Mattel's New Whitney Houston Barbie Is Further Proof That Big '80s Hair Is Back In 2026

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Fans of late pop icon Whitney Houston will be delighted to learn that the celeb is getting her own Barbie doll. Mattel announced on August 9, 2026 (which would have been Houston's 63rd birthday) that a doll modeled after the singer was available for pre-order. Inspired by Houston's look in the "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" music video, the doll wears a lavender tank dress, colorful earrings, boldly patterned pumps, and, of course, Houston's '80s curls. Big, voluminous curls are one of the '80s hairstyles that celebs are still rocking today. The release of Houston's very own Barbie doll further proves that bold '80s hairdos will return to the mainstream in 2026. 

Nearly everyone had this hairstyle in the '80s, and it's time for a comeback. Celebs like Tina Turner, Cher, and Julia Roberts all rocked a variation of big '80s hair, with each star putting their own unique twist on the decade's major hairstyling trend. Nostalgic hair trends are having their moment in 2026, so who's to say that larger-than-life hairdos won't make a comeback as well? Sleek styles are one of the hair trends that are woefully outdated in 2026, as many instead focus on attaining healthy-looking volume and big curls. It's safe to say that the latter half of 2026 will likely see Houston's iconic curls return to the mainstream. 

For those with and without a natural curl pattern, there are plenty of ways to achieve an '80s hair look à la Whitney Houston. As the positive reception of Houston's new Barbie doll shows, voluminous retro curls are coming back into style for 2026. You don't have to use a ton of ozone-depleting products to get the modern take on '80s hair (as we're sure stylists used plenty of hairspray and mousse to attain celebs' intense volume). Soft, natural curls are overtaking structured ringlets as one of the best curly hair trends to try in 2026; in order to give them extra volume, simply use a bit of non-heavy volumizing foam like the Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Mousse on towel-dry damp hair and blow dry upside down (optionally teasing your hair from the roots for more lift). 

If you need help keeping your hair in place, you can finish with a bit of hairspray at the roots, arranging your hair as needed to ensure the product gets everywhere you want it to permeate. For those with natural curls, this process may be a little less rigid (after all, nobody wants crunchy curls in 2026). However, if you have straight or ultra-fine hair, you may need to use small flexi rods or pin curls on top of the technique previously described to achieve the ringlets you're looking for. There are plenty of damage-free ways to achieve the most iconic '80s hairstyles without the use of chemicals.