As a style, elegant twist and sophisticated French roll hairstyle badly is making a comeback in today’s fashion scene. The iconic updo remains popular today, but its infamy during the 1990s began with Black women’s love affair with the style for its versatility and chic elegance. In an era where French Roll was synonymous with class and refinement, the French roll came from options when Whitney Houston inspired women all over the world with her look from the ‘Waiting to Exhale’ film. This beloved hairstyle is back, not as a passing fad, but as a viable option for the style conscious of today.
The French roll’s appeal is in its forebear appeal of being both formally right and unexpectedly elastic considering different events. An elegantly twisted vertically twisted cone shape along the back of the head, ended with cascading curls that run down the body and a rose-shaped bun provides this updo a more personal flair. Renowned hairstylist Dontay Savoy, who has noted the French roll’s comeback over the years and has seen it return in the latest wave; Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Keke Palmer and Victoria Monet are all examples of stars who have carried the French roll torch in the last decade.
Its cultural impact extends beyond mere style. A celebration of individuality and identity, a multitude of which make up its many forms acts as a medium for personal expression. French roll comes in all styles from sleek and polished to braids and decorative clips; reinvent it any way you wish. It has also won over younger generations, reimagining this way on platforms such as TikTok.
Moreover, the French roll’s resurgence highlights a broader trend within fashion and beauty: revival of a retro styles with a contemporary twist. It’s not pure nostalgia—this is about trying to reengage with the past, even if that means mixing it with the present. This French roll trend exemplifies bridging the generations and placing timeless style in today’s trend, making it the perfect example of the current offshoot.
To this day, French roll is praised for its practicality. Such a hairstyle can last up to two weeks without restyling, say Savoy and other hair experts, if proper care is taken and styling is followed. It’s perfect for someone who wants low maintenance and stylish at the same time. Though it looks complicated, the French roll is actually done with so few tools: bobby pins and a good holding spray are all you need to keep it together.
One of the best things about this French roll is that it can easily fit all the way from short hairs to long hairs. However, for naturally kinky or curly haired people, the style affords them the chance to continue presenting a sleek and polished finish after a thorough wash, and straightening by the straightener or hair straightening iron. On the other hand, those with straight hair can make their aesthetic better by curling or adding tendrils to the face that give it depth and structure.
While it may sound difficult, the art of pulling that French roll off is simpler than it looks if you have the right tools and some practice. We’ll walk through the nitty gritty of how to get this timelessly chic look exactly right, so that be it a glamorous evening, or a chic daytime event, your French roll will have people turning to you to admire.
Let’s get your bake together starting with your supplies. You’ll need bobby pins in spades, a boar bristle brush to smooth things out and a trusty holding spray. However, if you’re hoping for a smooth look, you want to start with straightened hair, for instance, if your base hair type is curly or kinky. The ideal canvas for styling is a smooth, bone straight canvas.
Twist your hair into a low pony, leaving out any pieces you want to add for face framing tendrils or bangs. Until now, this has been a necessary first step towards the French roll’s signature twist. Once your ponytail is wrapped, pull it up and tuck ends into a roll. While creating this beautiful spiral, be generous with your bobby pins; you’re going to want to use them to secure the roll from the bottom and the top. The strength is always in the pins, so go crazy with them, there’s always too many that you can actually use.
For short hair, or for someone wanting additional volume, a ponytail extension can be a game changer. Upside down your braid, pull your hair upward and secure with pins. It’s safe to attach the extension. The extra volume you get from this additional volume not only makes your roll to be fuller looking, but it opens up the possibilities for a little bit more sophistication as well.
Next, it’s time to work on the details with your french roll in place. If you want to soften the overall look, simply curl the ends for face framing tendrils. Finish it off with a strong hold spray and just spray your updo with a strong hold spray—your updo will last all the way through your day or evening.
If you are looking to take the classic French roll to the next level there are plenty of contemporary takes to make yours your own. There’s a version for every taste whether a voluminous 90’s inspired roll or a chic half up twist. For instance, the half up style is the tradition art French roll with a special twist, great for proms, weddings. It has a unique silhouette, unique compared to the classic forms, and the extra volume around the back of the neck is utterly gorgeous.
The variations of the French roll allow you to play with various elements, with components from the style that you want to inject best. French roll comes with uninhibited versatility and equal amount of elegance whether you’re headed to a formal event or just metros running your daily routine.
Let French roll be reintroduced into your hairstyling arena and cherish its comeback. When you’ve truly become an expert of the art of this iconic updo, you quickly discover what it’s so irresistible about – its ability to transcend time, and its capacity to bring instant elegance and heightened sophistication to any look.
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