Girls with Curls - Throw away those straightening irons - curls are back.

Stars such as Will & Grace’s Debra Messing, singer Katie Melua and Minnie Driver – are proving curls are in vogue and creating a wave on the catwalk.



Curly hair has a big history, long regarded as sensuous, the hair of mystery and desire. Think of Botticelli's Venus or the women in the Victorian paintings of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Curly hair, with its emphasis on feminine and romantic styles took off in the 1940’s. With glamorous Hollywood starlets such as Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner and Hedy Lamarr inspiring a wavy natural look, with soft, curls falling alluringly onto the shoulder.

Fast-forward to the 1970s and Farrah Fawcett-Majors defined a generation of hairstyles. Bronzed skin and glossy lips complemented manes of free-falling curls, soft partings and long fringes. Even male styling became softer with ‘feathered’ cuts, highlights and perms.

Curls continued to be king in the Eighties, with stars such as Madonna experimenting with unconventional and rebellious hairstyles.

But it was the Nineties that finally rung the death knell on curls. The huge success of US comedy series Friends had everyone reaching for the straightening irons to emulate that long, sleek “Rachel” cut.

“Film stars like Jennifer Anniston and Meg Ryan in Sleepless Seattle inspired generation of hairstyles, says hairdresser Amanda Morgan: “During the Nineties, curls were definitely out and choppy, short and long and sleek – were definitely in.”

“In the Noughties, curls are back in favour, adds Morgan: “Forget Bonnie Langford and Kevin Keegan and think Sarah Jessica Parker. The modern look is loose, tousled and ever-so-slightly dishevelled.

TV series, such as Sex in the City have shown women they don’t need to stick with just one look.”

By GAYNOR PENGELLY