Crimping is back, but it’s not the crunchy, fried look of your middle school dance. Today’s version is a deliberate texture tool, used to add volume, grab light, and give straight hair a little attitude without the 80s commitment.
This collection of 25 Crimped Hairstyles covers the full spectrum, from full-head crimps to subtle sections woven into ponytails and braids. Whether your hair is fine or thick, long or shoulder-length, there’s a way to make this trend work for you. If your hair tends to fall flat by midday, crimping is the fix you’ve been looking for.
Mid-Back Blonde Hair With Defined Crimps
There’s a reason this crimp stops traffic: it’s uniform, sharp, and runs from root to end without a single wave breaking rank. The blonde base with a subtle root shadow gives the texture depth, so the zig-zag pattern reads clearly instead of blending into a blur. Thick hair keeps each crimp crisp and defined rather than collapsing into frizz.
This mid-back blonde crimped hair suits those with thick, long strands and a round face, since the middle part and length below the chin work to elongate. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length, full head of defined crimps, subtle root shadow. The style holds its shape for a full day, though you’ll want a small-barrel crimping iron to refresh the bends come evening.
Ash Blonde Mid-Back Crimped Texture
The trick to this ash blonde crimped texture is in the uniformity: every section is pressed into the same zig-zag, creating a rhythmic pattern that adds volume without looking chaotic. The cool, muted tone of the ash blonde keeps the texture from feeling too retro, grounding it in a modern, almost graphic aesthetic. Thick, long hair shows off the pattern’s full effect.
If your face is oval or square, this style will balance proportions nicely, especially with the middle part drawing the eye downward. Ask your colorist for: mid-back length, full head of uniform zig-zag crimps, ash blonde. A root lift spray at the scalp enhances the volume, and a trim every 8-10 weeks keeps the ends healthy and the pattern sharp.
Voluminous Mid-Back Blonde Crimp
How much volume is too much? When it comes to this heavily crimped blonde, the answer is more. The mid-back length is pressed into a dense, wavy texture that stands away from the head, a nod to the 1980s but with a cleaner finish.
- Start with a large barrel crimper on dry hair, working in small sections from root to tip.
- Layer a texturizing spray through the lengths to lock in the bends.
- Finish by gently shaking the roots with your fingers to maximize lift.
This style suits thick, long hair and adds welcome width to longer face shapes. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length, voluminous and heavy crimp, middle parting. A dry shampoo refresh keeps the volume going for a second day.
Fine Mid-Back Red To Orange Ombré
Set this against a subtle, single-tone crimp, and the difference is night and day: the red to orange ombré injects a fiery energy that the zig-zag texture amplifies. The vibrant transition from deep red at the roots to bright orange at the ends gives fine hair an illusion of thickness, as each crimp reflects light differently. That said, the bold color is not for the shy, and the ombré requires upkeep to keep the orange from fading to a dull copper.
Fine, long hair is the right candidate here, as the crimping adds body without weighing it down. Ask your colorist for: mid-back length, crimped root to tip, red to orange ombré. A fine-tooth comb can separate the crimps for extra definition, and a light serum adds shine without flattening the texture.
Thick Wavy Mid-Back Blonde Brown Blend
Wondering how to ask for a crimp that looks modern instead of theatrical? Start with the details: this style crimps only the mid-lengths and ends, leaving the roots smooth, which keeps the look wearable. The blend of blonde and brown tones adds dimension, so the zig-zag pattern shows up as texture rather than a solid block.
This suits thick, wavy hair and most face shapes, with the curtain bangs softening the forehead and framing the eyes. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length, crimped sections mid-length to ends, blonde and brown blend. Use a wide-tooth comb to gently separate the crimps for a softer finish, and expect a trim every 6-8 weeks to maintain the shape and the bangs.
Thick Wavy Mid-Back Dark Brown With Showing A Side View
The wavy pattern here is the point, and on thick dark brown hair it holds its shape without a fight. A middle part and length below the chin elongate a round face, so this suits anyone who wants a little more vertical line. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length, full head of defined crimps, dark brown with subtle highlights. A volumizing mousse at the roots keeps the crimp from drooping by midday, but skip heavy conditioners that will flatten the wave. A trim every eight weeks keeps the ends from fraying.
Thick Straight Reddish Blonde Full Crimp
Building a full crimp on thick straight hair means working in small sections, about an inch wide, and clamping each one for a few seconds before moving up. The reddish blonde base catches the zig-zag pattern clearly, which is exactly what you want from a back view. A middle part keeps the symmetry honest. Ask your colorist for: mid-back length, full head of crimped texture, reddish blonde. Smooth the roots with a boar bristle brush before you start, so the texture begins at the ear and not at the scalp. A trim every six to eight weeks keeps the shape sharp.
The hold on thick hair is the good news: it stays put for a full day, even in humidity. A heat protectant before the crimper is required, and a light hairspray at the end seals the pattern without making it stiff.
