According to Charli XCX's Hairstylist, Brat Hair Is "All About an Attitude"

Charli XCX's Brat is forever—literally. The pop star just announced the extended stadium tour for her Grammy-nominated album, continuing the SWEAT Tour's lively energy for the foreseeable future. The album's timeless hits have been everywhere since it's release, and it's coinciding party-ready aesthetic—from the singer's signature smudged eyeliner to her matte lip—has helped inspire Charli's Brat beauty movement. Even her iconic lengthy curls, crafted in collaboration with her stylist Matt Benns, have kicked off a major Bratty hair trend.

"We decided to ditch the straightening so often and embrace her natural hair," says Benns of the Brat hair era, defined by Charli's carefree, natural bouncy curls. "It was all about an attitude, something completely different a little anti," he shares, noting that the "bit of grit" allowed them to lean into a sort of romanticized rawness. "So naturally, an erratic curl pattern fit."

Throughout the tour, Benns and Charli never strayed too far from her naturally voluminous curl pattern, sometimes trying on spiky buns or glossy ponytails, but always coming back to her natural hair. That said, nurturing her curl pattern has been an essential: "Healthy hair allows for the best styling," he says. For starters, no matter if he's prepping her hair for a carpet or a show, he always returns to the K18 Molecular Repair Hair Mask before styling her curls.

"For curly hair (and everyone is different, as we all have different variations of a curl, sometimes it’s tighter, hair is fine, it’s dense, there’s heat damage, etc) but generally, after it’s washed and wet I like like to go in with the leave in mask, which helps maintain health of her hair," he says, explaining his process to achieving her fluffy curls. The mask is his "Foundation block before I do anything." After that, he layers with his favorite curl cream before drying her hair with a diffuser. "The diffusing process is very important. I dry it to 70% dry in its perfect curl formation before I get in there and break it by shaking it out."

The finish touch? The Molecular Repair Hair Oil "To help with the frizz and any other damage that she might have on her hair."

For those inspired by the singer to embrace their natural curls, Benns recommends to first "Evaluate the history." Meaning, if you've colored your hair, or have "Repeatedly stretched out the curl" from blow drying and hot tools, he explains, "The elasticity and bounce isn’t going to be at its best."

However, he knows that "Natural curls can be a journey," and suggests K18's Peptide Prep Clarifying Detox Shampoo as a helpful restorative step. "This helps to restore your hair's shine, bounce, and natural state while giving it a deep cleaning," says Benns. Of course, his next step would to be go in with the brand's do-it-all hair mask, but only on the occasions that he skips using conditioner. "This mask reverses damage in just 4 minutes," he adds.

"Hair health is so different for everyone," he explains. "The two things I can recommend wholeheartedly is using a heat protectant and focusing on your inner health. Take time for yourself, mentally reset, take a bath." Don't mind if we do!

Throughout all of Charli's SWEAT Tour looks, Benns doesn't necessarily have a favorite (we'd imagine it's like picking a favorite child). "I loved all of Charli’s hair looks," he says. "It was always a play on the city, the major outfits that Chris Horan put together, and the overall energy of what she was giving that day." But, if he had to chose: "I have two favorites actually," he confesses. "I blended pink and peach colored hair pieces into her hair for Miami," which he reveals was a nod to the the film, Spring Breakers, which inspired the same titled song on the album. "Then I did this spikey half up hair twist which was a reference to the Met Gala look I did," he adds. Of course, the fans picked up on the references.

In very Brat fashion, Benns hasn't been looking to the fall and winter hair trends for inspiration. "I don’t really believe in a trend as such," he says. "For sure there are “trends” but all hair is always in vogue, especially now. It’s about embracing individuality, its rawness, sleek, brush out, braided, textured, slicked back short or long." For him, a "trend" haircut takes the uniqueness out of hair. "Then we all begin to look like clones or each other," he adds.

Feeling inspired? If you're nervous about taking the plunge for a major hair change or experimenting with a new style, Benns offers wise words of wisdom: "Just do it! Try it! Why not?!"