Cloud curls , it started like most slightly unhinged beauty trends do, on TikTok. One day you’re scrolling through clips of cats in sunglasses, the next you’re being bombarded by girls with hair so big it threatens to disrupt air traffic.
Welcome to the Cloud Curl era.
A hybrid of ‘I woke up like this’ effortlessness and ‘I spent two hours with a curling wand’ dedication, cloud curls are what happens when volume, softness, and a whole lot of hot air (literally) collide.
But before you toss your silk bonnet aside and start teasing your roots like it’s 1987, let’s unpack what cloud curls are, how they’re done, and most importantly, should you even care?
What Are Cloud Curls?
Imagine your curls took a vacation to the fluffiest corner of a cumulus cloud. Cloud curls are ultra-light, bouncy, voluminous curls that look soft enough to sleep on and dramatic enough to be spotted from space.
They demand attention; whether from onlookers, or from your scalp screaming, “Girl, again with the diffuser?!”
Why Is Everyone Suddenly Obsessed?
Because…the internet.
But also because cloud curls tap into that holy trinity of hair goals: texture, softness, and the illusion that you’re just naturally this fabulous.
Let’s not pretend: cloud curls are extra. But then again, aren’t we all?
How To Get Cloud Curls (Without Summoning The Hair Gods)
You’ll need patience, a bit of technique, and a few products that don’t smell like chemical warfare. Here’s the usual roadmap:
Start With Clean, Moisturized Hair
Use a hydrating shampoo and a deeply nourishing conditioner with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, and panthenol. Dry curls will lead to sad, flat curls.
Apply a Curl Cream or Mousse
This step is critical. You want volume without stiffness. Lightweight mousse or curl-defining creams work best.
Use The Diffuser
Flip your head, pray to the curl gods, and diffuse with a medium heat. Lift from the roots. Don’t touch while drying. That’s how the fluff stays intact.
Tease If You Dare
Take a wide-tooth comb or pick and gently fluff the roots or aggressively fluff, depending on your risk appetite and whether you need the drama.
Seal With A Lightweight Oil
A dab of oil keeps frizz at bay and adds shine. You want cloud, not frizz-ball.
What About Hair Fall?
Let’s talk turkey or in this case, shedding.
Over-styling, over-diffusing, over-manipulating, these are all triggers for hair fall, especially if you have fine, damaged, or chemically treated hair. If your hair is already crying for help, cloud curls might not be your savior. They could, in fact, be the final betrayal.
Do cloud curls once in a while. Use a bond-building mask like Olaplex No. 3 or a DIY rice water rinse weekly to maintain strength and elasticity.
The Final Verdict: Are Cloud Curls Worth It?
If you love drama, live for compliments, and don’t mind a bit of extra maintenance, go forth and fluff. But if your idea of hair care includes dry shampoo and denial, maybe stick to your loose ponytail or braid.
At the end of the day, cloud curls are a statement. Whether that statement is “I’m the moment” or “my arms hurt from diffusing for 45 minutes,” is entirely up to you.
