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Whether your hair is already thick or you want to volumise thinner, less dense strands, a bouncy cut and the right styling are ideal for emphasising your hair’s movement and body.
The looks in this guide are versatile and easy to achieve with the expertise of your hairdresser, the right hair tools, and a little effort on your part.
Read on for CLOUD NINE’s tips, style advice, and product recommendations to help you achieve your biggest, bounciest hair yet.
1. THE BOUNCY BOB
If you’re looking for a bouncy short hairstyle that’s chic and trendy, look no further than the bouncy bob. This cut proves that short hair doesn’t have to lack volume and body.
When styled correctly, a simple bob – whether blunt or layered – can pack a big punch. To add texture for that signature bouncy hair feel, spritz your hair all over with CLOUD NINE’s Magical Quick Dry Potion, then use the Slim Iron in a curved motion from root to tip to create a rounded effect. After each pass with the straightener, take the piece you just styled and wrap it around a roller until cooled, to perfect that bouncy, round shape.
2. THE KITTY CUT
The kitty cut is one of the latest haircuts to take social media by storm. It’s defined by soft, round layers – perfect for creating a hair look with real bounce. The kitty is more sleek and refined than its animal-named cousin – the wolf cut – and has been spotted on celebs including Suki Waterhouse and Emily Ratajkowski. It’s the perfect bouncy mid-length hairstyle.
The cut itself is only half the job. Creating a bouncy kitty cut is all about the styling. You’ll need the CLOUD NINE Airshot Pro, a round brush, and a generous spray of Magical Quick Dry Potion to keep your new bouncy hair healthy and shiny.
If your blow-drying skills aren’t quite up to scratch, you can create a similar effect using the 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro’s curved plates and a rounded motion while straightening.
3. THE BOUNCY SHAG
The shag haircut is synonymous with the ‘70s, when rockers and fashion icons braved increasingly short, dense, and defined layers to stand out from the crowd.
However, if left unstyled, even the most layered of shags can flop flat. To bring out the bounce in your modern shag hair, enhance it with flicks and twists for the illusion of even more volume. The CLOUD NINE 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro is the perfect tool for the job. Its curved plates make it easy to add rounded, curved details that enhance shags of any length and texture. Go bigger and bouncier by using the Luxury Texture Comb to gently tease your hair at the roots, then apply a texturising salt spray.
4. THE OCTOPUS CUT
Mid or shoulder-length hair looks gorgeous when styled bouncy as it frames the face perfectly. One trending look that takes advantage of this is the Octopus haircut. This style is defined by volume at the crown and flicked-up ends. It takes inspiration from retro choppy layered styles like the mullet and the shag but is softer, more refined, and – most importantly – bouncy. The Octopus is often paired with a long, cheek-grazing fringe, providing oodles of texture from front to back.
Show off your octopus cut with bouncy styling courtesy of the Airshot Pro hair dryer. After applying a generous spray of Quick Dry Magical Potion, tip your head upside down and use the Airshot Pro to dry your roots, building in lift. Once your roots are dry, bring your head back up and use a round brush to create body while drying your lengths. Once finished, define neat upwards flicks at the end of your hair with the Curling Wand.
5. THE BIG BOUNCY BLOWOUT
Bouncy blow-dries never go out of style. This timeless classic can finish off a glamorous, movie star-inspired, formal look, or just elevate your everyday style.
To create a classic bouncy blowout, you’ll need Quick Dry Magical Potion heat protectant, the CLOUD NINE Airshot Pro hair dryer, and a thick-barrelled round brush. Whatever your hair type, start with clean, dry and moisturised hair – Magical Remedy makes a great leave-in conditioner. Next, apply your heat protectant and let your hair partially air-dry – this will speed up the blow-dry process.
Start blow-drying using the Airshot Pro’s precise drying nozzle and your round brush in an upwards motion at the roots to create lift, and then in a downwards, rounded motion throughout the lengths. Add an extra little flick under to the ends using your round brush. Set everything with a cold blast of air from the Cool Shot button for that finishing shine.
Struggling to master the blow-dried look on your hair type? Consult our other guide, How to Master a Big Bouncy Blow-Dry at Home, for our professional tips.
6. THE ‘70s FEATHERED CUT
The second ‘70s throwback on this bouncy haircut list is the feathered cut, a staple of retro icon Farrah Fawcett’s signature glamorous style. But bouncy, feathered hair can also be modern.
As always, start with a spritz of Quick Dry Magical Potion. Use the Curling Wand to curl each strand of your hair up, out and away from your face. Tipping your head upside down can make it easier to reach the back – but make sure to wear a heat-proof protective glove to avoid accidentally burning your fingers. Put each strand into a wide roller after curling and let it cool to get a wide and dramatic flicked curl.
