The Pouf Hairstyle Is Officially Back—Here Are 12 Ways to Try the Look

The 2000s provided plenty of beauty inspiration—from chunky French manicures to frosted eyeshadow and quintessential Y2K hairstyles like the spiky bun. Everything Y2K is swinging back into style, and as the trend cycle continues to churn, the pouf has inevitably made its way back into the beauty lexicon.

Created by pinning your teased bangs or face-framing layers back into a voluminous bouffant at the front of your hairline, this popular noughties style was popularized by the likes of Beyoncé, Hilary Duff, Paris Hilton, and—most famously—Snooki. Now, we’re seeing a resurgence of the Y2K pouf on today’s it-girls with modern twists like adding texture, playing with height, and slicking it back for a wet-look hairstyle. To help inspire, we’ve rounded up the best poufs of today that incorporate everything from hair accessories to swept-back updo styles. Keep scrolling for 12 looks that modernize the 2000s pouf hairstyle without compromising its true identity.

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Barette Pouf

Hair queen Matilda Djerf nearly broke the internet when she debuted this voluminous pouf accessorized with a blue, bedazzled barrette. She paired the toned-down pouf with sleek, under-flipped layers for maximum noughties goodness.

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Classic Pouf

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley exemplifies the “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” mindset, styling her pouf much like we did in the 2000s. Secure the pulled-back strands with bobby pins or a mini claw clip.

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Curly Pouf

Play up your hair’s texture by pinning your pouf to highlight the most voluminous bends of your curl pattern. Secure the look with your favorite bobby pins, or follow Simone Ashley’s lead by adding snap clips—a staple hair accessory of the late ’90s and early 2000s.

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Baby Pouf

Trendsetter Bella Hadid rocked a teeny-tiny version of the Y2K pouf, leaving out a few side-bang pieces to frame her face.

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Bouffant Pouf

Keke Palmer serves up Memphis glamor à la Priscilla Presley with this dramatic look. To differentiate this updo from a classic bouffant, place your pouf closer to your hairline rather than at the crown of your head.

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Ribbon Pouf

Bows and ribbon hairstyles are all the rage right now, and Florence Pugh got in on the trend. The simple black ribbon elevates the Y2K pouf to a romantic look perfect for date night and beyond.

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Slicked-Back Pouf

Sleek and chic is the name of the game with Nicola Peltz Beckham’s slicked-back look. For a flyaway-free slick-back, run a hair-smoothing balm stick like Emi Jay’s Angelstick ($38) over your pouf.

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Tousled Pouf

If you have a short haircut with bangs, poufs are a chic half-up, half-down hairstyle to try. This piecey, voluminous take leans edgy, with slicked-back sides and a distinctly wet look.

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Updo Pouf

Kerry Washington tops off her dramatic, glam updo with a Y2K-worthy that extends from her hairline to the base of the bun. It’s giving us major wedding hairstyle inspiration.

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Bouncy Pouf

Bouncy blowouts are a hot request at salons everywhere these days. When paired with a pouf, you get a positively flirty result reminiscent of a supermodel.

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Swooped Pouf

Who said that your pouf has to be voluminous to make an impact? Ruth Wilson’s bump sits close to her head yet stands out with a sculptural swoop. Slicked sides highlight the details, emphasizing the movement of the strategically placed strands.

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Half Ponytail Pouf

High ponytails are preppy, adorable, and oh so Y2K. First, tease the section of hair you plan to include in your pouf. Then, pull back the strands and secure them with an elastic hair band. Tighten the ponytail holder to create a perkier pony, and style your baby hair to complete the look.