How to Get 90s Hair

Co-authored by Ashley Adams

Last Updated: February 22, 2023 References

There are many iconic 90s hairstyles to choose from, so you can be fly no matter what type of hair you have. Whether you want straight hair, braids or curls, you can add 90s flair with the staple “hair flip” or a few butterfly clips. Want to put your hair up? Think high ponytails, pigtails, or side buns. And who could forget the 90s scrunchies? You’re sure to look fresh if you make sure to detangle your hair with a wide-tooth comb before styling.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Flipping Your Hair to the Side

1
Add volume to your roots. Blow dry your hair with a diffuser to pump up the volume, paying extra attention to your roots.^{[1]
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Research source} In addition to or instead of blow drying, you can tease your roots. Back-comb dry hair in one- to two-inch sections with a fine-toothed comb.
- Try using volumizer spray on damp hair before blowdrying. Use hairspray with hold on each sectioned of teased hair as you go.
2
Choose your texture. Use a heat protectant spray first to protect your locks. Straighten your hair with a flattening iron, or crimp it with a crimping iron. Alternately, add large curls to the ends only.

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3
Part your hair to one side. Use the end of a tail comb to create a part, and flip your hair over to one side. Wet a brush or comb with water or styling product. Place the brush at the top middle of your forehead near your hairline. Swoop the brush upwards and towards the side opposite the part. Seal the look with hairspray.
- Repeat the brush or comb swoop multiple times, if needed, to achieve the look you want before applying hairspray.
- If desired, repeat the swoop on the hair below the part to the side of your face. Move the brush horizontally to put a bit of wave there.
- Use your fingers to comb through your locks and flip them to the side throughout the day like Cher from the movie Clueless. If you don’t use a firm hold hairspray, you can even tousle the flip from one side to another!

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Braiding Your Hair

1
Make pigtail braids. Use the end of a tail comb to part your hair down the center, separating all of your hair into two sections. Brush the sections and secure them with hair ties. Use two mirrors to check that the part is even in the back. Braid each pigtail, securing the ends with ribbon or hair ties a couple of inches from the bottom.
- Britney Spears’ music video “Baby One More Time” made this schoolgirl hairstyle 90s famous!^{[2]
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- Add fuzzy pom pom hair elastics to the pigtails near your head to finish the look.
2
Wear box braids. You can achieve 90s hair with box braids in two ways. Box braid your hair and put on a “cabbie” (also called “applejack”) hat like Janet Jackson in Poetic Justice. Alternately, box braid slightly damp hair and leave it in overnight.^{[3]
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- Braiding damp hair the night before will give you a hybrid between crimp and curl like Christina Aguilera in the 90’s music video “What A Girl Wants.”^{[4]
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3
Put micro braids or twists in pigtail buns. Micro braids take hours to do and are best done by a professional at a salon. If you already have micro braids, this look will be easy for you! If not, try a similar version of Brandy Norwood’s iconic 90s side buns by putting your hair in twists first. Secure the braids or twists in buns, one on each side of your head.^{[5]
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- Micro braids and box braids can be done with natural hair or by adding extensions. Extensions will add fullness, length, and longevity to your style.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Working with Short Hair

1
Spike your hair. Men and women rocked spiked locks in the 90s. Train your hair upwards by drying it vertically with a blow dryer and brush. Then add pomade, gel or hairspray to seal the look.^{[6]
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2
Wear a 90s pixie cut. Use Velcro rollers or a blow drier with a diffuser to add some volume to your roots. Then part your hair on the side and comb it over. You can let it hang loose like Linda Evangelista’s 90s hairstyle, pin it behind your ear like Gwyneth Paltrow did, or train it to one side with pomade like Drew Barrymore.
- Try tousling and spiking a short ‘do in all directions like Winona Ryder’s 90s look.
- Brush your bangs straight down to emulate how Toni Braxton and Demi Moore wore their short cuts.
3
Mimic a layered bob. Jennifer Aniston on “Friends” wore one of the most recognizable 90s hairstyles. You can repeat this look with or without layered hair. Just separate your hair into two layers, curling the top layer inwards and the bottom layer outwards.
- Try using varying sizes of round brushes to blow-dry your hair to add the volume and curl.^{[7]
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- You can use curlers or a large barrel curling wand to achieve this look.
4
Make a 90s pompadour. Run some hair paste through your locks before blow-drying. Part your hair on the side. Then blow-dry your locks as you run your fingers through them upwards and towards each side of the part.^{[8]
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- Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt were a couple of stars who rocked the 90s pompadour.
- A round brush and blow dryer can help you shape your pompadour.
5
Do a quick and easy grunge style. Add a bit of hair paste if you want your hair to look semi-wet, or serum if you want it somewhat shiny. Comb your hair with a wide tooth comb until you achieve an untidy appearance. A little hairspray and you’re good to go!^{[9]
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- The tousled fresh-out-of-bed look was worn by Kurt Cobain and Johnny Depp.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Styling and Accessorizing

1
Pull out sections or “baby hair.” If you have medium to long hair and some face-framing locks, you can do the famous piecey 90s look. Another option is to showcase your “baby hair,” a popular look in the 90s.^{[10]
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Research source} Hold your hair up loosely with one hand as you craft one of these looks with your other hand. Then finish the rest of your hair with a ponytail or updo.^{[11]
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- For the loose strands look, pull a couple of locks from the front to hang down by your cheeks.
- For the “baby hair” look, use a toothbrush and some styling powder to pull down the fine hair around your hairline. You can use a gel to hold these baby hairs in place, if desired.^{[12]
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2
Wear scrunchies. Put your hair in a high or side ponytail with a single fabric scrunchie. Alternately, go for the three scrunchies look! Pull half of your hair up in a scrunchie. Add a second scrunchie halfway down your half ponytail. Then secure all of the hair hanging down with a third scrunchie in a low ponytail.
- You may want to wear hair elastics underneath the scrunchies, since fabric scrunchies have a tendency to slide down.
3
Add some 90s signature plastic to your hair. Wear a jeweled comb headband…especially 90s if you wear it with spiral curls! Or, try pulling up small sections of your hair and securing them with mini butterfly clips.^{[13]
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Community Q&A

Question

Did women in the 90s wear long hair extensions?

Community Answer

Yes, many women wore hair extensions in the 90s.
Question

Was long hair common in the 90s?

Community Answer

Yes, long hair was very common in the 90s, both for men and women.
Question

How do I get my hair like the 90s supermodels?

Community Answer

Try a blowout, and then tons of hairspray and teasing. Otherwise you could just go to the salon and ask then for tips or to do it for you.

Warnings

Apply hair spray in a well-ventilated area and keep the can or bottle away from heat.

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Make sure to shield your eyes when applying hairspray.

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