The early 2000s were a time of groundbreaking pop music, emerging technology, and some truly iconic hairstyles.
As a professional hair stylist, I’ve noticed many of these iconic early 2000s hairstyles coming back into popularity today.
While fashion is cyclical, the nostalgic and carefree feeling of early 2000s style offers a fresh look for the 2020s.
By blending these throwback hairstyles with modern techniques and current trends, today’s hair enthusiasts can rock these 13 iconic early 2000s hairstyles in a stylish, updated way.
So grab your teasing comb and some velcro rollers, and let’s take a look at 13 of the most iconic hairstyles from the early 2000s that are ready to make a comeback today!
The Rachel
No list of iconic early 2000s hairstyles would be complete without mentioning Jennifer Aniston’s legendary “Rachel” cut, which she rocked on the hit show Friends starting in 1994.
This shaggy, layered look with framing face-flattering layers was the most requested celebrity hairstyle of the 90s and early 2000s.
To get the look: Ask your stylist for lots of choppy, textured layers cut to different lengths.
The shortest layers should hit at the cheekbones and chin, with gradual length increases throughout the rest of the hair.
To style, use a large barrel curling iron to flip out the ends of the top and middle layers towards the face. Finish with a volumizing or texturizing spray.
Today, you can make this style fresh by keeping the layers long and face-framing, but opting for a slightly more tousled, piecey, beachy texture vs. the full-volume curls of the original Rachel.
Warm golden highlights also modernize the look. This sexy shag works on medium to long hair.
Chunky Highlights
Nothing says early 2000s style quite like chunky, contrasting highlights!
Think Kelly Clarkson, Paris Hilton, and Christina Aguilera in the early 2000s with their strips of bleached blonde highlights through dark brown hair.
While thin, natural-looking highlights may be trendy today, early 2000s highlights were bold and noticeable.
Ask your colorist for thick strips or chunks of lighter pieces contrasted with your natural base. Platinum highlights pop against dark brown hair.
For light brown or blonde hair, go for a warm honey tone. Place the highlights strategically around the face to brighten up your features and enhance your color. Avoid brassy tones by using a violet toning shampoo.
Today, you can keep this look modern by blending out the regrowth slightly at the roots rather than having a stark line of demarcation.
Face-framing highlights around the eyes, cheeks, and collarbone is also a current take on this throwback trend.
Crimped Hair
Few early 2000s hairstyles are more iconic than crimped locks.
Popularized by stars like Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, and Shakira, crimped hair was often featured in music videos and on red carpets during the Y2K era.
Creating an all-over crimped texture adds major volume and attitude to straight hair.
To crimp: Section dry hair into four parts. Working in 1-2 inch sections, run a small section of hair through the crimping iron, applying even pressure as you close it.
The key is to crimp each small section thoroughly from root to end. Let the crimped section cool completely before releasing for defined zigzag texture. Repeat until all hair is crimped. Finish with hairspray.
For a modern take, try only crimping the midlengths and ends of the hair, keeping the roots smooth for a more blended look.
You can also alternate between crimped sections and loose waved sections. The 80s may have originated this style, but the early 2000s perfected it.
Face-Framing Pieces
Having lighter “money pieces” framing the face was a popular early 2000s highlight technique, along with two thick front highlights known as ” Disney princess hair.”
While money piece highlights can look dated if taken too far, they are coming back in a fresher way lately.
Ask for fine, subtle baby lights around the hairline, eyes, and cheeks to delicately brighten up your features. For brunettes, go just a shade or two lighter than your natural tone.
Blondes should stay in the same color family, going for lighter beige or buttery blonde money pieces.
The early 2000s often had chunky, blocky money pieces, so be sure to keep yours soft and blended.
These brightening money pieces can be woven through the front sections of your hair, starting from around the cheekbones/ears and working back towards the part.
Keep them concentrated at the very front only. Have your stylist blend the money pieces seamlessly into the rest of your hair for a natural look.
Straight and Sleek
The early 2000s were the era when flat irons became widely popular and affordable.
