33 Stylist-Approved Flip Hairstyles for a Playful, Retro Look

• Flip hairstyles are a playful yet timeless style.
• Do for a deep flip for a head-turning look, or keep things simple with a more understated bend.

Flip hairstyles are perhaps one of the best examples of resurging vintage hairdos. People have been donning these ‘dos since the ’60s, because they help give hair dimension, elegance, and interest. It’s returned in the ’90s and early 2000—and is now back for a redux. But this time, the fresh and flirty hairstyle isn’t just about exaggerated ends but instead a myriad of different flips, including ends that flip inward, have a slight flick to them, and even curls that point in various directions. It’s a look that’s relatively easy to create on your hair regardless of length, texture, or density.

Flip hairstyles are a sophisticated look, sure, but they can still be styled to give a more casual vibe. For a more lived-in look, all you have to do is dial down the amount of bend in the hair. But when you want a look that stands out, go for an exaggerated flip. Four celebrity hairstylists—Paul Labrecque, Camille Friend, Chaz Dean, and Aviva Jansen Perea—share that they often turn to this look when styling their clients for red carpets. And they also provide their best tips for nailing flipped hairstyles at home.

Ahead, find 33 flip hairstyles that will add just the right amount of movement to your tresses.

Classic Flipped Ends

Sophie Turner at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in L.A.

Jon Kopaloff/WireImage

Sophie Turner’s classic style features super smooth, shiny hair with ends that bend inwards for the perfect amount of a rolled-under flip hairstyle. Friend says an easy way to achieve a similar look is to use a styling gel to smooth the hair in the front and then use a 1 ½-inch curling iron to flip the ends under with added bounce.

Flipped, Layered Bob

Jenna Ortega at the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards in L.A. in January 2023.

Frazer Harrison/WireImage

Jenna Ortega’s flipped bob hairstyle features short layers while the rest of her hair grazes above her shoulder. Labrecque says layers give the hair a soft front for more of a retro style. “Styling foam or mousse is a must,” he says.

Curled to Perfection

Zendaya at the “Challengers” photo call in Milan in April 2024.

Stefania D’Alessandro/Getty Images

For bouncy curls that flip up and out like Zendaya’s, Labrecque says to rely heavily on the help of hot rollers, which add volume. “I like hot rollers for this look. Then, when the hair is cool, brush it out and tease it ever so slightly.” The mussy finish lends an air of it-girl cool.

Sleek With a Blunt Flip

Margot Robbie at the “Peter Rabbit” Australian premiere in Sydney.

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Margot Robbie’s unique take on a flip hairstyle features a sleek, almost gelled-like bob with ends that flip up but without much curl or bounce. “To get the hair to look like this, apply a leave-in conditioner and blow dry it with a large boar bristle brush for a smooth finish,” Labrecque says. If the ends are too curly or voluminous, run a flat iron to straighten them out.

Lob With Flipped Ends

Olivia Culpo at theVanity Fair Oscar Party in L.A. in March 2022.

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Dean calls Olivia Culpo’s flip hairstyle “beautiful and polished.” To do this hairstyle at home, Dean says to blow-dry the hair with a medium round brush. Then, smooth the hair with a smoothing gloss serum. “Tuck the hair behind the ears and secure it with a bobby pin. Finish the look with a spritz of a light finishing treatment spray,” he adds.

A Straight Flip Bob

Kate Mara arrives at the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in L.A.

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Straight hair cut into a clean bob, like Kate Mara’s, can pull off this sophisticated look. To get the ends to bend ever so slightly without any creasing, Labrecque says to curve them out, which gives a soft split. “You can finesse this style with a flexible styling gel,” says the stylist. “Smooth the gel over the top layer of hair and dry it for a crisp, high-gloss shine with plenty of all-day hold.”

The Layered Flip

Gwen Stefani at the grand opening of her residency in Las Vegas.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Dressy occasions call for kicking a flip hairstyle up a notch. “Here, Gwen Stefani wears a modern chignon ponytail,” Friend says. “I love the height at the top and the layered flip. Use dry shampoo to achieve this type of height and volume.”

Flipped-Out Ponytail

Hailey Bieber at the Met Gala in NYC.

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Hailey Bieber sports a high ponytail with flipped-out ends that’s accessorized with a black bow to dress things up. “It’s a modern twist on a retro look,” Dean says. To style the hair like Bieber’s, Dean recommends first blow-drying the hair smooth with a styling cream to help polish the hair. Then, once it is fully dry, he says to slick it back with a hydrating hair mask and grab the hair into a high ponytail, securing it in place high on the head. “Accessorize with a bow of your choice.”

