Thanks to rising musicians like Sombr (and many who came before him), embracing and flaunting classic curly hair is once again a hallmark of the musical heartthrob du jour.
The typical heartthrob curly mop, tousled just right and full of volume, has been seen on a variety of celebrities throughout the years, including Corbin Bleu, Kit Harrington, and Bad Bunny. Without a doubt, it always returns in style. It’s a trend that seems to resurface every decade like clockwork — and we’re all for it. “Curls tumbling into the face can give the appearance of mystery, nonchalance, and being deep, sensitive, and reckless all at the same time — all the important things hair should do,” says celebrity hairstylist Kevin Ryan to Teen Vogue.
“Textured hair is just flattering,” says Andrea Pezzillo, celebrity men’s groomer, hairstylist, and author of Curly Confidence. “The movement and volume that comes with curly or wavy hair balances face shape, hides thinning, and just adds personality.”
The early 2000s saw the apex of many famous beauty fads, including the curly hair obsession. In 2005, the look became a defining trait of several teen heartthrobs, including High School Musical’s Corbin Bleu, The Jonas Brothers’ Nick Jonas, John Tucker Must Die’s and Gossip Girl’s Penn Badgley. However, the style eventually faded into the background, to be replaced by straighter, sleeker styles—most famously, Justin Bieber’s characteristic swoop, which every teenage male attempted to copy.
Ten years later, however, the curly mop made a spectacular return. Boyband heartthrobs like Harry Styles, as well as performers like Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington and Misfits’ Robert Sheehan, embraced the hairstyle, reintroducing it to the hair zeitgeist.
Now, in 2025, the cycle has spun again, and the curly mop is officially back — and we’re here to celebrate all over again. Timothée Chalamet may have just buzzed off (a moment of silence please), but his signature black curls are thought to have launched this new trend of curly-haired heartthrobs. Stars such as Bad Bunny and Sombr have sought the swoon-worthy style. Dylan Bachelet, a Great British Bake Off season 12 contestant, stole the evening with his locks. Chris Briney from The Summer I Turned Pretty has also grown out his honey-colored waves, which are dangerously near to curly hair.
While the curly mop may appear to be a high-maintenance option, it can also be a breeze once you establish the proper regimen. “Once a curly cut has been perfected and the right product routine has been found for that individual, it can be a low-maintenance look,” Ryan explains.
Ryan and Pezzillo both recommend using a high-quality diffuser and experimenting with various products to obtain the ideal curly mop. “Curl creams, leave-in conditioners, foams, salt sprays, and hairsprays are all products that can be used, depending on the style someone is going for,” according to Pezzillo.
Here’s hope that heartthrobs never cut off their curly locks—long live the mop!