Fine Mid-Back Light Brown Full Crimps
Fine hair usually resists texture, but a full head of distinct crimps gives it instant body and a visible grip. The light brown color keeps the pattern readable without looking harsh, and the long layers let the crimps move as one piece. This one genuinely suits fine, straight hair that tends to fall flat by the afternoon. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length, full head of distinct crimps, light brown. A volumizing spray at the roots helps the crimp hold its shape longer, and a texturizing spray on the mid-lengths adds friction so the zig-zags stay defined. A trim every eight weeks keeps the ends from splitting.
Because fine hair is lighter, the crimp holds well for most of the day, but you will want to refresh the ends with a quick touch-up before evening plans. A bit of dry shampoo at the roots can also revive the volume without weighing things down.
Thick Mid-Back Dark Brown Geometric Crimps
The geometric pattern adds a sharp edge to thick dark brown hair, and the middle part keeps the symmetry exact. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length, horizontal crimped sections, geometric pattern, dark brown. This is a salon job, not a DIY: a small crimping tool with sectioning clips gives you the precision it needs, and the straight fall below the crimps is what sells the contrast.
Fine Mid-Back Dark Brown Lower Crimps, Straight
What if you want the texture without committing to the whole head? Crimping only the lower sections is the workday-friendly answer. On fine dark brown hair, the crimped ends add volume and movement while the top stays sleek, which keeps the whole thing modern. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length, crimped ends only, dark brown. A smoothing serum on the top half keeps it flat and polished, while a texturizing spray on the ends helps the crimp hold. The drawback: on fine hair, the crimp can drop by late afternoon, so a quick touch-up with the tool on the ends takes about ten minutes.
Sleek Fine Ash Blonde Crimped Sections
To achieve this at home, section the hair into narrow strips and use a small-barrel crimper, clamping each piece from root to tip for a uniform, controlled finish. A light-hold spray brushed through the ends keeps the pattern defined and the flyaways down, so the look stays polished rather than playful. The middle parting keeps the whole thing feeling modern and architectural, not nostalgic.
Blonde Hair Half Crimped Style
Wondering how to get that one-sided crimped effect without looking like you ran out of time? Ask for exactly what you see here: the hair is crimped on one side only, while the other side stays smooth and straight, creating a deliberate contrast that reads as fashion-forward rather than accidental. This works best on long, straight hair with a middle parting, so the difference in texture is obvious and intentional. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length, crimped on one side only, straight blonde hair. When styling at home, clip off the smooth side first, crimp the other in even sections, then let the straight side fall naturally over the shoulder.
Mid-Back Brown Blonde Highlights Tight Crimp
Set a tight crimp against a looser wave and the difference is immediate: the zig-zag pattern catches every highlight, making the brown and blonde blend look almost metallic, while a soft wave would blur those tones together. This tight, all-over crimp is best on long hair that can handle the visual weight, and it gives fine or medium textures a serious volume boost that lasts through the day. Ask your colorist for: mid-back length, tight crimp all over, brown with blonde highlights. To keep the shine high, run a drop of serum through the lengths after crimping, and book a trim every six to eight weeks to keep the ends looking crisp.
Long Ash Blonde Crimped Texture
This is crimping for people who want volume without the 80s flashback: a consistent crimped texture from root to tip that reads as wavy and textured rather than crunchy. It suits medium-density hair that can carry the fullness, and it works especially well on ash blonde, where the cool tone keeps the zig-zag pattern looking modern instead of retro. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length, consistent crimped texture, ash blonde. If your hair is on the finer side, a root-boosting spray before crimping gives the lift a head start, and a flexible hold spray over the finished style keeps the texture in place without stiffening it.
Shoulder Length Wavy Crimped With Curtain Bangs
How does crimped texture hold up on shoulder-length hair with curtain bangs? The key is that the bangs stay smooth and the crimp starts below them, so the style keeps a soft, face-framing shape instead of turning into a helmet of zig-zags. This cut suits medium-density hair, and the curtain bangs soften the jawline, which is a plus for square or round face shapes. Ask your stylist for: shoulder length, crimped texture, curtain bangs, brown with blonde highlights. To maintain it, blow-dry the bangs with a round brush for that curved shape, then spray a texturizing product on the crimped lengths to keep the pattern defined without weighing them down.
Thick Wavy Black Shoulder Length Crimp
A deep crimp on thick, wavy black hair is less about a subtle texture and more about committing to the zigzag. The technique involves clamping small sections from root to tip, which on shoulder-length layers creates a voluminous, almost geometric pattern that holds its shape well into the evening. This black shoulder length crimped style suits those with naturally thick, wavy hair, as the added volume can make fine strands look fuller. Ask your stylist for: shoulder length, deep crimp texture, layers. A volumizing mousse applied before blow-drying helps the crimped waves hold their definition longer.
Thick Wavy Dark Brown Collarbone Bob
Wondering how to get those loose, crimped waves without looking like you raided a 1980s music video? The key is asking for a collarbone-length bob with deep, consistent crimped waves, not a tight zigzag all over. On thick, wavy dark brown hair, loose crimping creates a textured, lived-in wave that softens square and round faces. Ask your stylist for: collarbone length bob, deep crimped waves. The one real drawback is the styling time: a small crimping iron on thick hair takes patience, and you will want a sea salt spray to keep the waves from falling flat.
