Your ultimate guide to 90s hairstyles

You’d think we’d be over the 90s but our obsession with nostalgia will never leave us. And when it comes to 90s trends, how could we ever get over style icons like Rachel Green and Cher Horowitz? Just don’t even get us started on mini bags and slip dresses as we will be here all day. But if we're talking about a love that shakes you to your core, then let us talk about our love for 90s hair—so here is your guide to the trendiest 90s hairstyles that are still seriously stylish today. 

Nothing was off-limits when it came to hair in the 90s, whether you wanted a larger-than-life blowout, or to wear pink clips in your hair at the age of 25. You could be as edgy or cutesy as you wanted and this is something we’re all more than happy to embrace right now.

Social media is basically just a love letter to 90s clothes and especially hairstyles. You can spot the looks on everyone from Bella Hadid to Olivia Rodrigo, and we’ve rounded up the best and easiest.

1. Scrunchie updos 

Up first, the humble scrunchie. For some unfathomable reason, the scrunchie has often been very unfairly seen as ugly. Perhaps we are biased, having been born a bit too late into the 90s to really have any idea of what was going on, but to us, the scrunchie is the quintessential accessory of the era, and one to be respected.

First of all, they don’t tear out your hair like a basic hair tie—and they create the ultimate, preppy 90s look with minimal effort, as shown by TikToker taylor_pfeffer.

@taylor_pfeffer

Some cute ways I’ve been wearing my hair with this scrunchie✨💕 ##hairstyles ##taylorxhairstyles ##hairtok ##viral ##trends ##fyp ##scrunchiehairstyle

♬ kim taehyung supremacy - rad

The most beloved styles are the scrunchie half up half down, the low scrunchie ponytail and the low bun. If you’re looking for inspiration, just look at Phoebe Buffay in the first two seasons of Friends, for her wavy half up half down scrunchie looks. Hailey Bieber is also a lover of the scrunchie and you can spot them all over her Instagram.

All you really need to do with a scrunchie is gather the hair and tie it up—or section the top section of your hair—and you’ve got yourself a look.

2. Mini side braids 

This style in particular is very trendy right now. You’ll have seen it on everyone from the Kardashians to Dua Lipa. 

All it consists of is two face-framing plaits when your hair is either down or up. Simple and instantly cute and adds a bit of flair to a normal hair-down day.

3. Butterfly clips

Ah, the butterfly clip, who would have thought it'd come fluttering back into our lives—but we’re glad it did.

This trend has been single-handedly brought back by model Bella Hadid, who posted a picture of a few brightly colored butterfly clips dotted around in her long, dark hair.

These are obviously quite a look, but they’re also a very simple and easy way to make your hair look a bit edgy and like you’ve done something wild—when you’ve actually just chucked in four butterfly clips.  

To achieve this look, either gather up small top sections of hair and just clip them in place, or you could clip a few to some face-framing braids, or clip away your bangs—and you’ve got an instantly 90s look.

This also goes for all colored clips, so if you’ve got a childhood jewelry box full of old hair accessories, you’re in luck.

 4. The spiky bun 

We’re not going to pretend that we’re not obsessed with the spiky bun. It’s the perfect look when your hair is greasy or if you don’t have time to do a full look—but still want to look chic.

The spiky bun is a slicked back bun that you tie either low or high, but the aim is to have the ends of your hair spiking up. You can have it fully slicked back or leave out face-framing tendrils or bangs for a more messy, relaxed look.

It’s effortlessly cool and just looking at this 90s picture of Kate Moss makes us want to do our hair like this right now.

This style also looks incredible using a claw grip instead of a hair tie, as we see here on Kendall Jenner.

5. The 90s bob 

Obviously a bit of a style commitment, but the 90s bob is a classic. The sharp middle parting look is seriously chic and you can easily work in another 90s style of curling out the ends. 

As you can see here on model Naomi Campbell in 1995…

It’s easy, low-maintenance and will make washing your hair in the shower a joy. 

6. Bubble braids

Bubble braids are a fun one. You can either wear them in a face-framing way or do a full bubble ponytail or bubble pigtails. To do this, you need a pack of mini elastics and you just tie them, spaced out down your hair to create that bubble look.

They would make the cutest going out look, especially paired with a slip dress and chunky shoes.

@itsmaddyk

4 easy bubble braid hairstyles!🤍#bubblebraid #hairtutorial #pinteresthairstyles#voiceeffects

♬ Pure Imagination - Channel Blue

7. Feathered bangs 

Bangs never seem to disappear when it comes to hair trends, especially when it comes to feathered bangs. They are not harsh like other fringe styles, they’re meant to just frame your face and to cover your forehead messily.

This look is everywhere right now thanks to Instagram Influencers like Matilda Djerf.

8. The 90s blowout

The 90s blowout is a really iconic look for that era. It was made famous by the likes of Alicia Silverstone and Cindy Crawford. Jennifer Aniston also had a very similar hairstyle, known as The Rachel, which was all the rage at the time.

A 90s blowout is all about volume, with blown-out bangs and curled-out ends. You can get his look easily with a hairdryer brush, some rollers and a lot of salt spray.