Sleek With Sparkle

Julianne Hough at the “America’s Got Talent” Season 14 Live Show Red Carpet in L.A.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Applying a bit of hair-safe glitter to a deep side part dresses up a short bob with ends that have some slight bend, just like Julianne Hough’s style. The key to keeping the hair looking sophisticated and evening-appropriate is to give the front pieces of hair just enough of a subtle flip at the ends, which you can accomplish with a flat iron or a round brush and blow dryer. Then, finish off the ends with a bit of a shine spray or serum.

Bob With Bangs

Rose Byrne at the 84th Annual Academy Awards in L.A.

Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Rose Byrne’s bob with bangs is the perfect face-framing cut. “[This] classic bob features a fringe and flip that hugs her jawline,” Friend says. “Hair oil is a good choice for a sleek and shiny finish. And dry shampoo can add some height to the crown.”

A Wet Flip

Jennifer Lopez at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture show during Paris Fashion Week in January 2024.

Jacopo Raule/Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez’s beautiful bob features hair that ends right under her jawline before it pushes out. For an unexpected twist on the flip hairstyle, Lopez adds a wet-look finish, face-framing tendrils, laid baby hairs, and slightly flipped-out ends.

A Wavy Flip

Selena Gomez at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in L.A. in March 2025.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Not all flip hairstyles need to be structured and pronounced. Some, like Selena Gomez’s style, take a softer, more tousled approach that works well. Consider a large curling wand or iron to get looser waves like Gomez’s. Once you’re done with that, set the hair with a finishing spray.

Accessorized

Keke Palmer at “What What Happens Live With Andy Cohen” in NYC.

Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Keke Palmer’s flirty look is an homage to the ’60s with a heavy flip and ample bend. The pinned-back side part adds to the style and shows off the structure of her flipped-up ends.

Flipped Updo

Rihanna wearing a short, half-up, half-down ponytail with flipped-out ends.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

A fun take on flipped-up ends, Labrecque says an easy way to achieve this playful look is to pull the hair into a top ponytail after blow-drying it. “However, if you have a chin-length bob, the pony will be too short, and you may need to wear extensions or a small hairpiece.”

Minimal Flip

America Ferrera at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards in L.A. in January 2024.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

For less of an exaggerated flip, try a minimal flip on the ends of the hair, similar to what America Ferrera sports (which Jansen Perea styled, by the way). Start by protecting wet hair with a heat protectant. Then, blow-dry it with a round brush to achieve a sleek and almost-wet look.

Feathered Flip

Eiza González at the “The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare” premiere in NYC in April 2024.

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Shorter hair can pull off more of a pronounced flip since the hair has less weight. Here, actress Eiza González lets her side-parted bangs elegantly drape over her eye for an air of mystery. Tucking one side behind her ear emphasizes the ends of hair and allows the underneath of her flip hairstyle to peek through too.

Platinum Ponytail

Katy Perry at the Fight On concert in Bright, Australia.

Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

To achieve Katy Perry’s bleach blonde retro-inspired extreme flip hairstyle on shorter hair, Labrecque says to use a ponytail addition or add-on, which can be razored to the ideal length once fitted. “The hair can be smoothed and held in place with a firm finish hairspray to keep the style from falling loose.”

1920s-Inspired

Kim Kardashian at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in L.A. in November 2024.

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Kim Kardashian continues to show audiences that she can nail a reference. In this case, her flip hairstyle—which features flipped-out ends and a small, crescent-like kiss curl—exudes the energy of the roaring ’20s.

Fake a Flip Under

Joan Smalls at Hotel Martinez during the 78th Cannes Film Festival in May 2025.

Arnold Jerocki/GC Images

Joan Smalls’s flipped-under ends are a classic, timeless style. This ‘do might not seem like it took much effort, but there are such subtle flips that take finessing—and a good hairspray—to achieve.

Labrecque says wearing a rooted lace-front wig is a good hack to achieving this hairstyle. “A wig like this can be glued down in the front so it has a seamless line. It is cut into a smooth, slightly-angled bob, and very little, if any, product is used.” 

An Edgy Flip

Kris Jenner at the Met Gala in NYC in May 2022.

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Another style that’s a nod to a bygone era, Kris Jenner’s flirty, short, layered haircut is blown out with a soft fringe to give it some edge. “Razored feathered clip-ins are added to the back and then razored to a short, flip bob angled out with a straightening iron,” Labrecque says.

Beachy Flipped-Out Ends

Scarlett Johanson at the premiere of “Jojo Rabbit” in L.A.

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson’s shoulder-length, razor-edged bob features separated, piecey ends with a slight upward bend instead of hanging straight, which is more typical of the look. Labrecque suggests using a soft mousse on the hair and air drying it before brushing it with your fingers to achieve a sexy bedhead look. “It looks effortless, but the hair needs some natural texture to pull this off.”

Voluminous Flips

Jane Fonda at the 2025 Producers Guild Awards in L.A. in February 2025.

