Olivia Colman is giving us another reason to rethink our relationship with natural texture. The actor recently stepped out with long, voluminous salt-and-pepper curls, trading her familiar cropped cuts for a look that feels romantic, effortless, and refreshingly undone.

At the Zurich Film Festival in September, where she was promoting her upcoming film Wicker, Colman wore her cascading curls swept over one shoulder. The effect was romantic without feeling overly polished, with plenty of movement, a little untamed volume, and a beautiful blend of brunette, gray, and silver tones. Paired with an elegant all-white ensemble, the hair made its own statement.

A New Chapter for Colman’s Hair

Of course, Colman hasn’t exactly been playing it safe in the hair department. Her platinum-blonde pixie made headlines back in 2020, proving that a short cut can be every bit as transformative as a dramatic change in length. More recently, she has favored cropped styles in shades ranging from brunette to blonde. This latest look feels like a delightful departure, trading the precision of a pixie for something softer, fuller, and a little more undone.

The secret to the curls' appeal? They don't look too perfect. Hairstylist Clayton Hawkins, who created Colman's looks for the Wicker press tour, has leaned into her natural curl pattern, enhancing the texture with a mix of diffusing, curling-iron work, and root volume. The result is a head of curls with personality: some pieces spiral more tightly, others fall into loose waves, and the overall shape has that wonderfully imperfect quality that makes a hairstyle feel alive.

The Case for Embracing Silver

Then there's the color, which deserves its own moment. Rather than concealing the gray, Colman's salt-and-pepper lengths allow the silver to mingle with darker strands, creating depth and dimension throughout. It's a reminder that gray hair doesn't have to be a transition to manage or a color to disguise. It can be the centerpiece of a look, particularly when paired with a cut and texture that let it shine.

The appeal extends beyond the red carpet, too. Natural texture brings a sense of ease to a style that might otherwise feel overly formal, while the silver tones lend the curls a certain sophistication. It's glamorous, yes, but not in a way that feels reserved for a special occasion. Consider it inspiration to let curls take up space, work with their natural movement, and resist the urge to make every strand behave.

How to Get Olivia Colman’s Soft, Voluminous Curls at Home

The secret to Olivia Colman’s latest hair moment isn’t simply a good curling iron. Hairstylist Clayton Hawkins built the look around her natural texture, adding definition, deliberately imperfect curls, and plenty of volume. In an interview with Vogue, he shared the products and techniques behind the transformation, and the routine is surprisingly easy to borrow. 

Hawkins began by prepping Colman’s hair with Amika Frizz-Me-Not Hydrating Anti-Frizz Treatment, then used a diffuser to bring out her natural curl pattern. Rather than creating identical ringlets, he wrapped random sections around a half-inch curling iron in different directions. The result? Curls that feel less pageant-perfect and more romantic, with the kind of variation that gives the style its movement. 

Amika Frizz-Me-Not Hydrating Anti-Frizz Treatment

For that signature fullness, Hawkins reached for Sexy Hair Powder Play Lite Soft Volumizing & Texturizing Powder, applying it at the roots before gently teasing and raking through the hair with a wide-tooth comb. The finishing touch was a little Dove 10-in-1 Serum, which Hawkins praised for its lightweight feel. Together, the products help create a style that balances definition with softness, rather than leaving curls stiff or overly sculpted. 

Sexy Hair Powder Play Lite Soft Volumizing & Texturizing Powder

Of course, Colman’s dramatic new length has a little help of its own. Extension specialist Inanch Emir created custom extensions using four different shades of natural gray, blending them with Colman’s own hair to build the look’s signature salt-and-pepper dimension. You don’t need extensions to take inspiration from the style, though. Focus on enhancing your natural texture, adding lift at the roots, and mixing up your curl pattern for a similarly effortless finish. 

Dove 10-in-1 Serum

And if the silver is what caught your eye, Hawkins has advice for that, too: purple shampoo can help keep gray and white hair looking bright, while UV protection helps guard against brassiness. Consider it the finishing touch for making silver strands shine, whether you’re wearing a short curly crop or growing your hair longer.

Make It Your Own

Colman's look also offers a useful reminder that you don't have to recreate a celebrity hairstyle strand for strand to take inspiration from it. Maybe that means adding a little more lift at the crown, letting your natural grays show through, or swapping a sleek blowout for a diffuser and a curl-enhancing product. Even a few face-framing curls can change the feel of a familiar style.

Length isn't a prerequisite, either. Shorter curls can have just as much impact with a little volume and a shape that complements your features. If you're considering a cut, ask your stylist to work with your natural texture and discuss how the shape will sit when your hair dries. A good curly cut should feel wearable on an ordinary Tuesday, not just after a salon appointment.

Colman's latest hair moment makes a compelling case for a little experimentation. A familiar cut can give way to something entirely different, gray can be every bit as striking as any salon color, and curls needn't be tamed into submission to look polished. Sometimes, the best hair transformation is simply letting texture take the lead.

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