8 Retro Hair Trends Straight From the ’90s

8 Retro Hair Trends Straight From the ’90s

The 1990s were a revolutionary time for hair fashion. From TV shows to music videos, these iconic styles defined a generation and left a lasting mark on pop culture. Now, these nostalgic looks are making a major comeback as today’s trendsetters rediscover the fun and attitude of ’90s hair. Let’s revisit these blast-from-the-past styles that are suddenly cool again.

1. Butterfly Clips Galore

Those tiny, colorful butterfly clips turned basic hair into a full-on ’90s fashion moment. Girls rocked mini twists across their heads, securing each one with a vibrant plastic clip. Bonus points if your head looked like a butterfly garden.

Pop stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera rocked these whimsical hair accessories on red carpets and in music videos. Sometimes arranged in neat rows or scattered randomly throughout the hair, these clips added instant ’90s flair.

Beyond butterflies, the trend expanded to include flower shapes, stars, and glittery varieties. The look paired perfectly with other ’90s staples like platform sandals and baby tees for the ultimate throwback style.

2. Crimped Hair Craze

Armed with zigzag-plated crimping irons, ’90s teens created voluminous, textured locks that stood out in any crowd. The distinctive zigzag pattern added volume and edge to otherwise straight hair, becoming a weekend party staple.

Stars like Britney Spears and the Spice Girls embraced this dramatic texture for music videos and performances. Some went all-out with fully crimped heads, while others opted for just a few crimped sections mixed with straight hair for dimension.

The technique worked on all hair lengths but looked especially dramatic on longer styles. Today’s crimping has evolved with larger plates for a more subtle effect, but the original tight zigzag remains the authentic ’90s version that’s making a comeback.

3. Sky-High Scrunchies

Fabric-covered elastic bands revolutionized ponytails in the ’90s. Scrunchies came in every color, pattern, and material imaginable – from neon spandex to crushed velvet – and became the essential hair accessory of the decade.

Half-up styles secured with a scrunchie perched right on top of the head were particularly popular. The look was completed by letting the rest of the hair hang loose or pulling it into a high ponytail that sprouted from the crown like a fountain.

Celebrities like Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson rocked oversize scrunchies during performances. Unlike regular hair ties, scrunchies were gentle on hair and doubled as wrist accessories when not in use – a practical fashion statement that’s enjoying a major revival today.

4. The Rachel Cut

Jennifer Aniston’s layered, shoulder-length haircut on “Friends” became the most requested salon style of the decade. Women everywhere carried magazine clippings to their stylists hoping to replicate the bouncy, face-framing layers that defined Rachel Green’s look.

Hairstylist Chris McMillan created this accidental phenomenon that required regular maintenance and lots of round-brush blowouts. The cut featured choppy layers throughout with shorter pieces around the face.

Despite Aniston later admitting she struggled to style it herself, the haircut remains one of the most influential styles ever. Its legacy continues as modern versions adapt the classic shape with softer, more natural-looking layers.

5. Chunky Highlights

In the late ’90s, hair color was all about bold contrast. Thick, unmistakable streaks—often platinum blonde against deep brown or black—created a dramatic, striped effect that was anything but subtle.

Kelly Clarkson and Christina Aguilera famously sported this dramatic look. Stylists would use foil to separate thick sections of hair, sometimes placing highlights strategically around the face for maximum impact.

The technique worked on all hair types but looked especially striking on straight styles where the color contrast was most visible. While modern highlighting aims for natural-looking dimension, the ’90s version celebrated the artificial, high-contrast look that screamed “I just left the salon!”

6. Mall Bangs Revolution

Few hair trends from the ’90s were as iconic as sky-high bangs. Achieved through intense teasing and layers of hairspray, they soared upward before flowing back toward the crown like a perfectly sculpted wave.

The technique required serious dedication: blow-drying the bangs upward with a round brush, backcombing at the roots, and finishing with enough hairspray to withstand wind, rain, and high school hallways. Variations included the softer “mall bangs” and the more extreme “wall bangs.”

Teen stars like Tiffani Amber Thiessen from “Saved by the Bell” popularized this distinctive look. While certainly not subtle, these statement bangs defined a generation of yearbook photos and continue to inspire Halloween costumes and ’90s-themed parties today.

7. Spiky Pixie Cuts

Short, edgy haircuts with textured, spiky tops challenged traditional feminine styles. Celebrities like Winona Ryder and Halle Berry pioneered these bold cuts that required minimal styling but maximum attitude.

The key to the authentic ’90s pixie was the contrast between super-short sides and a longer, textured top that could be spiked up with gel or wax. Unlike today’s softer pixies, the ’90s version embraced sharp angles and deliberate messiness.

These low-maintenance cuts freed women from lengthy styling routines while making a strong fashion statement. The look paired perfectly with the decade’s grunge aesthetic and minimalist fashion trends, offering a rebellious alternative to the big hair of the previous decade.

8. Tendrils & Face-Framing Pieces

Deliberately pulled-out strands of hair framing the face added softness to updos throughout the ’90s. Two thin pieces of hair – one on each side – were left out when creating ponytails, buns, or other pulled-back styles.

Prom hairstyles and wedding looks particularly embraced this trend. The tendrils were often curled with a small-barrel curling iron for a romantic, wispy effect or straightened for a sleeker look, depending on the overall style.

Celebrity fans included Pamela Anderson and Alicia Silverstone in “Clueless.” The face-framing pieces softened otherwise severe updos and highlighted facial features. Today’s revival of the trend typically features slightly thicker sections for a more modern interpretation of this quintessential ’90s detail.