Kim Kardashian is so stranger to a major hair moment. Over the years, she's proved to be a true hair chameleon. Her masterful hair evolution has seen her through a kaleidoscope of colours – reds, pink, and platinum blonde – and styles that run the gamut of edgy pixie cuts, '90s-coded bombshell updos, and snatched XXL high ponytails, to name just a few. But arriving at the F1 paddock for the Singapore Grand Prix 2026 to support beau, Lewis Hamilton, Kardashian made an unexpected hair revival.
Fast-becoming the first lady of Formula 1, her recent run of trackside looks have quickly establishing her keen WAG style. Over the weekend, she donned an archival Roberto Cavalli cheongsam-inspired runway look from Spring/Summer 2003, complete with a corseted waist, stand collar, and keyhole cleavage cutout. On the beauty front, maximalism was dialled up with the help of a '60s-esque half-up half-down soft bouffant, and according to the experts it's a style that should be on your radar.
'This is going to be popular,' says Tom Smith, hairstylist and Grazia Beauty Panellist, 'Everyone loves a half-up, half-down style. It's always really popular because it allows people to have the security and femininity of having long hair left down, but with just enough structure to make it feel intentional and special.'
True to form, Kardashian has elevated the look while referencing the '60s in two clear ways. 'One is through the slightly bouffant, slightly beehive-inspired volume through the top sections. The second is her longer than average loose face framing stands that have been intentionally left out,' adds Smith.
But the Skims founder's take on the nostalgic hairdo comes with an 21st Century twist. 'Traditionally, a bouffant would have been much more structured, with a lot of backcombing and a very set finish. Kim’s version feels softer and more wearable. You still get that beautiful silhouette and height, but the texture is less rigid, which makes it feel more modern,' notes Conor Mclaughlin, stylist at Hershesons.
'The half-up finish also makes it feel a little more relaxed than a traditional, fully set bouffant. It’s that contrast between structure and softness that makes retro hair feel relevant again. You’re taking the best part of a classic hairstyle and removing anything that feels too stiff or overworked,' Mclaughlin adds.
Smith concurs and says the style has been modernised with its unpolished texture. 'It's quite gritty looking, which is always going to feel more useful, relaxed and undone. She's also exaggerated the contrast so she's got a longer than average length, longer than average strands left down around the face, and slightly more volume at the top compared to the tightest part around the temples.'
It's this combination of contrasting elements, the softness running through the lengths, and the crown-like puffed-up volume that helps to lift the face, which lends the looks its mass appeal.
If you want to hit copy paste, start with day two hair that has some grit to gain control. Use a texturising spray or styling powder if your hair is too soft, smooth or fluffy. With the foundation set, take a section at the crown and gently backcomb underneath to create some support, then smooth the surface over so you don’t lose that polished finish. Then, trace a line from the top of your cheekbones, over the top of your ear, and to the back of your head, close to your crown, and loosely gather the hair above this line before securing with pins. Ensure you keep a little height rather than pulling it completely flat. Finally, release a few of strands to frame the face and use a wand to roughly wave the ends. Trust us, it's simpler than you think.
Shop: The soft bouffant toolkit
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, working across all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).
Like this? Get more Grazia content straight to your browser. Click here to add Grazia as a preferred source on Google.