From J.Lo to Jennifer Aniston, These '90s Hairstyles Need to Come Back (2024)

Ah, the '90s. An era defined by MTV, Lisa Frank, and more boy bands than we care to count. (For the record,I think 98 Degrees was underrated.) Some ofmy absolute favorite pop culture moments were born inthis decade, and whenI think back on it,I can't help but relish in the wonderfully wild '90s hairstyles.

From messy buns to butterfly clips to abroad selection of bangs, there was something special about the hair trends from this time. It girls of the era, like Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, and Gwen Stefani,served up enough inspiration to carry us right into the following decade.

If you're as nostalgic asIam, then you'll love this roundup of the 20 most quintessentially '90s hairstyles we would low-key wear today.I might get some strange looks, butI'll never shy away from an adventurous beauty look. Keep reading for our favorites.

1. The Twist-Back

The only thing that could make this style more '90s is a butterfly clip placed at the end of the twisted section. This half-rolled hairstyle, also dubbed "picture-day hair" by the elementary school set, ruled the decade.

2. The Winona Pixie

The subtle layers andlaid-backstyling made this pixie cut an instant hit when Winona Ryder debuted it in the late '90s.

3. Micro Braids

No one rocked micro braids quite like Brandy Norwood. This was her signature hairstyle on her hit TV show Moesha as well as in her real life.

4. Bumped Bob

The soft curl added to this classic bob adds an interesting element tothehairstyle. Shown here on an angelic-looking Angelina Jolie, this spin on the bob would make us do a double take if we saw it walking down the street today.

5. Mall Bangs

There was a period of time when it seemed like everyTV character was sportingthese voluminous, feathered bangs. From D.J. Tanner to Kelly Bundy and, of course, Tiffani Thiessen's Saved by the Bellcharacter, Kelly Kapowski, these bangs were the mark of a cool girl.

6. Claw Bangs

On the other end of the bang spectrum were these fringe bangs, defined by face-framing, peekaboo pieces.

7. Teeny Double Dutch Pigtails

This easy hairstyle screams the '90s. Britney Spears fashioned her short hair into two messy plaits fastened on the ends with elastics and just enough hair peeking out of the bottoms for a playful 'do.

8. The Flip

From the pencil-thin eyebrows to the dark lipstick and the leopard-print collar, this photo of our queenDrew Barrymore is like a time capsule into the '90s. Her flipped hair (and those enamel hair clips) is another huge clue as to which decade we're looking at.

9. Bedazzled Bandanas

Okay, so in all fairness, this photo was taken in the year 2000. But it's important to call out here because it exemplifies the influence that '90s hip-hop had on style and culture well into the decade that followed. J.Lo's bedazzled bandana accentuating her braided hairstyle is proof.

10. Jumbo Box Braids

Janet Jackson's braids circa Poetic Justicewere (and still are) a legendary look. The addition of this newsboy cap solidifies it as one of our favorite looks of hers.

11. Butterfly Clips

Stefani wasn't afraid to push the envelope when it came to hair. But here, we see her adopting a trend that took hold of just about every '90s girl: the infamous butterfly clip. It was such a thing.

12. Shortest Possible Platinum Pixie

Jada Pinkett Smithshowed us plenty of short haircuts in the '90s, but this bleach-blonde, barely there cut takes the cake.

13. The Hilary Banks

Everything aboutThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airisa perfect representation of'90s life,but nothing compares to Hilary Banks's perfectly coiled coif, which she'd often top with a statement hat or oversize bow to tie herensembletogether.

14. Messy Bun + Wispy Tendrils

Don't be fooled by the name: The messy bun could be a super-chic look. Paltrow proved this point on a '90s red carpet, where she kept with the undone theme by letting some face-framing curls hang loose.

15. The Rachel

Do we even need to explain? Didn't think so.

16. The Sky-High Pony

Leave it to supermodel Tyra Banks to claim even more height with this sleek high pony. The flipped curl and swooshed bang add that much more '90s flair.

17. Antennae

Nineties girls were all about an undone look, as evidenced by the trend of leaving just two straight strandsof hair out in the front of an otherwise polished style.

18. Two Braids

In an era marked by plenty of grungier styles, this almost childlike style really stood out. Note the clipped bangs as well.

19. Chunky Highlights

Apparently subtlety just wasn't in style in the '90s. Kelly Rowland's lurid streaks, coupled with her choppy cut, were clearly meant to stand out.

20. Scrunchies

Scrunchie madness was such a defining trend of the '90s. They were perfect for securing any kind of ponytail or even just wearing around one's wrist like a bracelet. You know, just in case.

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

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