5 Early-2000s Hairstyles Dominating the Trends
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When did everyone become so obsessed with the early 2000s? Not that I'm complaining, but between the return of blue eyeshadow, analog hobbies, and extra chunky highlights, I feel like I woke up in a time capsule. Of course, like most trends, it was only a matter of time before the hairstyles that ruled the early aughts became popular again.
"As music, fashion, and beauty continue to revisit the early 2000s, hairstyles naturally follow," says celebrity hairstylist Marc Ballance . "What's different this time is that we're modernizing those looks—keeping the original inspiration while making them softer, healthier, and much more wearable for today."
Younger you is going to think you're the coolest person (like, ever) with these five early-2000s hair trends that are back and better than ever.
Chunky Highlights
I remember begging my mom for chunky highlights after seeing Kelly Clarkson on the American Idol stage. (Spoiler: she said no.) Now that the style is resurging, I'm about to live out my early-2000s hair dreams. In fact, celebrity hairstylist Jackson Simmonds says more and more clients are asking for these unmistakable highlights.
"Think of chunky highlights as the predecessor to the money piece," Simmonds says. "This isn't a trend you want to DIY," he adds: The process of achieving the perfect chunky sections includes adding highlights and lowlights. It's a heavy lift, but the results unleash your inner pop star and are so worth it.
Gregg DeGuire - Getty Images
The Flippy Cut
You know the French bob and the boyfriend bob , but have you heard of the flippy? This short cut defined the early 2000s, and it's finally making its way back into the limelight. "Reba McEntire and Lisa Rinna pioneered this style," says Simmonds. The mid-length bob gets a personality pop from flicky/flipped ends that are cut with a razor for more texture and definition. "To complete the look, accentuate the ends with paste and hairspray so they're up and out." So fab.
Amanda Edwards - Getty Images
Sleek, Glassy Blowouts
Forget glass skin—glass hair is what the people want. "The return of polished, sleek hair has been influenced by celebrities like Anne Hathaway, whose elegant, healthy-looking hair has become incredibly aspirational," says Ballance
Maintaining a sleek, shiny mane comes down to the products you use, as well as your styling methods. For a finish that sparkles, use an at-home clear hair gloss, like the Oribe Mirror Rinse Glass Hair Treatment , once a week. Then, Ballance says it's also a good idea to apply a smoothing cream (he recommends the IGK Good Behavior Smoothing Cream ) from mid-lengths to ends before blowing it out.
Blowout brushes, like the Dyson AirWrap or Shark FlexStyle , are more intuitive to use for at-home blowouts. However, if you don't have one, Ballance says to "use a large round brush, wrapping each section around the brush while directing heat down the hair shaft. This creates shine, smoothness, and soft movement without making the hair look overly styled."
Sylvain Gaboury - Getty Images
Face-Framing Layers
If you aren't ready to commit to the big chop, ask your stylist for face-framing layers, à la early-2000s supermodel—like Giselle Bündchen and Adriana Lima. "This cut creates movement around the face while still keeping plenty of length," says Ballance.
Michael Buckner - Getty Images
Hair Clips Galore
Let your inner early-2000s kid shine with your favorite hair clip, whether it's a banana clip, claw clip, or itty-bitty butterfly clips. Simmonds loves how this trend is returning because it makes hair more fun and individualistic. The goal here is to let your creativity shine, so the bolder, the better.
Amy Sussman - Getty Images
Meet the experts
- Marc Ballance is a celebrity hairstylist at IGK Salon in New York City.
- Jackson Simmonds is a New York-based celebrity hairstylist with over 20 years of experience.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Mary Honkusis a contributing beauty editor for Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including a deep dive on why your hair gets so oily and making a case for coconut oil for hair . She's an authority in all beauty categories, and her hair is her prized possession. For this story, she chatted with two stylists to learn what early-2000s hairstyles are making a comeback.
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