '70s, to be exact. 

To nail disco curls, think Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco, whose wild, sexy mane was as iconic as her hit songs. The disco curl hair trend embraces big, bouncy curls and major volume — the bigger, the better. And trend-setting celebrities like Khloe Kardashian and Kaia Gerber have been snapped sporting the chic look on red carpets, in promos, and on their Insta grids.

One of the biggest perks of the disco curl trend is that it doesn't need to be neat and tidy. In fact, the bigger and messier your curls are, the closer to disco diva glam you'll be. It's also a very approachable hairstyle that can easily be done at home. Achieving the wind-swept disco curl look is super achievable with the right products, depending on the natural texture of your hair.

For any big-haired look, it's best to start out with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner, as hairstylist Raven Hurtado advised Glamour. Once you're ready to dry and style, you'll change things up depending on your hair type. For those lucky enough to be naturally curly, the disco curl style is a must-try. Instead of taming your tresses, set them free with volumizing styling products, a blow-dryer, and a diffuser. 

Joseph Maine, celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of Trademark Beauty, even shared that blow-drying your hair upside down will help pump up the volume. "Using a blow-dryer brush like the Trademark Beauty Easy Blo, flip your head over and continually brush towards the ground. This will push your roots upward and allow some extra 'fluff' in the hair," he explained. 

Once you have your curls ready to go, it's time to blow dry and set them in place. Sarah Potempa, celebrity hairstylist and founder of The Beachwaver Co., also recommended that you should: "Play around with flipping the bangs or the part for even more volume for a very extra disco curl look." 

If you have straight or wavy hair, now's the time to break out the curling iron. But here's the twist: Instead of using a standard, large curling iron (one inch or above) that gives you those classic mermaid waves, a smaller barrel will produce tight, springy curls, which are perfect for achieving this look. Celebrity hairstylist Clayton Hawkins — the man responsible for Kiernan Shipka's disco curls seen above — did a tutorial on TikTok breaking it all down. 

Hawkins wraps tiny sections of hair around a half-inch curling iron, spraying the curls as he goes with hairspray to help them hold. As Hawkins clarified, "The smaller sections you use, the better it's going to look." In the case of both naturally straight and curly hair, after your locks have cooled, you can either gently brush them out or use your fingers to separate and define the curls. Hairspray is your BFF here, as it will help the curls hold all night long.

As Hawkins acknowledged in his video, this hairstyle may be time-consuming, but it's totally worth it. Paired with a smokey eye and some eye-catching sequins, the disco curl look creates a bold, sexy vibe that effortlessly commands attention.