I, too, am a little shocked I didn’t turn out to be a Juggalette…

I admit it: I love 90s style. Sure, I was eleven when the 90s ended, but think about it: at what age is your mind most easily influenced? Who tends to pick up trends way after everyone else and take them entirely too far? Kids. And my goodness, did I pick up plenty of ugly 90s styles and take them to the next level of silly. Example: Minnie Mouse. Ten years ago, plenty of people in our generation picked up on wearing cute Minnie Mouse clothes and accessories. But did they actually do the makeup shown above every day? No (thank goodness).


Anyway, my point is that regardless of how old we were in the 90s, those styles that we saw on television still influenced us and our ideals of what was pretty, sexy, cute and fun and I’m occasionally nostalgic about them even now. But I also have come to realize that most of these beloved trends were actually pretty hideous and unflattering. As a result, I’ve compiled a list of favorite ugly and/or weird 90s hair and makeup styles.

1. Glitter Makeup

I definitely wore glitter from Bath and Body Works to school every single day. I loved to put it on my cheekbones, my brow bones, even my shoulders. It was the go-to gift to buy for anybody’s birthday and I always felt so cool whenever I’d try a new scent or color. This was, however, a pretty silly trend–not only does it make you look like a craft store just exploded on your face, it also detracts from just about anything else you wear. Though it can be pretty in highly stylized makeup ads and photoshoots, it’s generally impractical for daily use. But if you’re still down with the shimmer, glitter is definitely still around, but in a much more refined manner (for example, MAC’s Eyeshadow Pigment). Try it in a sheer way accompanied by a simple blush and matte or semi-matte lip.

2. Crimping

I’m guilty of having bought a “crimper,” a straightener-like tool made specifically for putting these strange little indentations in your hair. While it added volume, it also made your head look triangular because it would bunch out towards the bottom. This is certainly a face-palm style from the past, but then again, I’m sure future generations will look at our love of heelless shoes the same way.

3. Butterfly Clips

How adorable were these? While not particularly practical–seriously, they could hold back approximately twelve strands of hair–they added that Lisa Frank-esque cuteness that we all loved.

4. Cornrows

Of course, cornrows are still a classic hairstyle today, but are less popular with blonde suburban kids who just got back from vacationing in Florida. Sorry JT, these just didn’t look very good on you… and neither did that ridiculous blinged-out bandana.

5. The Rachel

Everyone knows what The Rachel is (for goodness’ sake, it has its own Wikipedia article). Jennifer Aniston’s famous haircut named after her Friends character was imitated by countless women in the 90s due to its semi-universally flattering nature. 

6. Iridescent Lipstick


As is the case with most over-the-top porn stars, I am a pretty big fan of Pamela Anderson. Her pro-sex, pro-body attitude (and pro-animal rights views) have made me quite fond of her as a public figure. However, I do hold one thing against her: iridescent lipstick. They are not flattering on almost anybody, including models and celebrities, and are frequently paired with too-dark lipliner. Please, avoid this one at all cost.

7. The Goatee

Of course, us ladies were not to blame for this particular misstep in fashion, but it’s nonetheless a noteworthy fashion detail of the decade. I posted a more recent photo to emphasize how in danger we all are of this style coming back.

So what are your favorite or least loved trends from the 90s? Are there any that you wish would make a comeback?

Image Sources: 1 (my own), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8