A few years ago, Pamela Anderson revealed that the secret ingredient for her signature messy, towering ‘90s bombshell updo was a G-string, so when I saw Bella Hadid’s latest Instagram post, I had to wonder if there was a pair of underwear keeping her hairstyle in place. Probably not, but regardless of its architecture, Hadid’s updo was definitely following in Anderson’s footsteps: perfectly tousled and undone with tons of bombshell bravado.
Hadid shared a few behind-the-scenes snippets from a recent Miss Sixty campaign photoshoot in what appears to be a gorgeous seaside home or hotel, resplendent with ornate antique furniture. The model’s dark blonde hair, styled by Jawara, was pulled loosely up into a bun at the crown of her head, but this was not her go-to tight knot; instead, it was an explosion of curls and waves pulled out from the base for lots of va-va-volume. Swipe through a few pics for a side view, where you can better see just how towering her updo really is. Many, many softly curled tendrils descended from all angles, giving the updo even more soft texture and brushing her neck and collarbones for a flirtatious, come-hither vibe. A portion of her hair was left free and brushed over one eye for that legendary bombshell “peekaboo” effect popularized by Veronica Lake in the ‘40s and still just as beloved today. And while Hadid’s updo is reminiscent of Anderson, it also reminds me of another famous bombshell upstyle: Beyoncé’s beyond-iconic B’Day look! If I could wear my hair like this every single day, I absolutely would.
The bombshell updo is a bona-fide classic, no matter who wears it. The style has gone viral on TikTok multiple times, and we’ve seen it walk the red carpet and pop up in editorial photoshoots and campaigns like Hadid’s. Millie Bobby Brown, Kim Kardashian, and even Martha Stewart have all given it a spin in recent months. (Anderson herself has pretty much given the style a rest, preferring to experiment with French cinema-inspired haircuts and brief forays into life as a redhead.) Hair trends may come and go, but an undone bombshell updo is timeless.
