First there was feral girl winter, then came BRAT summer, now, the internet has broken for the millionth time this past week after the announcement of a long-awaited musical comeback. Last Tuesday marked the official return of Britpop royalty, the beloved brother duo Oasis. Hailing from Manchester, the iconic pair are gearing up for their reunion tour next year after more than a decade-long hiatus. Naturally, this can only mean one thing – the 90s are back! Get ready to drag out your ripped low waisted jeans, butterfly hair clips and have your old school shades at the ready, because there’s a whole lot of throwbacks ahead of us.
In today’s blog, we’ll be filling you in on all of the most iconic 90s hairstyles with and without hair extensions, plus all of the makeup and hair accessories you’ll need in your handbag to perfect the ultimate 90s aesthetic!
Britpop Beauties: The Comeback of 90s Hairstyles
Britpop fashion is on everyone’s FYPs as of late. From choppy, DIY haircuts to parkas and bucket hats, whispers of the Oasis reunion throughout the course of the past year has sparked a wave of new fashion and hair trends on TikTok. Searches for ‘Oasis hair’ and ‘Liam Gallagher hair 90s’ are through the roof, while the term ‘Oasis band’ is up on Pinterest by 105 per cent this month – but it’s not just the Liam Gallagher hair that everyone’s obsessing over, women are just as interested in recreating their own rock hairstyles!
Butterfly Business
The butterfly haircut remains one of the hottest 90s hairstyles on everyone’s mood boards this autumn. This hairstyle takes its name from Sunnie Brook, celebrity hairstylist whose roster of glamorous clients includes names like Jenna Ortega and Emily In Paris’ very own Ashley Park. But what’s so special about it? Similar to many grunge hairstyles such as the wolf cut, the butterfly boasts even more layers and a more elevated structure.
Dirty Updo
From Pamela Anderson to Naomi Campbell, messy buns have always been stylish and are synonymous with the 90s red carpet. The idea of a ‘dirty’ bun stems from hair that feels and looks a little more lived in, giving it more texture to shape and play with. For an even fuller bun, consider adding our clip in one piece top up, or our versatile clip in fringe to frame your face and add extra flair. Accessories also go a long way. Consider applying butterfly hair clips or hair gems around the crown of your head to draw attention to your updo.
Mod Madness
From hair, to clothes, to attitude, the Britpop aesthetic was birthed from the mod scene of the 1960s, a cultural phenomenon and form of rebellion that dominated the UK. A mod haircut is defined by its unconventional lines and layers, creating a shaggy, unkept look that surprisingly pairs well with crisp, smart clothing. For women, layers, wispy fringes and micro bangs are also a staple for any mod look.
Power Ponytail
The power pony is the easiest way to turn heads at any event. This look incorporates a voluminous high ponytail with a deep side part. For a traditional 90s feel, ponytails would typically be curled at the end, creating a swoopy, preppy effect. To recreate this, start by using our Pintail Comb to separate your hair into your desired parting, before securing it in place with hair gel or hair wax.
Our clip in Wraparound Ponytail is absolutely ideal for adding extra volume and length to your tresses and is available from 14 to 24 inches long. To keep your hair looking snatched a sleek, be sure to use a few spritzes of our Moisturising Silky Hair Spray.
@ _oliviamahan wears our 24” ponytail in the shade Barbie Blonde.
Bombshell Blowout
The likes of Cindy Crawford, Clauda Schiffer and Alicia Silverstone brought all the hair drama to the table. The 90s blowout hair, also coined as 90s supermodel hair, is still a must-have today, with women flocking to their local salons to achieve this iconic bouncy blowout. Whether you're stepping out for the evening or simply running errands, a fluffy, bombshell blowout adds a touch of glamour to your day and makes you feel more put-together. If you’re looking to perfect this look at home or without applying any heat, you can try the heatless curling method with Velcro rollers or by wrapping your hair within a curl or silk ribbon to create completely natural waves overnight.