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Jane Fonda’s modern-day version of the famous Farrah Fawcett flip hairstyle can be accomplished with a large curling iron. Friend recommends using a 1 ½-inch curling iron, starting at the crown and then working down the hair for an all-over effect. “It’s important to use a heat protective spray on dry hair before curling the hair to create layered flips throughout the hair.”

Mullet-esqe

Iris Law at the “Monster” red carpet during the 76th Annual Cannes Film Festival in May 2023.

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Iris Law’s chin-length bob is replete with a slight flip of the ends at the nape of the neck for a total rock ‘n’ roll look. Labrecque says to spray on a volumizing, root-lifting spray and set the hair in medium barrel rollers to recreate this look. “Finish it with gel for a wet and slick yet natural waved-top.”

Polished Flip

Ciara at the amfAR Gala Cannes in Cap d’Antibes, France, in May 2025.

Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images

“Ciara’s inward-facing flip hairstyle is a beautiful, polished…look,” Dean says. “To create this kind of style, apply a leave-in conditioner to the hair for added moisture. Then, work in a styling cream with a smoothing glossing serum to wet hair and blow it out with a large round brush to polish it. Finish off the look with a dry hair oil for high-quality shine.”

An Everyday Flip

Charlize Theron at the premiere of “Fast X” in Rome in May 2023.

Marilla Sicilia/Archivio Marilla Sicilia/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

To wear the hair in a flip style suitable for a casual look, use a mini flat iron to give a subtle bend to the ends while keeping the rest of the hair natural, be it straight or wavy. Here, Charlize Theron adds a beret to her lob cut, which Friend says features a slight kick out at the ends and some wavy pieces around her face.

Mega Volume With Soft-Flipped Ends

Jennifer Coolidge at the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in L.A. in February 2023.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

“Jennifer Coolidge’s hairstyle is an updated, modern twist on what Priscilla Presley wore during the ’60s,” Dean says. According to Dean, the key to creating a voluminous hairstyle with plenty of multi-directional curls that flip up and under is to use mousse and styling cream on wet hair. Then, he recommends blow-drying the hair with multiple medium round brushes to add volume and body. “Once the hair is dry, tease it at the crown and add a headband or bow if desired.”

Flipped Blowout

Sofia Coppola at the “Priscilla” photocall in Venice in September 2023.

Rocco Spaziani/Archivio Spaziani/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

To create a slight flip at the ends with waves throughout, Friend says to apply hair oil, which adds definition to the hair without weighing it down. A side part lends slight volume at the root so the hair doesn’t fall flat at the crown.

The ’70s-Inspired Flip

Natasha Lyonne at Variety’s Power of Women event in NYC in April 2023.

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Every decade has its spin on the flip hairstyle, and the ’70s were all about a heavy blunt bang paired with a more subtle flip at the ends on longer hair, as seen here on Natasha Lyonne. “I love this look because it features a face-framing blunt fringe with ends that look like a modern take on a Cher-inspired hairstyle,” Friend says.

A Cropped Flip

Lisa Rinna at the Christian Cowan x Powerpuff Girls Runway Show in L.A.

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Lisa Rinna puts her spin on a flip hairstyle by wearing her hair in more of a modern shag-meets-wolf cut with a rocker edge—which she’s been doing for decades. “Volumizing mousse and defining paste are musts to create texture and volume,” Dean says. “You can also slightly flick the side and back of the hair out with a brush when smoothing out the ends.”

A Timeless Flip

Helen Hunt at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in L.A. in March 2024.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

A flip hairstyle isn’t limited to the 40-and-under set. The style works well for more mature hair since it adds texture to thinner hair. A perfect example is the flip hairstyle Helen Hunt wears. There’s tons of dimension since the ends are flipped out, but her side bang is flipped in.

Barely There Inward Flip

Michelle Williams at the 13th Annual Governors Awards in L.A.

TOMMASO BODDI/AFP via Getty Images

While hair flips are most frequently used to create dramatic volume, not all flip hairstyles need to stand out as much. For instance, consider Michelle Williams’s barely there inward flip—which helps frame her round face beautifully by adding some angles.

Slicked and Flipped

Halle Berry at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in L.A. in March 2025.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Halle Berry has donned many classic haircuts over her decades-long career, but this slicked-back ‘do with flipped-out ends may take the cake. It’s equal parts elegant and playful, which perfectly matches the actress’s vibe. The length of her hair also helps soften up her angular, diamond-shaped face.

Wet Bob

Michelle Yeoh at the Met Gala in NYC in May 2024.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Michelle Yeoh is no stranger to the spotlight—or a good hairstyle. Since she usually wears her long, dark tresses down in a wave or in a slick up-do, this wet look with flipped-out ends is wonderfully refreshing. Tuck your hair behind your ear for a flirty nod.