Forget messy beach waves: the big hair revival is here. From ’60s beehives to ’90s bombshell blow waves, vintage-inspired styles are making a serious comeback, and no one knows it better than Posey Broomhall of Melbourne’s cult blow wave salon, Harpo Hair.
Founded by the effortlessly stylish Posey, Harpo has delivered more than 35,000 iconic blow waves and built a reputation as the place to go if you want your hair to last longer than a Netflix binge. But beyond the glossy curls and bouncy layers, Posey and her team have been quietly leading the charge on the retro glam revival. So of course I needed to head in and get one of their signature blow waves myself.
Here’s why vintage hair is having a moment
“Trends always come back around, they just get a new spin,” Posey explains. “There’s a real soft, sexy, feminine revival right now.” And she’s right. Just scroll Instagram or TikTok and you’ll see it: hair pinned in rollers, creamy blondes with lived-in roots, and blow waves so big you can practically hear the Spice Girls soundtrack playing.
Posey admits she’s part of the movement herself. “I just had my hair done, and had it all up in pin curl clips. I’ll leave it in there for like, four hours, so I get that big, bouncy, blow wave. And even my makeup that I chose for today is just that little bit more classic,” she says.
It’s no accident this look has re-emerged. A couple of years ago, bouncy blow waves began to push aside the laid-back beach wave, and the momentum hasn’t slowed since. “The Pamela Anderson layered updo, the modern twist on Jennifer Aniston’s ‘Rachel’—they’re all coming back,” Posey says.
The art of the blow wave
What makes this resurgence so exciting is that it’s not easy to master, which is exactly why Harpo Hair stands out. “Not every salon, or even every hairdresser, can do [the big bouncy blow out] with brushes anymore,” Posey explains. “It’s been out of fashion for so long. But at Harpo, we train every stylist in the art of the blow wave. We’re really particular about our technique so it really lasts, not just looks good when you walk out the door.”
Her love of the craft runs deep. “I used to practise on my auntie every week. She was an ’80s girl and loved her volume, so I’d blow wave her hair until I nailed that big, bouncy style. That’s really where it all started.”
Today, that legacy lives on in Harpo’s signature styles, from glossy curls to layered ’90s volume that still looks chic the next morning.
Blonde is going softer
It’s not just about the style, though—colour is also having its moment. Posey says icy blondes are being swapped for warmer, more natural shades. “The ice blonde is definitely on the way out,” she notes. “We’re seeing more creamy blondes with rich, darker roots. A softer, more natural finish. People are calling it the ‘expensive old money blonde.’ It’s understated but glamorous, and it ties into that whole vintage aesthetic.”
Think Nicole Richie’s effortless, lived-in blonde or even Diane Keaton walking in a linen twin-set on the beach with her old-money hair colour rather than platinum Barbie.
And when it comes to brunettes it’s about keeping it soft, warm and deep. Think chocolate with a slight warm dimension. Lucky me, that’s my natural colour (minus, you know, all the greys).
My trip to Harpo: the big, bouncy ’90s blow wave
Walking into Harpo’s Brighton salon felt like stepping into an iconic hair haven I’d heard so much about. The space itself buzzes with stylish energy, and I couldn’t wait to experience the famous blow wave magic myself.
First stop: a treatment. My colour was refreshed, greys covered, and a glossing treatment applied that made my hair feel instantly silkier and shinier. Already, I could tell this wasn’t just about a blow dry—it was about the whole experience of giving my hair new life.
Then Posey got to work on the blow wave. Using round brushes like giant curlers, she dried each section and left the brushes sitting in place to set the curl. My head looked like something out of a ’90s makeover montage and I secretly loved it.
The key, Posey explained, is letting the hair cool completely so the bounce is locked in. Once the brushes were carefully removed, one by one, she gave it a mist of hairspray, and voilà: a wave so full and glossy it could have walked straight out of a supermodel shoot.
I couldn’t stop staring at the mirror. The layers had that ’90s Pamela Anderson-meets-Jennifer Aniston vibe—bouncy, feminine, and a little bit flirty. It was exactly the kind of retro-glam moment I didn’t know I’d been missing. And to make sure my new look lasted as long as possible, I grabbed myself a Bompies shower cap (designed by Posey herself).
Walking out of Harpo, I felt like I’d just been given the secret to hair-related time travel but with a flowy, chic modern twist. Proof that sometimes, the best looks really are the ones worth bringing back.
Harpo Hair, Hampton Street (and a second salon on Were Street), Brighton, Melbourne, VIC. (03) 9592 3701
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
