Retro Hairstyles Taking Over TikTok

If there's one thing we can trust from TikTok these days, it's that there will always be a new trend ... even if the trends aren't new at all. It seems as though vintage style is the new thing, and all of the styles that we thought were long dead and gone are seemingly making a comeback in a major way. Whether it be the re-invention of heatless curls, the fringe renaissance, or DIY haircuts, TikTok has become the one-and-only source for all things hair innovation, and more specifically retro hairstyles; just ask the over 6 million people sharing videos about it.

Lately, it's all about turning up the volume and finding unique ways of spicing up your hair with modernized versions of the styles our mothers and grandmothers used to wear, proving that trend cycles are just that: cycles, which are perpetually revolving. Take a trip with us as we go back to our proverbial roots with some retro hairstyles that are being brought into the new millennium and completely taking over TikTok.

This is quite possibly one of the most recognizable vintage hairstyles to ever circulate. Whether you learned about the iconic Farrah Fawcett flip from the "Charlie's Angels" actress herself, or from its many homages in the form of Lisa Robin Kelly's character in "That 70s Show," chances are you've seen it done before. As the internet turns away from pin-straight hair in favor of voluminous curls, the Fawcett Flip is on the rise.

With the help of some volumizing products and mousse, you can achieve these bouncy locks in no time, leaving you with an expert-level blow out in the comfort of your own home. Utilizing a medium-sized round brush, blow dry your hair toward the face, then away from the face, beginning at the bangs. As you go through, blow drying each section of hair, it is recommended that you use hair rollers in order for the curls to hold their shape as they cool. Finally, brush out your hair and you'll be left with huge volume. While no hairstyle is complete without hairspray, these curls need to be brushable and lightweight in order to achieve their bounce.

Among the many retro looks that are coming back into the current trend cycle, one that's making a huge impact is the "wolf cut." Sarah Potempa, celebrity hairstylist to stars like Camila Cabello and Emily Blunt, shared with InStyle that a wolf cut is essentially achieved by taking a '70s shag and an '80s mullet and "smashing them together into a modern-day look." The choppy haircut is full of texture, fringe, volume, and layers throughout.

Many people credit the popularity of the style to David Bowie back in the '80s — or more specifically, his alter ego of Ziggy Stardust. By combining shaggy layers, messy bangs, and face-framing pieces, you can achieve this edgy look that's been sweeping social media. Miley Cyrus was a major factor in kickstarting the wolf cut resurgence in 2022, proving that mullets really run in the Cyrus family. Other women who have been rocking the wolf cut on the red carpet in recent months include Billie Eilish, Debbie Ryan, Doja Cat, and Halsey, among many others. Whether you're working with curly, straight, or wavy hair, the modernized version of this retro hairdo affords tons of freedom with styling.

We might have originally hoped that the days of tiger stripe highlights would die a long time ago, but they are just now making their TikTok comeback and we actually ... don't hate them? Before you go deleting your TikTok account in sheer disgust, you should know that there's been a fresh twist given to the '90s chunky highlight trend that has swiftly brought the look into the 21st century.

Lately in the TikTok world, there has been a revival of the chunky highlight trend, but this time, the highlights are focused on a specific section of hair: the pieces at the very front that frame your face. Otherwise known as "money pieces," these pieces are typically highlighted when providing someone with a balayage, and are blended in with the rest of the hair to give a natural look. In contrast, the trending chunky face-framing highlights are meant to give an intentionally drastic and bold look, juxtaposing the rest of your hair color.

In this day and age, no other feeling can compare to the nostalgia of the 90's and 2000's. Flip phones, Tamagotchis and Blockbuster might have gone away with the Spice Girls, but big claw hair clips are seemingly here to stay. Sported in the past by fashion icons like Julia Roberts and Rachel Green from "Friends," the style is now being adopted by trend-setters like Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Therefore, it's no surprise that current TikTok hair trends are finally catching up.

Harper's Bazaar credits the return of the claw clip to Alexander Wang, who featured them in his fall 2018 fashion show, which many believe was responsible for the trend quickly taking over TikTok. Whether you are dealing with long thick hair or a shoulder-length lob, claw clips are your new best friend that can be an easy solution to accessorizing on a bad hair day. Styling with claw clips makes achieving the perfect "messy" updo feel effortless to anyone attempting it.

Thanks to the perpetual '70s inspiration on style trends in the current fashion scene, it should come as no surprise that face-framing bangs are next on the list. Popularized by French actress Brigitte Bardot in the '70s, curtain bangs are yet another style that has been likened to that of Jennifer Aniston's "Friends" character's iconic choppy, layered bob. Curling your hair into this style of fringe is the perfect introduction to the "Rachel cut" that offers the opportunity to try out bangs without the commitment of actually chopping off your hair.

