It was 1990, and the world was staring at a relative newcomer named Nicole Kidman standing next to Tom Cruise at the Days of Thunder premiere. She didn't have the sleek, glass-like blonde hair we’ve seen on every red carpet for the last two decades. Instead, she had this massive, glorious, untamed mane of red ringlets. Honestly, it was a vibe. But then, for about thirty years, those curls basically vanished into a witness protection program.
If you’ve been paying attention lately, things are changing. Nicole Kidman with curly hair isn't just a throwback anymore; it's a full-on resurrection. From her role in The Undoing to recent candid photos in Sydney, the ringlets are reclaiming their throne.
The "Torture" of the Flat Iron
You’ve gotta feel for her. For years, Kidman has been incredibly candid about how much she regrets "torturing" her hair. In a raw 2020 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, she admitted she spent decades trying to fit a specific Hollywood mold. She wanted that "beach girl" look—smooth, straight, and easy.
The problem? Curls don't like being bullied.
By her own admission, the constant heat styling and chemical straightening "screwed up" her natural pattern. She famously told WHO Magazine in 2017, "I tortured them to death. I always say, 'Don't ruin the ringlets!'" It’s a relatable struggle for anyone who grew up in the early 2000s when the flat iron was the only tool that mattered.
Tracking the Curly Comeback
The real shift started around 2019/2020. When the first posters for The Undoing dropped, fans nearly lost it. She was playing Grace Fraser, a wealthy New Yorker, but she was doing it with a head of wild, strawberry-blonde curls that looked suspiciously like her 1983 BMX Bandits era.
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It wasn't just a wig for a role, though. It was a signal.
Fast forward to January 2026. Following her split from Keith Urban in late 2025, Kidman has been spotted all over Australia looking… well, like her younger self. She was seen at Sydney airport recently with wispy bangs and tight blonde curls, looking effortlessly cool in a leather bomber jacket. Fans on social media are calling it her "healing era."
Why the Curls Matter Now
- The Daughter Connection: Nicole recently told Allure that seeing her natural texture reminds her of her daughters, Sunday and Faith.
- Cultural Shift: We’ve moved away from the "poker straight" obsession. Natural texture is finally being celebrated as "high fashion."
- Hair Health: After decades of damage, she’s clearly spent years on a rehab journey for her scalp and strands.
How She Got the Bounce Back
You can't just stop straightening your hair and expect perfect ringlets to pop out the next day, especially not after forty years of bleach and heat. Kidman’s longtime stylist, Adir Abergel, has dropped some breadcrumbs about how they maintain that shine.
Surprisingly, she doesn't use a million products.
She reportedly leans on Virtue Labs, specifically their Healing Oil and Un-Frizz Leave-In Treatment. These products use a specific type of keratin (Alpha Keratin 60ku) that supposedly "fills in" the damage in the hair shaft. For Nicole, whose hair has been through the wringer, this kind of structural repair is the only reason she can wear it curly without it looking like a frizz-bomb.
She also follows a pretty strict "low-maintenance" rule when she isn't filming. She’s a "ponytail girl" at heart. Giving the hair a break from any heat at all is basically the only way the natural curl pattern can recover.
What We Can Learn From the Kidman Curl
If you're sitting there with a flat iron in your hand, maybe put it down for a second. Kidman’s biggest piece of advice to "little girls with curls" is to just leave them alone.
It’s a lesson in authenticity, really. It took one of the biggest stars in the world nearly forty years to realize that the hair she was born with was actually her best look.
Actionable Tips for Your Own "Kidman" Transition:
- Stop the Chemical Warfare: If you’re still doing Japanese straightening or heavy Brazilians, the transition will be hard. You have to let the "virgin" hair grow in.
- Focus on the Scalp: Nicole’s experts, like Philip B, emphasize scalp brushing with natural boar bristles to get blood flowing and move natural oils down the hair.
- Humidity is Actually Your Friend: Nicole mentioned that her hair looks best in humid environments (like Florida or Australia) because the moisture helps the curls clumping. If you live in a dry climate, you need a heavy-duty humidifier or steam treatments.
- Accept the "Awkward" Phase: There will be a few months where your hair doesn't know if it's straight, wavy, or a mess. Wear the "Nicole ponytail" and push through.
The return of Nicole Kidman with curly hair is more than just a beauty trend. It’s a 58-year-old woman finally feeling comfortable enough to stop hiding her natural self. And honestly? She’s never looked better.
To start your own hair recovery, look for products containing Alpha Keratin or plant-based oils like Marula or Kalahari Melon seed to mend the cuticle without weighing down the curl.