ICONIC Bombshell Hair: How to Get Sabrina Carpenter’s Curtain Bangs and Glam Waves
- OOF! Editorial Team
- Jan 23, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 21
Curtain bangs and bombshell waves. Perfection.
Inspired by 1950s and 1960s starlets, Carpenter's signature hairstyle comes down to three things: soft curtain bangs, lifted roots, and full, bombshell volume.
It hits that sweet spot of retro glam and modern softness.
It looks simple, but there is a method behind it.
The cut, the prep, and the styling all work together to create that shape and lift.
Here’s exactly how to get it.
How to Get Sabrina Carpenter Hair (Quick Answer)
Curtain Bangs + Glam Waves
To get Sabrina Carpenter-inspired hair, ask for long layers with soft curtain bangs, then style for volume, lift, and soft, brushed-out waves.
Use a root-lifting spray and lightweight mousse on damp hair
Blow-dry with a round brush to lift at the roots and smooth the lengths
Use large Velcro rollers or a large-barrel curling iron, wrapping sections away from the face
Let hair cool, then gently separate with your hands for soft, full volume
The goal is not tight curls. It is lift at the root, movement through the ends, and that full, blown-out finish.
Now let’s break it down step by step, starting with the cut that makes this look work.
The Haircut Behind Sabrina Carpenter’s Signature Volume
Sabrina Carpenter’s hairstyle starts with the cut.
To get that full, blown-out look you need the right layers and shape
.
This is all about long, blended layers that create movement and lift.
The layers remove weight so the hair can hold volume, while still keeping enough length to get a full, glamorous finish.
What to Ask Your Stylist For:
Long layers that are soft and not choppy
Face-framing pieces starting around the jawline
Soft texture at the ends
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If the hair is too blunt or too thick at the bottom, it will lose that signature bounce.
Why This Cut Works
Instead of relying only on hot tools, the layers help lift the roots, reduce heaviness, and allow the ends to fall into soft movement instead of stiff curls.
This will give you volume for those bombshell waves.
🧡 Pro Tip: For that smooth, airy finish, use a soft cotton t-shirt or t-shirt hair towel helps remove excess water without roughing up the cuticle, which makes a big difference in how smooth your blowout looks.
Curtain Bangs: The Face-Framing Detail That Makes the Look
Curtain bangs are what give this style its softness.
Sabrina Carpenter’s version is slightly fuller and longer, with enough length to sweep into the layers instead of sitting as a separate piece.
What Are Curtain Bangs?
Curtain bangs are shorter in the center and gradually get longer toward the sides, creating a soft, face-framing shape.
They can part in the middle or slightly off-center and are designed to blend into the rest of your haircut rather than sit blunt across the forehead.
What to Ask Your Stylist For:
Length that hits just below the cheekbones
A soft, wispy finish, not a blunt cut
Seamless blending into your face-framing layers
Enough length to tuck or sweep back
How to Style Curtain Bangs
Blow-dry the front pieces with a small round brush, directing them up and away from the face to create lift and shape.
🧡 Pro Tip: Want to check out all the hottest bang styles? Check out Bardot Bangs Are Back: The 10 Hottest Bang Styles Right Now (And How to Get Them).
The Bombshell Blonde Behind the Sabrina Carpenter Look
Going for the full bombshell look?
That retro starlet vibe is not a flat blonde.
It is a bombshell blonde.
Soft, dimensional, and designed to catch the light from every angle.
What Makes This Blonde Work
Instead of one solid shade, it blends creamy blonde, soft golden tones, and lighter face-framing pieces that brighten the entire look.
That dimension is what gives the hair that glowy finish.
What to Ask Your Stylist For:
A dimensional blonde with warmth, not overly ashy
Brighter pieces around the face for that bombshell effect
Blended highlights through the lengths for movement
A glossy finish that enhances shine and softness
🧡 Pro Tip: Want to check out all the hottest hair colors now? Check out the 10 Hottest Hair Color Trends for 2026 (That Actually Flatter Your Skin Tone).
A warmer, dimensional blonde reflects light better, which is what gives this look that bombshell finish.
Now it’s time to style it and create that full, bombshell volume.
How to Get Sabrina Carpenter’s Voluminous Blowout
This look is all about lift at the roots, smoothness through the lengths and soft movement at the ends.
Step 1: Start with Volume at the Roots
Begin with clean, damp hair.
Apply a root-lifting spray at the roots and a lightweight mousse through the mid-lengths and ends.
Step 2: Blow-Dry for Shape, Not Just Dryness
Section your hair from ear to ear and clip the top half up.
Work on the bottom first in medium sections.
Using a round brush, lift each section at the root while directing the airflow downward to smooth the cuticle.
As you move down the hair, slightly roll the brush to create a soft bend through the ends instead of pulling everything straight.
Finish with the top half.
Step 3: Add Volume with Rollers or a Curling Iron
Once your hair is dry, this is where the signature volume comes in.
You have two options depending on your preference:
Velcro rollers: Wrap the top sections away from your face and let them cool completely. This gives you that lifted, full shape at the crown.
Curling iron: Use a large barrel and wrap sections away from your face, starting around the mid-lengths. This creates soft movement without over-curling the ends.
Step 4: Let It Cool
Let the rollers or curls cool completely before touching them.
Cooling sets the shape.
Step 5: Break It Up and Finish
Gently separate your hair with your hands.
Lightly shape and fluff until you get that soft, full finish.
Finish with a flexible-hold hairspray to keep the volume without making your hair stiff.
🧡 Pro Tip: Always use with heat protectant to safeguard your hair.
Common Mistakes That Flatten This Look
This style looks effortless, but a few small mistakes can take it from full and bouncy to flat and heavy.
Skipping root volume
If the roots are flat, the entire style falls flat. Volume has to start at the crown.
Blow-drying straight down with no lift
If you are not lifting at the root while drying, you are setting your hair flat from the start.
Over-curling the ends
This is not a tight curl look. Too much curl at the ends makes it feel dated and heavy instead of soft and airy.
Not letting your hair cool
Heat shapes the hair, but cooling sets it. Touching it too soon causes the volume to drop.
Using too much product
Heavy creams, oils, or too much hairspray can weigh everything down and kill movement.
How to Make This Style Last
Once you have the shape and volume, the goal is to keep it from falling flat too quickly.
Let your hair fully cool before touching it
This sets the shape and helps the volume hold longer
Avoid over-handling
The more you touch and brush, the faster the volume drops
Use dry shampoo at the roots
This helps maintain lift and absorbs oil that can weigh hair down
Refresh the front pieces only
A quick pass with a round brush or curling iron at the front can bring the whole style back
Sleep smart
Loosely tie your hair or wrap it to help preserve volume overnight
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