collage of 90s hairstyles

Iconic ’90s Hairstyles That Are Making a Comeback

It’s official, ’90s hairstyles have come full circle! With a host of A-listers opting for throwback styles – scrunchie anyone? We have seen modern versions of Baby Spice’s pigtails, the iconic Rachel cut and even crimped hair has made a comeback.

So, if you want to relive your youth or see the ’90s hairstyles that are being modernised by the likes of Gigi Hadid and Blake Lively, simply keep scrolling…

The Rachel

90s hairstyles: Jennifer Aniston "Rachel" inspired hairstyle
Credit: Instagram.com/cineytvfans

Of course, we had to kick-start our popular hairstyles in the 1990s with the iconic Rachel cut. Friends fans will already be familiar with this voluminous, shoulder-length look worn by Jennifer Aniston in the hit TV show. Check out those chunky highlights, too.

The ’90s Pixie Cut

90s hairstyles: Winona Ryder dark brown pixie cut
Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

If you’re looking for ’90s pixie hair inspo, look no further than Winona Ryder’s cropped mane. At the time, Linda Evangelista also had a similar, tousled cut.

Dreamlover Curls

90s hairstyles: Mariah Carey with naturally curly brown hair with side bangs wearing a pink dress
We are still obsessed with this ’90s style. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

The only way to be a heartbreaker (get it?) in the ’90s was to wear Mariah Carey style curls. Her highlighted brown curls and side fringe was her signature style before the noughties hit.

TRESemmé Volume & Lift Mousse Front

Editor’s tip: Want to work this undone and tousled ‘do? Then all you need is a quick spritz of a texturising mousse, like the TRESemmé Volume and Lift MousseIt will help to enhance natural movement, define layers and prevent your hair from falling flat. Talk about a multi-tasker!

Poetic Justice Box Braids

90s hairstyles: Janet Jackson box braids from Poetic Justice movie wearing a black beret and hoop earrings
The box braid OG. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

Making her acting debut in the ’90s movie, Poetic Justice, Janet Jackson’s thick box braids were (and still are) a legendary look.

The ’90s love for box braids didn’t stop there, as Stacey Dash’s character Dionne from Clueless (obvs) championed the look, too.

SheaMoisture Miracle Hair Styler Leave-In Treatment Front of bottle view

Editor’s tip: If you want a product to do the styling for you, try SheaMoisture Miracle Hair Styler Leave-In Treatment, a real genie in a bottle!

Micro Box Braids

90s hairstyles: Jada Pickett Smith with medium length micro braid
Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

Micro braids were also a ’90s fave! From Brandy to Jada Pinkett Smith, every famous black celebrity at the time gave this style a go.

Low Pigtails

90s hairstyles: Sarah Jessica Parker with blonde low pigtails
Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

Another example of pigtails in action, this time on Sex and the City’s star Sarah Jessica Parker.

’90s Chunky Highlights

Geri Halliwell in the '90s with ginger and blonde chinky highlights
Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

Another Spice Girl who we got our hair inspo from? Ginger Spice! Back in the 1990s, Geri Halliwell experimented with chunky front highlights (aka e-girl hair).

’90s Supermodel Blowout

90s hairstyles: Cindy Crawfod big '90s blowout on brown highlighted hair. Cindy is wearing a red camisole dress and red lipstick
Pass us the hair lacquer. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

We saw plenty of BIG hair in the ’80s so it’s no surprise that the style continued to dominate throughout the ’90s. While big blowout styles were most notably seen on supermodels such as Claudia Schiffer and Helena Christensen, no one done it quite so big as Cindy Crawford.

Aaliyah’s Deep Swoop

Aaliyah in the 90s with signature swoop hairstyle
We’ve been back and forth with our love for this hairstyle. Credit: Getty

Aaliyah had some pretty great hairstyles and this deep swoop side fringe has to be her most recognisable style. Keeping her locks poker straight with a glossy sheen, Aaliyah had everyone styling their tresses in a deep side parting and smoothing their hair along their face for a faux fringe finish.

Wispy Updos

90s hairstyles: Kate Moss wispy hairstyle at 90s fashion show
Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

Nineties girls loved leaving two wispy bits of hair out in the front, especially when wearing messy or polished updos. If it’s good enough for Kate Moss…

Straight Hair

90s hairstyles: Naomi Campbell with signature dark long, straight hair
Credit: Getty

Naomi Campbell is another British supermodel we couldn’t stop obsessing over in the ’90s. Her love for long straight hairstyles both on and off the runway, as evidenced here, inspired us all.

Flipped Hair

90s hairstyles: Drew Barrymore with platinum blonde curled bob with fringe
Credit: Jim Smeal/WireImage

The humble bob became one of the must-have styles of the ’90s thanks to Drew Barrymore. Wearing her blonde bob with distinctive flipped out ends, Drew became the poster girl for those wanting a more off-beat hairstyle.

Half-Up Hair With Scrunchie

Danielle Fishel from Boy Meets World with half-up, half-down scrunchie hairstyke
Credit: Instagram.com/real_topanga_lawrence

Hands up who used to own a hair scrunchie back in the day? Loved by the likes of Britney Spears and Danielle Fishel, every ’90s babe always had one (or two) at hand.

’90s Layers

Danielle Fishel with layered long blonde hair on the red carpet
Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

Face-framing layers, anyone? If you’re ever looking for haircut inspo, just look at this picture of Danielle Fishel. Her gorgeous, shoulder-length layers add movement and bounce to her mane.

’90s Crimps

Tia Carrere with long crimped hair in the '90s
Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

Can’t decide if crimping is for you? Well, back in the ’90s everyone was rocking this quirky trend. For a more subtle take on it, just look to Tia Carrere for inspiration!

Bandana Mania

Jennifer Lopez with bejewelled bandana hairstyle in the early 2000s
Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

When you want to channel the ’90s and early ’00s, grab a bandana, fold it in half and tie it around your head.

Headbands

Cast of Clueless in the 90s wearing headbands
Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

If you’re wondering where Blair Waldorf got her headband obsession from, this might give you a clue! This preppy look from Clueless is a ’90s staple we can still get behind.

Blunt Long Bob

90s hairstyles: Britney Spears with long blonde bob with blunt cut
Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

While you might think Kim Kardashian West started this trend, Britney Spears first debuted this iconic blunt lob in the ’90s.

Pink Hair

Kate Moss with pink hair in the '90s on the Versace runway
Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

For Donatella Versace’s spring ’99 collection, Kate Moss’ hair was dyed this dreamy pink colour. Since then, the love for pink hair hasn’t stopped.

Want more inspiration? Just check out the ’90s hairstyles we’re crushing on and find out how to get them.

 

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