In the 1920s, Josephine Baker was a captivating presence. She shone on stage; she liberated the woman; she embodied the Jazz Age. A flapper icon who emerged with her flamboyant dress—and defining hairstyle that would later go on to be reinterpreted in fresh and exciting ways, before eventually becoming a red carpet favourite. Today, the signature hair look that was synonymous with her name, is known as the kiss curl.
Defined by a specific swoop or a tight curl splayed across the forehead, the kiss curl feels directional and sculpted, as if styled to give an air of sophistication and elegance. “What I love about kiss curls is that they can completely elevate a hairstyle with just one small detail,” says hairstylist Yuhi Kim. “They add personality and polish without feeling overdone, which makes them perfect for special occasions or red carpet looks.”
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Creating a timeless look
Beyond its ease of adoption, the kiss or finger curl is vastly open to interpretation, hence influencing its mass appeal. While it’s always been a classic look, there is a fair element of play thrown into the mix, simply because it feels fun, easily replicable and yet somehow ageless. On BeautyTok for one, you’ll have creators trying to emulate Betty Boop’s aesthetic, and her short, spunky hairstyle.
@morveskim Always wanted to do this character #bettyboop 👠❤️ #fyp #fy #hairstyle ♬ original sound – morveskim
There are always fresh interpretations of the look throughout celebrity red carpets, and many stars have attempted to experiment with the style in a myriad of ways lately too. “Kiss curls are timeless, and every few years they feel fresh again because they’re reinterpreted in a more modern way,” Kim adds. There was Dua Lipa’s own interpretation of Josephine Baker’s iconic appearance for the Met Gala 2025—where Peter Lux worked a flurry of finger curls into her hairline. 2026 saw Jennie Kim take on a sharper interpretation of the style; her single curl the perfect accent to her pearlescent beat on the carpet.
Adapting it for different hairstyles
Yet the most exciting part about the kiss curl also lies in how easily adaptable it is across different hair lengths and styles. Whether you’ve got long tresses or a really short cut, you can incorporate these tight finger curls into any look and it would not look out of place. Whilst certain shapes might lend it a striking, avant-garde appeal à la Lisa’s theatrical approach with a winding rope-like piece that traversed her forehead at the Met Gala, there are also more refreshing, youthful approaches one might take: think Lola Young’s layered kiss curl fringe when she took home her first Grammy award earlier this year.
It also gives plenty of edge to a shorter mane. Case in point: Taylor Russell at Cannes Film Festival. “Kiss curls work beautifully on shorter hairstyles because they naturally highlight the face. You don’t need several curls,” comments Kim. With just a touch of those finger curls, Russell’s red carpet arrival was levelled up, drawing eyes from all over with the curls framing her face. “Sometimes one or two placed around the hairline is enough to create a sophisticated look. They can be subtle and minimal, inspired by classic finger waves, or more sculptural and graphic.”
But above all, the kiss curl is one that feels transmutable, elevating looks for special occasions, but also workable if all you want is an edgier spin to your everyday hair look. The power lies in how you work this single strand.
Acing the technique
As for how one would approach the style? Kim’s topline notes would be this: “The technique itself is quite simple, but precision is everything.”
In order to sculpt and hold the curl, you need the right products for your hair texture. “I usually use a gel or a finger wave lotion because they work in a very similar way and make it easy to sculpt the curl,” advises Kim. “Once the product is completely dry, it sets firmly and holds the shape you’ve created.”
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For those with more textured hair, Kim notes that you might need to create a smoother base first, perhaps by opting for a blowout or straightening out your tresses first. Then, an oil-based styling product might provide more adhesive for the curl to stick, or an edge control product. “This will give you better control and a cleaner finish for the finger curl. The key is taking your time to perfect the shape and letting the product fully dry before touching it,” she adds.