@officialkyndall wears our 24" Seamless clip in hair extensions in the shade Flaming Ginger.
Mullet Moment
Both men and women are fully embracing the mullet, also known as a ‘shag’ haircut. Sometimes known as the ‘rockstar girlfriend’ hairstyle, the mullet can work on both medium to long hair. With Oasis, Nirvana and other influential bands on the scene, 90s grunge hairstyles were automatically a new favourite. To maintain a mullet haircut, you’ll want to keep on top of the layers and make sure they don’t get tangled. Shorter hair that naturally curls can quite easily get tangled and knotted, but can all be solved thanks to our Detangling Hairbrush.
Pixie Princess
Cute and simple, the pixie haircut first made its debut as early as the 1930s, when flapper girls embraced the freedom of super short hair. Since then, hairstyles have evolved massively, allowing women to play with a variety of lengths and layers. Winona Ryder’s cool girl mystique brought the pixie cut back to the forefront, ditching her usual voluminous jet-black bob. A pixie cut is typically cropped short around the middle of the nape with neat and tidy layers.
On the flip side, if you find yourself growing tired of shorter hair and are craving some length, permanent hair extensions like nano rings are perfect for short, fine hair adding instant length to your locks. Hair must be at least 4 inches long for you to be able to add nano ring hair extensions as opposed to other types that require at least 5-6 inches.
Crimped Cutie
Finally, we have the pièce de resistance, crimped hair! Known now as mermaid waves, crimped hair was a revolutionary hairstyle in the 90s and had its very own heated styling tool to match. If you can’t get your hands on a crimper, then the Mermade Waver is your best bet. Before styling, always make sure to apply our Heat Protection Spray to add a barrier between your locks and heat damage. For extra oomph, try adding a set of our seamless curly clip ins.
For an in-depth tutorial on how to get that fresh off the beach look, make sure to read our expert guide on Mermaid Waves. @miastevenson uses our 22” Seamless clip ins in the shade Lightest Brown.
90s Hair Accessories and Makeup
90s Accessories
Sometimes, less isn’t always more, especially when it comes to accessorising. Butterfly hair clips, hair gems, hair gel, glitter, claw clips and wavy headbands have all influenced us is one way or another, especially for those who grew up in the early 2000s.
Accessories like these were adorned by many of our favourite film and TV stars, including Buffy, Mary Kate and Ashley, Lizzie McGuire and pretty much every teen movie IT girl and sitcom star you can think of. A hair accessory, no matter how big or small, is a way of standing out from the crowd and presenting your own unique twist, so whether it’s a pink headband or a flower claw clip, your hair will shine above everyone else’s.
90s Makeup
Although nowadays we can’t get enough of a glowy base and high pigment blush, the 90s couldn’t be more of the opposite. Matte makeup was all the rage, with little-to-no sign of rouge, but instead a paler base made possible with powder to create a smooth, natural look. Lipsticks, lip colours and lip liners were mainly nude, while eyebrows remained skinny and sculpted above grey and brown eyeshadow.
Conclusion:
In the ever-spinning carousel of fashion, 90s hairstyles remain a time capsule of bold experimentation, individuality, and timeless chic. From the scrunchie-clad high ponytails to chunky highlights to the grunge-inspired, tousled cuts, the decade's hair trends continue to inspire and reinvent our modern styles. Whether you're channelling your inner supermodel with a blowout or embracing the zigzag parting of Mandy Moore, 90s hair nostalgia has found its way back to the forefront of beauty. It’s a testament to the era’s enduring influence, proving that while trends may come and go, the essence of 90s cool will always be in vogue. So, embrace the throwback, because when it comes to hair, the 90s are forever that moment.
Whether you opt for clip in hair extensions or professional hair extensions, Cliphair has got you covered! All of our human hair extensions, also known as Remy hair extensions, are made from 100% Remy human hair. Our extensions are some of the highest quality clip-in hair extensions and permanent extensions on the market.
