90s Hairstyles: 4 Comeback Styles That Deserve a Second Run
The decade that gave us crimping irons, butterfly clips, and the Rachel. These styles are back — and they’re better the second time around.
The 90s were a weird time for hair. We had gel-slicked spikes next to voluminous blowouts, pencil-thin eyebrows next to bushy brows, and somehow everyone looked both terrible and iconic at the same time. That’s the thing about 90s hair — it committed. No half measures, no subtle nods to a trend. If you were doing layers, you were doing LAYERS. If you were doing a blowout, it was big enough to have its own zip code. Now these styles are circling back, and honestly? They hit different now. We’ve got better products, better tools, and a decade of minimalist hair fatigue that makes maximalist 90s volume feel like a rebellion. Here are four 90s styles worth resurrecting.
1. The Rachel Layers
The Rachel is the haircut that launched a thousand salon appointments. Jennifer Aniston’s layered, face-framing style from Friends became the most requested haircut of the 90s — and for good reason. The layers start at the chin and cascade down, creating movement and volume without sacrificing length. The key to the Rachel is the blowout: round brush, lots of tension, and a blast of cool air to set the flip. Modern versions tone down the flip and add more texture, but the core principle stays the same — layers that move when you move.
2. The 90s Blowout
The 90s blowout is the antipode of the flat-ironed, sleek hair that dominated the 2010s. This is volume for volume’s sake — big rollers, round brushes, and enough hairspray to deplete the ozone layer (we’ve switched to better formulas since then). The technique is straightforward: blow-dry sections with a large round brush, rolling away from the face, and set with velcro rollers while the hair cools. The result is bouncy, movement-rich hair that looks like you just walked off a movie set. Modern versions use less product and more natural texture, but the silhouette is the same — wide, full, and commanding.
3. Crimped Hair
Crimped hair is the 90s texture that nobody asked for but everyone secretly loved. A crimping iron creates small, zigzag-shaped bends in the hair that add massive volume and texture. The original 90s version was full-head crimping — every single strand bent into submission. Modern versions are more strategic: crimp the underlayer for hidden volume, crimp random sections for texture, or crimp from the mid-shaft down for a mermaid-meets-cyberpunk effect. The trick is to crimp on day-old hair with some texture spray — fresh, clean hair is too slippery to hold the pattern.
4. Space Buns
Space buns are the 90s hairstyle that refuses to grow up — and we love it for that. Two buns placed high on the head, either symmetrical or slightly uneven for a more casual look. The original 90s version was sleek and gelled; modern space buns are messier, with loose pieces falling around the face. You can do them with natural hair, add extensions for volume, or wrap them around donuts for maximum fullness. They work on every hair type and texture — straight, wavy, curly, coily — and they’re one of the few hairstyles that actually look better when they’re a little imperfect.
Tools & Products
| Item | Purpose | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Round brush (large barrel) | Essential for the 90s blowout — the bigger the barrel, the bouncier the curl | styling_tools |
| Crimping iron | Creates the zigzag texture for crimped styles — look for ceramic plates to reduce damage | hot_tools |
| Velcro rollers (jumbo) | Set volume after blow-drying — the secret to all-day bounce | styling_tools |
| Strong-hold hairspray | Locks in volume and texture — 90s hair doesn’t move unless you want it to | styling |
Related Guides
How to get 90s layers at home — Step-by-step guide to cutting and styling the Rachel-inspired layered look yourself.
Layered haircuts — modern approaches to layers — If you want layers without the full 90s commitment, this guide covers contemporary layering techniques.
The 90s were proof that hair doesn’t have to be tasteful to be good. These styles are loud, high-maintenance, and absolutely extra — and that’s exactly why they work. In a world of effortless beach waves and ‘I woke up like this’ buns, 90s hair says ‘I spent 45 minutes on this and I’m not sorry.’ The comeback is real, and it’s about time.
Pick your decade. Grab your round brush. Let the volume do the talking.
