A hairstyle where hair is teased and styled to create a puffy, rounded shape; or a puffy, full skirt that stands out from the body.
From French 'bouffant,' meaning 'puffing out,' derived from the verb 'bouffer' (to puff, to swell). The term was popularized in the 1950s-60s fashion and beauty culture to describe voluminous styles.
The bouffant hairstyle became iconic in the 1950s-60s because it required women to tease their hair with special combs and set it in pin curls overnight—the bigger the hair, the higher your social status in some circles, which is why Jackie Kennedy and Elvis's backup singers made it so famous.
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