Calling All Millennials: ‘Topanga Hair’ Is Trending

If you’re a millennial, you no doubt are familiar with Topanga Lawrence’s iconic hairdo. It’s the that bouncy blowout from Boy Meets World that people are still chasing today. Even though I wear my hair curly 98 percent of the time, there’s something about a voluminous blowout that will have me jumping into the salon chair. So how does one exactly get what the internet has dubbed ‘Topanga Hair’? I tapped two hairstylists for tips for getting the look.

• Jennifer Korab is a celebrity hairstylist and owner of Renaissance Salon in New Jersey. She has 26 years of experience working in commercial, runway and editorial spaces. She is certified in all coloring techniques, haircutting and hand-tied extensions.
• Laurie Heaps is a celebrity hairstylist and brand ambassador for Redken. She specializes in cutting, coloring and styling. She is best known for creating the iconic Topanga cut in the '90s and Sabrina Carpenter’s iconic fringe. Her work has also been featured in red carpet events and TV shows like Friends and Still Standing. Her clients include Sabrina Carpenter, Rowan Blanchard and Barbie Ferreira. 

It’s no surprise that ‘90s hairstyles continue to be popular, from the Bixie to the Rachel. When it comes to ‘Topanga Hair,’ the voluminous blowout actually went by another name—simply: "fluffy hair"—back in 2021, but the style has been circulating again on TikTok. “It’s nostalgic but wearable. The look has a softness and ease people are drawn to—it feels put-together without looking overdone. It also flatters a wide range of hair types and face shapes,” says Heaps. One viral clip said it best: “Girls don’t want boys, they want Topanga hair from Boy Meets World.” Noted.

The styling is one thing, but it all starts with the haircut. (Just don’t go out of your way in cutting your hair like Topanga did in that one episode with Cory.) Ask your stylist for soft, blended layers that frame the face and create natural movement. Korab adds, “Ask for a mid-length cut that falls just past the shoulders, with volume at the crown and ends that flip out slightly. Also mention that you’d like a smooth, polished finish with a center part to capture the effortless, bouncy vibe. Use words like ‘retro blowout,’ ‘face-framing layers’ and ‘soft volume’ can help convey the look you’re after." 

If you want to attempt the look at home, Fishel spilled the deets about her Topanga hair on an episode of her podcast Pod Meets World. It was actually a three-hour process every time she was on set and the secret was Richard Caruso hair rollers (which still exist today). 

The experts I interviewed share some helpful tips to achieving it at home, too. It starts with washing your hair with a volumizing shampoo and lightweight conditioner. Heaps adds, “Focus on building volume without thinning out the ends and treat hair in order to maintain strength and shine.” Then prep your hair with a leave-in conditioner (or mousse) and heat protectant before using your hair tool of choice.

Speaking of hair tools, you can use a round brush and blow dryer to do a voluminous look. Or consider a blow dryer brush (my personal favorite is a Dyson Airwrap), which has become a secret weapon in achieving Topanga hair. Start by sectioning your hair and wrapping each section around the tool, lifting at the crown before flipping the ends outwards. The stylists recommend adding velcro rollers or a 1.25 inch curling iron for even more volume. Just remember to let your hair cool down before brushing each section out with a paddle brush and applying hairspray to set everything in place. A stylist tip: “Flip your head upside down for volume and then settle the shape with your hands,” says Heaps.

Influencer Matilda Djerf offers a ton of Topanga hair ideas, but this chic updo caught my attention. The tousled bun still maintains volume, while the face-framing pieces elevates the look.