We’ve recently seen the impressive return of Y2k (The year 2000) beauty and fashion, including everything from low-rise bottoms, to hair stripes and bubble braids, thanks to video streaming platform TikTok – and now the 00s styles are everywhere!
Taking TikTok hashtag views into account, the trends experts at WeThrift have revealed the top Y2k hair trends to look out for this summer.
- Hair Gems
With festival season in full swing, we are seeing people rock sparkles, flamboyant accessories, and a lot of dopamine dressing. The latest craze on the social media platform is bedazzling your hair, and all at an affordable price!
Though it may be a kids’ toy, the widely popular hair tool comes with 75 gems that are different colors and shapes, to fulfill all your Y2k dreams – once you’re ready to remove the gems from your hair, all you need to do is simply peel them off. If you’re looking to take part in this trend, you can purchase the hair gem stamper from Argos for £5.
Some of the hottest beauty trends this summer stem from the early 2000s, and hair gems are no exception. Earlier this year, we saw tooth gems make a comeback with celebrities such as FKA Twigs, Kim Kardashian, and Travis Scott rocking the look.
The hashtag ‘Hair Gems’ currently has 33.9M views on TikTok, fuelled by one tiktoker unboxing the item whilst expressing excitement to use the gem stamper this summer.
Top Tip: You can also use this tool on your clothing to match your hair.
- Bubble Braids
Not all of us are gifted with the skill to whip up a French or Dutch braid at the drop of a hat, which makes this trending hairstyle perfect for those who are a little more low maintenance. The bubble braid may have reigned supreme back in the early 2000s, but even now, A-List celebrities are sporting the look.
Though they may look a little hard to achieve, a few simple hair ties can give any hairstyle a new lease of life. Popping up all over social media, the hairstyle is still popular a year after its resurgence, with 37.7 million hashtag views on TikTok.
Top Tip: Trend specialist Nick Drewe says “Bubble Braids are thankfully very easy to style, despite how complicated they may look. To pull the aesthetic off, you first need to make sure that you have all the right supplies, including hair elastics and strong-hold hairspray.
“To achieve that perfect bubble shape between each elastic band, loosen the hair by pulling each section until it forms a round, bubble-like look”.
- ZigZag Parting
Continuing with the slightly more obscure hair trends a little while longer, we present the ZigZag parting. 90s trends have been making a comeback for a while now, so it’s not surprising to see this particular hair trend rack up 12 million hashtag views on TikTok.
Like most trends when they resurface, the zigzag parting has gone through a makeover of its own since the sharp lines of the 90s. Now, the modern-day style has been updated to have a much softer and thrown-together look about it, with much daintier angles.
Top Tip: Trend specialist Nick Drewe says “Creating a strong zigzag parting back in the ’90s used to be a difficult, time-consuming task. Well, not anymore!
“Start off with a straight side parting and then use a finger to create a vague zigzag shape. Not only is this easier than using a comb, it gives the style a more natural finish.”
- Butterfly Clips
Another Y2k hairstyle that’s made its way back onto our screens is butterfly clips. Though you may remember them being reserved for one age group, adding the fun, colorful clips to your hair give it that playful look everyone is loving right now.
However, it’s not just TikTok lovers that are jumping on the Y2K trend, with pop sensations Megan Thee Stallion and Dua Lipa both recently seen sporting the butterfly clip look.
Top Tip: Trend specialist Nick Drewe says “The great thing about Y2K hairstyles is there is no correct way to pull them off. No matter your hair type, throwing in an extra bit of color will always make it look that little bit cuter.
“Try adding in butterfly clips to pin parts of your hair back, to give that girl-next-door 90s look that everybody is trying to achieve”.
- High Pigtails
Having seen a surge in popularity over the last month, high pigtails look like they’re here to stay. The style was originally made popular by Emma Bunton (as Baby Spice), back when the Spice Girls were at the height of their career.
But now it seems everyone wants to get behind this look, with 6.9million hashtags for #pigtailshair on the social media platform TikTok.
Top Tip: Trend specialist Nick Drewe says “Even though pigtails were popular back in the 90s, in recent months we’ve seen stars, including long-term high pigtail lover Ariana Grande, sporting the look. Another example is that of Indiyah Pollack from the current Love Island cast.
“The great thing about this style is it’s extremely versatile, depending on the look that you are trying to achieve. Try it half up or go big and bold with two high ponytails. No matter how you wear this, you’re sure to get that cute 00s girl vibe that any Bratz doll would be jealous of.”
- Hair Feathers
If you were around in the early 00s, then you probably remember one hair trend that reigned above them all – Hair Feathers. They are wispy, bird-like feathers that Disney teen icons were often spotted attaching to their hair a decade ago. However, the style soon became outdated.
Despite this, from what we know about this year’s hair trends, popular looks from the 70s, 80s, and 90s have all resurfaced via the video app, TikTok. In fact, it is no surprise that hair feathers are once again in fashion, as the hashtag #hairfeathers has now managed to rack up an impressive 1.9 million views on the social media platform.
Top Tip: Trend specialist Nick Drewe says “Hair feathers are one of the most versatile styles out there at the moment because they can be paired with casual or evening aesthetics.
“The best placement of these obviously depends on your hair length, but the most popular look is to have them cascading down your face. To do this, start at the top of your head and clip and attach so that the feather frames your bone structure”.