Thanks to this revolutionary technology, gals with curly hair could easily smooth and straighten their locks.
Pin straight hair was ubiquitous, from Jennifer Lopez’s blunt cut to Beyonce’s flowing lengths.
To recreate this look: Start by washing and towel drying the hair.
Apply a thermal protectant evenly from roots to ends before blowdrying. Use a paddle brush to pull the hair taut while blowdrying for a smooth, sleek finish.
Then, part the hair cleanly down the middle or side and run a flat iron over 1-inch sections. Finish with an anti-frizz serum for glossy shine.
For an updated look, try a lived-in wavy texture at the ends or create flipped out curves with a curling wand.
Parting the hair off-center or sweeping bangs across the forehead can also give this easy style more modern flair.
Half-Up Styles
Half-up hair was the ultimate laidback early 2000s style for when you wanted to keep your long locks out of your face.
Celebs like Jennifer Lopez, Tyra Banks, and Jessica Simpson were frequently spotted in half-up styles on and off the red carpet.Simply pulling the top section of hair back into a cute clip or band gave off a relaxed yet put-together vibe.
To get the look, part and section out the top half of your hair.
Smooth with a brush, add shine serum, and gather it up into a ponytail or bun. For extra polish, lightly backcomb or tease the crown first for volume.
Wrap pieces around the elastic to hide it or let them fall free. Headbands, clips, and 90s-style butterfly clips pair perfectly.
Today’s half-up looks tend to be more undone and textured.
Try a messy bun or low side pony. Adding braids along the part or a trendy claw clip offers an updated way to keep your hair out of your face while showing off your gorgeous lengths.
Layered Shags
Choppy, layered shags were everywhere in the early 2000s, from the punky pixie on Halle Berry to the angled medium-length style of Jennifer Aniston.
These cuts allowed natural texture and movement to shine through while creating volume and dimension.
Ask your stylist for a shag with shorter layers around the crown to boost fullness and longer layers throughout the sides and back. Layers should be point cut to avoid bulk.
Angle the front layers to frame the face. The nape can be slightly stacked for movement.
Today, give this cut modern appeal by blending and softening the layers, allowing them to transition more seamlessly rather than being blunt and choppy.
Keeping the lines softer creates an effortlessly cool, wolf cut inspired shag. Play up the undone texture with sea salt spray.
Curtain Bangs
Brigitte Bardot and other 70s icons may have pioneered the effortless curtain bang, but this face-framing fringe became defining hair of the early 2000s.
Stars like Jessica Alba, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Gwyneth Paltrow favored swoopy side-swept bangs that blended seamlessly into long layers.
Parted deeply to one side, curtain bangs softly sweep across the forehead to subtly sculpt the face.
Ask your stylist for extra-long bangs that graduate longer towards the edges and shortest in the middle. Style them parted on one side, swooping diagonally over the forehead.
Add volume at the roots with round brush blow-drying.
Curtain bangs are back on trend today in a big way.
For a modern touch, try pairing them with a shaggy lob or shoulder-length cut. Blend out the grow out for lived-in appeal. They look chic and flirty on straight, wavy, or curly hair textures.
The Blunt Bob
In the early 2000s, stars chopped off their locks into sleek, blunt bobs reminiscent of the swinging 60s style.
Posh Spice, Jennifer Aniston, and Halle Berry all sported versions of the blunt bob and lob cuts that were so popular in the Y2K era. Set in pin curls or blown stick straight, these cuts showcased simple, precise lines with no layering.
To blunt cut the ends, hair should be straightened and combed down before cutting directly across at the desired length for an audacious, bold line.
Precise round brush blow-drying is key to accentuating the graphic edges. Use smoothing shine serum as well.
For 2022, give this dramatic cut more ease by having your stylist point cut into the ends just slightly for softer, more lived-in texture.
The classic bob shape remains timeless and chic, while the bluntness can be slightly softened up. Wispy curtain bangs or a side part keep it fresh.
