Amal Clooney, the epitome of polished glamour, recently unveiled a significant hair refresh—a style her long-time hairstylist, Dimitris Giannetos, has aptly christened the “Bubble Blowout.” This look is a modern, elevated take on the classic voluminous blow-dry, designed to feel effortlessly chic and commanding. Beginning with a strategic chop that removed several inches of length, the transformation gave her signature brunette tresses new life and bounce. The style is characterised by sleek roots, ultra-fluffy volume through the mid-lengths, and a signature rounded, tucked-under effect at the ends, creating a soft, ’90s-inspired, bubble-like silhouette. It is a perfect blend of high-shine luxury and wearable bounce, making it the must-have hairstyle for a contemporary, sophisticated aesthetic.
The Foundation: A Strategic Chop for Volume
The secret to the “Bubble Blowout” begins before any heat is applied, specifically with the cut. Giannetos initiated the look by giving Clooney a subtle, yet impactful, trim—cutting off anywhere from two to eight inches of her famed long hair.
This new mid-length cut, which now rests neatly around the décolletage, is crucial for achieving the style’s inherent volume and movement. By removing the weight from the ends, the hair is instantly revitalized, allowing for a healthier, more buoyant look. This simple chop helps to amplify the bounce of the blowout, ensuring the finished style sits with natural lift and maintains its shape over time. The cut essentially created a lighter canvas, maximizing the hair’s potential for volume and giving the “bubble” effect its characteristic pillowy silhouette.
The Prep: Sealing in Shine and Health
Achieving the style’s high-shine finish requires meticulous preparation. The key to the “Bubble Blowout” is that the hair must look rich and glossy, not weighed down or stiff.
Giannetos emphasizes the importance of prepping the hair with a high-shine, lightweight serum before the blow-drying process begins. This product seals the hair cuticle, adding an incredible radiance that is essential for the expensive, polished look. By focusing on shine without heaviness, the hair retains its natural movement and bounce. This foundation is also crucial for protecting the hair from the heat required for the blowout, ensuring the finished look is as healthy as it is voluminous.
The Technique: Creating the Signature ‘Bubble’
The “Bubble Blowout” is defined by its rounded, fluffy volume, which is achieved through a specific technique utilizing professional-grade tools and a cool-down set. This is where the blowout distinguishes itself from a simple, straight dry.
Working in small, manageable sections, the stylist blow-dries the hair using a powerful dryer and a small to medium-sized round brush. Crucially, as each section is dried, it is gently rolled inward and pinned to the scalp or rolled up on a velcro roller. This process allows the hair to cool completely while in the rounded shape, which is essential for setting and locking in the volume and the soft, inverted curl at the ends. The “pinning to set” step is non-negotiable for achieving a long-lasting, pillowy structure that creates the illusion of a full “bubble.”
The Finish: Inward Brush and Effortless Hold
The final steps are dedicated to revealing the signature silhouette and setting the look with an invisible, yet powerful, hold. This is what makes the “Bubble Blowout” feel so modern—it’s polished without the stiff, dated feel of an over-sprayed finish.
Once the hair has fully cooled, the pins are removed, and the hair is gently brushed. The technique here is to brush the hair inward to encourage the rounded shape and enhance the volume, avoiding brushing straight down or fully out. Finally, the look is locked in with a light mist of an extra-strong hold hairspray. The hairspray’s purpose is two-fold: to ensure the lift and shape stay intact for hours, and to tame any flyaways, reinforcing the sleek, expensive texture that makes Amal Clooney’s hair so enviable.
