Throw your winter jackets into storage and book yourself a salon appointment because summer’s around the corner, and we all know what that means: a new look. And this year? It’s time to go ’90s. According to Google Trends, searches for ’90s haircuts have increased by 82 per cent over the past year. Meanwhile the likes of Winona Ryder, Gwyneth Paltrow and Christy Turlington are dominating our summer moodboards.
If you are in the market for a summer hair reinvention, it’s worth spending some time figuring out what you want and what’ll ultimately suit you (don’t be afraid to crowdsource opinions). There’s a specific type of anguish to leaving the salon with a haircut that doesn’t feel right, especially if it’s shorter than you’re used to (“I look like a pencil!”). To that end, if you’re ready for a refreshed chop and need some inspiration, these short ’90s hairstyles are a good place to start.
Slicked-back bob
The slicked-back bob is the power suit of hairstyles: it’s cool, chic and lends a commanding vibe to any outfit. Back in the ’90s, Drew Barrymore liked to part hers in the middle with flicked-out ends, but you could also make like Zendaya and slick the whole thing back. Either way, it’s easy to achieve – all you need is a sturdy comb, some styling cream and a spritz of hairspray.
The choppy Winona
You don’t need me to tell you that Winona had some era-defining haircuts in the ’90s (see also: her grown-out bixie from her Reality Bites era). An all-time favourite though? The piece-y pixie she sported circa 1997. It’s a ruffled, elfin look now copied by everyone from Iris Law to Emma Chamberlain – and requires little more than some good quality hair paste.
Heavy up-top pixie
For those with thicker or curlier hair textures, a Halle Berry-style ’90s pixie – heavier up top, and shorter around the sides – can do wonders. This one requires a hairstylist with a sculptural eye, so don’t go attempting it DIY in the mirror. For the full effect, style with a single breasted blazer and open shirt all summer, like the actor herself.
The grown-out bixie
The perfectly tousled bixie – halfway between a bob and a pixie – was a haircut beloved by everyone from Gwyneth to Winona and Cameron Diaz in the ’90s, and it still hits today. Sam McKnight, Vogue contributing editor and renowned hairstylist, recently posted a video showcasing his own take on the style. “It’s all about lived-in texture,” says McKnight, adding that: “I love to mix my matte clay Perfect Mess with my creme pomade, Dressed to Kill.”
True ’90s curls
Whitney Houston toyed with plenty of hairstyles throughout the ’90s, but one of her most memorable – and the one that feels the most now – was the effortless curly crop she sported early in the decade. How you style this type of haircut will depend on your curl type – though there are plenty of curl-friendly serums and sprays to choose from.