Long Layers with Loose Waves
Bouncy, long layered cuts with loose defined waves was the ultimate summertime early 2000s hairstyle.
Stars like Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Lopez wore this beachy wavy look. Long layers with face framing volume and texture was the perfect pair for a sunkissed glow.
Ask your stylist for long layers cut throughout from the shortest around the collarbone gradually lengthening down the back.
Keep the layers on the longer side to encourage soft, voluminous waves rather than short, dense ringlets. Finish the style by curling 2-inch sections with a 1.25 inch curling iron.
Today’s version is slightly more undone and effortless. Try a loose wave or curl rather than tight coils. Let waves air dry for relaxed texture.
Keeping the base a rich chocolate brown with warm honey subtle highlights allows the cut and waves to shine on their own
Middle Part
The middle part epitomized Y2K style and gives major early 2000s vibes.
Replace your side part with a sectioned middle part to instantly channel the trendy center parted looks of the 2000s worn by stars like Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Aniston, and Jessica Simpson.
Even today, a sharp, precise middle part immediately conveys early 2000s nostalgia. It creates symmetry and showcases your facial features.
Simply use the nose and cupid’s bow as a guide, take a rat tail comb, and part straight down the middle from forehead to nape.
You can slightly update this look by letting the part be softer and less defined. Pair your middle part with effortless, air dried lengths and soft curtain bangs or face-framing layers.
The middle part imparts a laidback, minimalist vibe.
The Pixie Cut
Short pixie cuts were all the rage in the early 2000s, favored by celebrities like Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, and Natalie Portman.
These chopped, close-cropped pixie cuts showcased bold confidence and edge.
To get the look, hair is cut very short on the sides and back, tapering closer to the head. The top is left slightly longer, about 2-3 inches, for versatile styling.
The nape can be trimmed clean and close or more tapered. Finish by point cutting the ends for texture.
Style with mousse or gel for texture and volume.
Spike up the crown and sweep the front pieces to one side. Pixies look great worn sleek and smooth or undone and mussed up. Show off statement earrings with very short styles.
For 2022, try softening up the traditional pixie cut by allowing the point cut ends to embrace more natural texture. Balance sharper lines in the back with softness through the top and sides.
Graceful, face-framing wisps keep it feminine and current.
The iconic early 2000s pixie cut offers a daring, bold way to rock short hair. An updated, relaxed pixie cut makes a chic statement today.
Butterfly Clips
No iconic early 2000s hairstyle roundup would be complete without the quintessential butterfly clip.
These whimsical sparkly clips adorned updos and ponytails everywhere circa 2000.
Their comeback today is in full force, offering a dose of playful nostalgia.
Style your hair in ponytails, buns, braids or half-up looks, and accessorize with glam butterfly clips. Go for classic metallic colors like silver, gold, rainbow, blue, pink, purple or iridescent glitter.
Clips range from delicately small to dramatically oversized.
Place them strategically to enhance volume and add eye-catching accessories. Minimal hair and makeup lets the colorful clips take center stage.
Scrunchies and headbands also complement this youthful Y2K hair trend. Express your individuality by jazzing up any hairstyle with these iconic clips.
Early 2000s hairstyles like chunky highlights, crimped texture, and glossy straightened locks are ready to make a big comeback and give current looks a fun, retro twist.
By blending the creativity and expressiveness of Y2K styles with modern techniques and customizable updates, today’s fashionistas can rock these 13 iconic early 2000s hairstyles once again in updated ways.
As a professional stylist, I love reworking timeless trends to fit clients’ individual styles.
By incorporating elements like softer layers, lived-in texture, subtle money pieces, and undone waves, we can take the essence of these early 2000s styles while making them fresh and current.
The nostalgia and excitement around Y2K fashion is only growing.
As we remix iconic trends from the recent past, these hairstyles let us playfully reflect on the pop culture that shaped a generation while making it new again.
There are so many gorgeous ways to implement early 2000s inspiration into today’s cutting edge looks.
So go ahead, make your hair appointment, and get ready to recreate the most iconic hairstyles of the early 2000s!