The beauty of this bouncy hairstyle is that it doesn’t need to be neat and tidy – Farrah often wore her feathered cut big and tousled with no defined shape. You can also use your straightener to create flicks at the end of your feathered layers – any CLOUD NINE model works, but the 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro’s unique curved plates are ideal for adding that bouncy texture.
7. THE BUTTERFLY CUT
The bouncy butterfly haircut has recently been popularised by pop star Sabrina Carpenter. The centre-parted layers are said to resemble a butterfly spreading its wings, and its heavy layers create a luxurious feeling of density. This look is symmetrical and sultry with a long fringe that can be styled either into curtain bangs or swept to one side for versatility.
To style your butterfly cut, you’ll need a round brush, the Airshot Pro hair dryer, and confidence in your blow-drying skills. If you don’t have time to do a classic blowout, you can achieve the same big, round waves and flicks by using a curling motion with the Wide Iron. Whichever method you choose, don’t forget to apply Quick Dry Magical Potion first to ensure your butterfly cut stays as bouncy and healthy as ever.
8. BOUNCY MERMAID WAVES
A rounded, layered blow-dry isn’t the only option to achieve big bouncy hair. If blow-drying isn’t your thing, try a different look that adds texture: deep, structured mermaid waves.
The great thing about mermaid waves is you don’t need to change up your cut to add complicated layers to achieve a bouncy look – they work perfectly well on blunt, V, or U-style cuts, so it’s ideal for if you only want to go big and bouncy every once in a while.
Triple barrel curlers – also known as waving irons – are ideal for creating the bouncy, sculpted waves that define this look, but if you don’t have any on hand, the 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro can also work wonders. After spritzing with our Magical Quick Dry Potion to protect your shine, hold the iron down on one part of your hair, then release, flip it around, and repeat slightly lower, creating alternating curves in and out throughout the lengths of your hair. When all your hair is successfully waved, scrunch a texturising salt spray or mousse throughout to give your new bouncy look extra texture and hold.
For more tips to create your perfect bouncy wave, check out our guide on How to Create Waves.
9. LONG HAIR WITH BOUNCY LAYERS
For another blow-dry-free bouncy hair method, you can add instant volume with a long, layered haircut. Layers of multiple lengths give the hair depth and dimension and can create the illusion that your already long hair is even longer and thicker.
Make sure to talk to your hairdresser, and make it clear that your goal is to achieve thicker, bouncier hair. They will be able to advise you on the best kind of layered look to achieve volume with your hair type, thickness and density.
The Wide Iron and the Curling Iron are the perfect tool duo for styling long hair with bouncy layers, providing you with the versatility to wear them straight and smooth, or big and bouncy. Whichever you choose, spritz a generous amount of Quick Dry Magical Potion over your hair first to protect it from heat and nourish your shine. The Luxury Dressing Brush is ideal for ensuring no hair is out of place.
BOUNCY HAIR: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What haircut makes hair look bouncy?
There are many haircuts that create the illusion of bouncy, thick hair – from long, textured layers to a blunt or choppy cut. It’s best to ask your hairdresser what style would work best with your hair type and texture if you want to make your hair look bouncier.
How can I make my hair look bouncy?
The keys to making your hair look bouncy lie in a combination of choosing the right haircut for your hair type and texture, and learning how to style your hair to emphasise its bounce and volume. Heated tools like the CLOUD NINE Airshot Pro hair dryer, 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro, and Wide Iron are essential items in a bouncy hair styling tool kit. We also recommend investing in a good quality round barrel brush, and some rollers.
How can I make my hair softer?
Having soft, well-nourished and healthy hair can be a massive help for creating volume and bounce. The best way to make your hair soft and supple is to keep the heat on your styling tools low and incorporate moisturising products into your routine. CLOUD NINE’s Magical Remedy is a convenient 3-in-1 product that can be used as a deep conditioner, hair mask, or leave-in conditioner treatment. Its nourishing ingredients help to repair and protect your strands, keeping them shiny and soft from styling session to styling session.
From big waves to textured blow-outs, bouncy, shiny hair is always in style. If it’s a look you want to channel, you can take inspiration from the tips in this blog to create a bouncy hairstyle that won’t compromise your hair health.
If you can’t get enough of our styling advice, hair health expertise, and tool recommendations, take a look at Styling Tips For Your Working Week Hair Routine, 9 Volumising Tips For Thin Hair, and How to Care For and Style Grey Hair.
Share your best bouncy looks on the CLOUD NINE socials, we love to see what you create: TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
