‘Cloud Curls’ Are Trending—and They’re Even Hotter Than the Weather Forecast

Summer’s humid temperatures don’t mean that you have to retire your free-flowing curls. Quite the opposite, in fact, now that “cloud curls” are having a moment.

According to hairstylist Tom Smith, who originally coined the trend, cloud curls refer to the “curved, light, and airy texture of the curls.” They should intentionally form “a halo of gentle volume,” he continues. “They’re less about defined ringlets and more about diffused texture and natural expansion. The look is ethereal and floaty.”

As low-maintenance as they are chic, it’s this diffused quality that sets cloud curls apart from other curl styles. “Regular curls often follow a tighter or more structured pattern, but cloud curls are intentionally soft-focus, with less control and more air,” Smith says. “Typically, cloud curls are short enough that the silhouette remains rounded with a good amount of root lift and no obvious parting.”

Why are cloud curls having a moment right now?

Tom alerted us to cloud curls last year, but the hair trend has really gained steam in recent weeks, with celebrities like Miley Cyrus increasingly leaning into the look.

Some of its appeal may be seasonal, because hair tends to naturally fluff up in summery temperatures, and we can’t be bothered to use unnecessary heat to try to tame it.

“But it’s also part of a bigger move toward individuality and freedom in how we wear our hair,” Tom notes. “We’re slowly stepping away from hyper-glossy, over-controlled hair and leaning into something gentler, and more free. Cloud curls feel emotional and romantic, and they really speak to the authenticity of textured hair.”

In other words, rather than scoop your curls into a low bun—or fight your natural texture with straighteners—cloud curls are all about embracing that gorgeous halo of soft, fluffy curls. Better still, Tom says he’s seeing people with all curl types embracing cloud curls.