Curtain bangs are 2022's middle-part solution to the former fad of the side bangs, with some even calling it the biggest hair trend of 2022. By incorporating a blow dryer, medium-barrel round brush, and hair rollers angled away from the face, you can achieve the bouncy, swooping hairstyle that's been taking over TikTok. This style of fringe works best on middle parts with hair that is at least shoulder length, but can still be achieved on various types of hair.

In the mid-1980s, whether women were teasing their hair, experimenting with perms, or crimping, big hair was the thing ... and it seems as though 2022 is following suit once again. Whether you were a member of the original frizzy-haired girl gang, or you were first introduced to crimped hair back in the age of Lizzie McGuire, this style has come and gone many times since its inception.

While you might be able to dig up your mom's old crimper from the '80s, you might want to opt for the latest version that more closely resembles a three-barrel curling iron. The current trend is aimed at achieving a style more similar to beachy waves rather than the stiff crimps it used to deliver. Back when the trend was in its resurgence, huge stars like Brittany Spears, Blake Lively, Ariana Grande, Christina Aguilera, and even Kim Kardashian were seen rocking the crimped look, and were undoubtedly responsible for its inevitable spread.

Braids are a universal hairstyle that seem to be achievable for just about all hair types and will remain a pillar of the beauty industry forever. If things like French braids don't come easily to you, bubble braids are a quick and foolproof way to incorporate the style into your look. Frequently seen in the music festival atmosphere, bubble braids are easily customizable with fun things like hair jewelry and colored hair ties, lending more creative freedom to the style than regular braids.

In order to achieve this '90s and 2000s style, you'll want to either put your hair in a ponytail or part your hair down the middle and separate into two pigtails. After tying up the hair, go about two or three inches down the length of the ponytail, and add another hair tie. You'll want to loosen the hair from in between the two hair ties in order to create the first bubble. You'll repeat this every few inches, until you reach the base of the pigtails. While this is a style anyone can try at home, it is definitely one that favors long hair.

Lately, it seems like there is a lot of discussion about how we part our hair. Who knew there could be such a war between team side part and team middle part? But, whichever side you currently reside on, there is a new trend on the block that might put them both to shame: the zigzag part. Made popular by '90s and 2000s icons like Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore, and Christina Aguilera, it's no shocker that TikTok has finally jumped on the craze as well.

A zigzag part has the ability to liven up even the dullest hair, refreshing your look without needing to take a trip to the salon. Zigzag parts also add tons of volume to thinner hair without the need for product. Simply drag the handle of a brush or the front tooth of your comb in a zigzag motion, left and right, across your scalp, without lifting the comb. Then, use your hands to separate the hair into its part. This is most easily done with damp hair as it is much more controllable, but can be done on mostly any length and texture of hair.

The days of the hair straightener ruling the world might be coming to an end. These days, people are leaning away from thin, lifeless hair in favor of thick and bouncy curls. And one method that's been swiftly gaining traction on TikTok is pin curls. This 1950s hair trend is making a comeback in a major way, as models like Cara Delevingne, Elsa Hosk, and Lily-Rose Depp have been experimenting with it in recent years. If it's volume you're after, this is the perfect style for you to try out next.

Pin curls can be done on any hair length and thickness. The trick to the style is to use a larger barrel curling iron to curl your hair inwards, toward your face. After applying heat, keep the pieces curled and pin them in place, in order for them to hold their shape as they cool — hence their name, "pin curls." Some TikTokers have sprayed the pinned-up pieces with hairspray, but this is not required to get a successful pin curl look. Finally, you'll remove the pins and brush out your curls, with some people suggesting applying texture spray to the finished product.

Need I say more? Marilyn Monroe has had a huge impact on fashion that has spanned for decades and is now being immortalized in the form of millions of people on TikTok. The actress's legendary platinum locks are the next big craze taking over the app and, much like pin curls, they offer the nostalgia of old Hollywood glamour. 

To achieve the Marilyn look, it's recommended that you begin with damp hair. Place larger hair rollers around the crown and back of your head, and smaller rollers on the hair framing your face, although you might want to play around with roller shape and placement to see what works best for you. It's easiest to follow your natural hair line if you begin at the front pieces. You will roll your curls outward, away from your face, and let them sit until they are completely dry. However, feel free to use a blow dryer to speed the process along. Once the hair is dry, remove the rollers, brush out your hair, and you'll be left with fresh bouncy curls.

Along with the countless vintage looks that are being resurrected, layers are making a comeback in a major way. However, they're not like the chunky layers that used to terrify you as a teenager. But rather, people on TikTok have been experimenting with creating, soft, weightless layers with feathering. The style formerly made popular in the '70s is essentially comparable to curtain bangs, but throughout all of your hair.

In order to achieve this modernized retro '70s hairstyle, its recommended that you ask your hairstylist to provide you with face-framing curtain bangs, feathering, and blended layers. This will leave you with a soft and airy layered look. Whether you have short, curly, or frizzy hair, this cut has the ability to work on any hair type. As TikToker user @missylou0521 accurately commented, "if the mullet can come back, so can feathering."