In the age of TikTok trends and viral beauty moments, it’s no surprise that nostalgia is once again taking center stage, this time with a hair trend that’s pure ’90s magic. Move over, “The Rachel” and goodbye, clean-girl slick buns, this summer, we’re falling hard for “The Topanga.”
Yes, that Topanga.
Played by Danielle Fishel in the cult-favorite Boy Meets World, Topanga Lawrence was more than just the show’s brainy, bohemian heartthrob. She was a fashion and beauty muse long before the term “It girl” was plastered across every social feed.
Her signature look?
Thick, bouncy blowouts with face-framing layers, kissed with that effortless ‘90s volume we’ve been trying to bottle ever since.
Now, 25 years after Boy Meets World aired its final episode (feel old yet?), Topanga’s iconic hair is having its renaissance. And, naturally, TikTok is at the helm of its revival. Users are embracing the voluminous, high-gloss blowout, turning their feeds into a cascade of nostalgia-soaked tutorials and odes to the character’s legendary style.
“It was so hot,” Danielle Fishel recalled on the Pod Meets World podcast in 2022, reminiscing about the hours it took and the glam squad required to achieve the Topanga look. But thanks to modern-day heroes like the Dyson Airwrap and an arsenal of volumizing sprays, recreating the look doesn’t have to demand a full salon setup. TikTok’s Gen Z and millennial beauty mavens are proving that big, romantic hair is both achievable and absolutely on-trend.
This resurgence is more than a mere retro nod, it signals a seismic shift in beauty’s collective mood. After years dominated by flat, slicked-back buns, minimalist middle parts, and “clean girl” aesthetics, maximalism is making a triumphant return.
Volume is in.
Texture is in.
Hair that looks like it took effort and makes you look like the main character, is the new standard.
And no one epitomizes that effortless glamour quite like Topanga. Whether paired with denim jackets and butterfly clips (which, let’s be real, are also back) or modern-day interpretations with luxe barrettes and glossy finishes, the Topanga blowout is the romantic, face-framing statement we didn’t know we needed.
Since wrapping Boy Meets World in 2000, Fishel has continued to charm audiences, from starring in the National Lampoon’s Dorm Daze films to reprising Topanga in Girl Meets World, where she once again flaunted her iconic hair, this time as a mom navigating family life. But now, her signature style has transcended the screen to become a blueprint for the ultimate summer hair.
What makes the Topanga blowout feel so right, right now?
Perhaps it’s the way it juxtaposes dreamy softness with unapologetic presence. In a world that’s been obsessed with restraint and perfection, it’s a call to let loose, to embrace volume, texture, and a little imperfection.
After all, it’s not just about the hair.
It’s about a feeling.
About stepping into a role where you’re the protagonist of your own nostalgic coming-of-age story. Where you feel a little dreamy, a little familiar, and just a touch rebellious.
And let’s be honest, aren’t we all a bit tired of center parts and slick ponytails?