Collarbone Bob Brown Blonde Highlights
Compared to a solid dark color, crimping hair with blonde highlights adds a layer of dimension that a single shade cannot match. The crimped texture catches the lighter pieces, making the medium brown base and blonde highlights stand out as separate, distinct strands. On a collarbone-length bob with thick, wavy hair, the middle parting keeps the look grounded. Ask your colorist for: medium brown with blonde highlights, crimped texture. A shine spray enhances the contrast between the tones, and a trim every eight weeks keeps the bob’s ends from looking ragged.
Long Black Hair With Deep Side Part
A deep side part on long, black hair instantly changes the geometry of a full crimp, giving the voluminous texture a deliberate, angular focus. The crimped waves run from root to tip, and the side part lifts the hair at the crown, which suits those with longer face shapes by adding width at the sides. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length, prominent crimped texture, deep side part. A texturizing spray at the roots helps maintain the lift, and the style holds its shape for a full day, though you may need to refresh the crimp with a quick pass of the iron if you plan to wear it overnight.
Dark Brown Ponytail With Crimped Sections
A low ponytail gains a lot of personality when you crimp only sections of it, not the whole head. The technique involves crimping the hair near the crown and letting those textured pieces cascade down, which on dark brown, thick, wavy hair creates a controlled but visually busy look. Ask your stylist for: low ponytail, crimped sections. A flexible hold spray keeps the crimped pieces from separating into frizz, and the style works best on mid-back length hair where the ponytail can show off the texture. It is a practical way to wear the trend without committing to a full crimp.
Thick Black Crimped Ponytail
Wondering how to get that full crimped texture without the 80s flashback? This low ponytail keeps the zig-zag pattern along the length while the side parting adds lift on one side, so the style looks modern, not retro. It suits thick, mid-back length hair best, since dense strands hold the crimp shape longer. Ask your stylist for: low ponytail, crimped texture, side parting. A salon can set the crimps evenly with a crimping iron, then secure the tail with a strong elastic. This is not a quick DIY: expect about an hour in the chair, but the hold lasts through a full day of activity.
Fine Medium Brown Ponytail With Braids
Compared to thicker hair, fine strands often lose a crimp within a few hours, but this high ponytail works around that by concentrating the crimped sections on the tail and adding braided accents near the crown. The medium brown base with subtle highlights gives the braids definition, while the fine texture keeps the overall style light. Ask your stylist for: high ponytail, crimped tail, braided accents. Braids near the crown add intricate detail and also help grip the hair, so the ponytail stays put. For upkeep, a light hairspray on the braids keeps flyaways down, and the style holds well for a long event or a playful night out.
Light Brown Ponytail With Crimped Strands
The design here is clever: distinct crimped sections woven through a high ponytail create a textured contrast against the smoother strands, so the eye moves through the style. This works best on medium density, long hair, where the crimped pieces have enough weight to hang properly. Ask your stylist for: high ponytail, crimped sections, light brown with highlights. The main drawback is longevity: crimped strands can develop flyaways as the day goes on, especially if the hair is fine or the humidity is high. A strong-hold hairspray helps, but you may need to touch up a few pieces by mid-afternoon.
Shoulder Length Blonde Crimped Braids
Three distinct crimped braids transition into a low ponytail while the rest of the hair stays straight, giving shoulder-length blonde a double texture that catches the eye. The crimped braids add detail and also keep the hair manageable, which makes this a solid pick for a festival or a playful event where you want the style to last. Ask your stylist for: three crimped braids into a low ponytail. The braids are set with a crimping iron before they are woven, so the zig-zag pattern holds even as the braid moves. Mist with hairspray to keep the braids crisp, and the style stays intact through hours of dancing.
Mid-Back Blonde Balayage Fishtail Braid
Is a fishtail braid worth the effort on long, wavy hair? Yes, when it is half-up and the rest of the waves are left loose, because the braid shows off the blonde balayage while the wavy texture keeps the style from looking too done. This suits thick, wavy mid-back length hair best, since the braid needs enough weight to sit properly and the waves give the loose sections body. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length, half-up fishtail braid, blonde balayage. To maintain the look, you will want a texturizing spray to enhance the waves and a light oil to smooth the braid ends. Gently pull apart the braid sections for a fuller, boho feel.
Final Thoughts
For fine hair, tighter, more defined crimps create the illusion of fullness. Thick hair can handle looser, broader crimps for a more controlled texture. Whatever your hair type, match the crimp size to your density for the best hold.
- Use a crimping iron designed for your hair type, adjusting heat as needed.
- Apply a heat protectant spray before using heated tools.
- For lasting crimps, use a strong-hold hairspray after styling.
- Let crimped hair cool completely before touching to set the texture.
Embrace the crimp for a bold, textured statement.
