A masterclass in retro volume: Adir Abergel Breaks Down His Iconic Babygirl Golden Globes Bouffant in 10 Minutes 

When Nicole Kidman stepped onto the Golden Globes red carpet with her stunning bouffant ponytail, heads turned. The look was simultaneously vintage and modern—a nod to 60s and 70s icons with a touch of Studio 54 glamour and today's polished finish. Now, Adir Abergel, Virtue's Creative Director and the stylist behind the look, is sharing exactly how you can recreate this show-stopping style for your clients.

This technique works beautifully for any client heading to a holiday party, walking down the aisle, or simply wanting to feel extraordinary. The secret? It's all about strategic product selection, precise placement, and understanding how to build volume that lasts.

Every great hairstyle begins in the shampoo bowl, and this one is no exception. For this tutorial, Adir chose Virtue Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner. "Talia tends to have a lot of texture and a lot of frizz in her hair," he notes. "It really helped me calm down her frizz, put more hydration, and create a really beautiful base." The goal is to start with hair that's primed for styling—hydrated, manageable, and ready to hold shape.

Before any heat styling begins, reach for Virtue's Damage Reverse Serum®. "It's almost insurance, making sure that your hair is going to stay healthy with everything that we're going to be doing to it," Adir emphasizes. He applies it from roots to ends on damp hair, creating a protective barrier before blow-drying. This step is non-negotiable. With the amount of heat styling, backcombing, and manipulation this look requires, you need Alpha Keratin 60ku® working to repair and strengthen hair in real time.

Create a clean part from ear to ear. "You want it to feel super clean. You want it to be super sleek. This part of the ponytail is really going to make everything shine beautifully together," Adir explains. Secure the bottom section in a low temporary ponytail to keep it out of the way. Take a quarter-size amount of Virtue Un-Frizz Cream and smooth it along the hairline and through that front section. This blocks humidity, locks in moisture, and creates a sleek canvas that photographs beautifully. Now bring that top section back into a high ponytail positioned at the top of the crown. Take your time here—this placement is critical.

This is not a natural ponytail—and that's the point. You're creating drama, glamour, and impact. "Extensions are always going to be needed because you are going bigger than life," Adir says. Match extensions to your client's hair color and prep them the same way you prepped the natural hair—with Damage Reverse Serum.

Extension placement strategy:

• Clip extensions underneath and around the ponytail
• Stack them arbitrarily for natural-looking fullness
• Ensure they blend with the length of natural hair
• Focus on creating volume rather than perfect symmetry

The goal is to build a foundation of volume that will support the final style.

Using a 2-inch curling iron, wrap sections of both the natural hair and extensions around the barrel, feeding the ends through. This creates those gorgeous, bouncy 60s-inspired curls. Clip each curl immediately after removing it from the iron and let it cool completely—at least 10 minutes. This sets the curl pattern and ensures long-lasting volume. Don't rush this step.

Once curls have cooled, remove the clips and let them cascade. Now it's time to add that essential texture that will help the style hold and give it that perfectly undone finish. Virtue's Texturizing Spray is Adir's secret weapon here. "It does not make your hair overly gritty, but it gives you just that really beautiful, perfectly undone hair." Spray section by section, concentrating more at the root area. This creates grip for backcombing while maintaining that healthy, glossy finish that sets Virtue apart from traditional texture sprays.

Backcomb for mega volue — this is where you create that signature height. Take sections from the top of the ponytail, lift them with tension, and use a fine-toothed comb to backcomb at the root area. "When you're using Virtue products, you get a really beautiful, healthy finish to the hair. So even if you decide to backcomb the hair to create the right volume at the right places, you're still getting that beautiful finish and that gorgeous shine," Adir notes. Work section by section, creating height and fullness while maintaining structure. Then smooth the top layer to hide the teasing underneath.

Use long bobby pins to secure the volume you've created. Bring sections forward to create height, then pin by crisscrossing the bobby pins underneath. This hidden support system is what keeps the bouffant lifted all evening. The key is to make these pins invisible while creating structural integrity that lasts.

The final touch separates a good style from a red carpet-worthy one. Take a few drops of Virtue Healing Oil and rub it between your palms. "If you are looking to create beautiful shine and a beautiful finish for your hair, Virtue Healing Oil is the absolute best," Adir shares. Smooth it very lightly over the surface of the style. It won't weigh the hair down but will add that extra dimension of shine and polish that makes the style photograph beautifully and catches light from every angle.