The Baby Beehive Is the Coolest Way to Do the Retro Hair Trend
Channel your inner Priscilla.
@ellefanning/Instagram
From the big screen to the red carpet, the beehive is undergoing a beauty renaissance. In Sofia Coppola’s newly-released Priscilla, the iconic ‘60s silhouette reappears in all its backcombed glory as Cailee Spaeny steps into her titular role, navigating life and a rollercoaster relationship with Elvis. Outside theaters, It Girls are channeling the ‘60s in a sudden resurgence of baby beehives reminiscent of Priscilla’s signature hairstyle—with a twist.
“Clearly, what goes around comes around!” says Harry Josh, celebrity hairstylist and Kerasilk brand ambassador. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen this shape, and it goes to show that everything that is good is repurposed again.” A departure from classic Old Hollywood curls and sleek updos, Josh says 2023’s baby beehive trend “is giving refreshed silhouette across the carpet.”
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The Trend
“Priscilla always pushed the boundaries in her fashion and beauty choices, which is why she is so iconic,” says Glenn Ellis, celebrity hairstylist and Fekkai brand ambassador. “The look of the beehive was not a typical hairstyle, and she was really able to pull it off because of her striking features.” Ellis says celebs are now recreating the trend to be “less intense,” either by making the beehive smaller, or playing with its structure.
If the baby beehive proves anything, it’s that anyone can style it their own way. Ayo Edibiri and Anne Hathaway recently put a half-up spin on the classic look, while Lana Del Rey rocked embellished versions on tour. Elle Fanning channeled Princesscore with her side-parted retro baby beehive, shrinking the shape to create a modernized version.
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“The concept previously was to backcomb the entire head, brushing hair into the shape of a big ice cream sundae,” says Josh. “In today’s look, people are only using portions of the hair to create height, adding in embellishments that modernize the vintage look.”
The Appeal
Like the Sophie Loren updo or Audrey Hepburncore, baby beehives reinvent classic glamour in a way that feels both nostalgic and fresh. “I love it because it brings you back to a fun and exciting time in history,” says Ellis. “Elvis and Priscilla are icons.” Josh also loves the way it “breathes new life” into a throwback beauty moment. “There are only so many times you can do or see a messy ponytail and bun on the red carpet,” he says.
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No matter your hair type, there’s a way to make the baby beehive work for you. “The first thing I would need to think about is what kind of hair you have and if your hair is able to hold all day,” says Ellis. Those with thicker hair will have the easiest time getting this updo to hold its voluminous shape. “If you have finer hair, do a smaller hairstyle,” says Ellis.
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How to Style the Baby Beehive
“You really need to have the right products when recreating a hairstyle like this,” says Ellis. For him, that’s a generous spritz of Fekkai Flexi-Hold Hairspray ($27), which helps hair maintain its hold without getting hard or crunchy.
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Step 1: Prep your hair with a volumizing product. Ellis likes to start with a base of Fekkai Clean Stylers Root Lift Volumizing Spray ($28). You can also use hairspray for this step. “You want to make sure the hair becomes starchy so that when you backcomb it, it can stand at the root,” says Josh, whose product of choice is Kerasilk Multi-Purpose Hairspray ($29).“It helps provide long-lasting styles with touchable hold.”
Step 2: Using a medium round brush, lift your hair straight up from the root to create volume.
Step 3: Backcomb the hair at the crown of your head to shape it into the signature beehive. “I love using a good texturizing spray like the Fekkai Full Blown Volume Dry Texturizing Spray ($27),” syas Ellis. “This will give the same texture as the original look as seen on Priscilla.”
Step 4: Secure your baby beehive with bobby pins and add any embellishments you want.
Step 5: Finish with more hairspray. “The key to any beehive look is hairspray,” says Josh, who goes back in with a final layer of hairspray.
Up Next: 21 Audrey Hepburn-Inspired Updos That Prove Classic Glamour Is Back
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