Trust Me—These Y2K Hairstyles Are Just as On-Trend in 2023 (2024)

FAQs

What is the Y2K trend in hair? ›

Space Buns

Two high, pigtail buns atop your head. A major Y2K trend often accompanied by colorful scrunchies and adorned with butterfly clips. They're back - slick and sleek or loose and ethereal, they are still often adorned with accessories.

Curtain bangs continue their trend cycle domination; we named them as one of the biggest hair trends for 2024, and Carpenter's fringe is the perfect example, especially when paired with her enviable blowout.

“Many women over 40 cut bangs to camouflage wrinkles in their forehead, but too skinny of bangs that are see-through can be aging. If you're going to cut bangs, make sure you go far back enough to give you enough thickness, otherwise opt for face framing bangs which are universally more flattering,” warns Papanikolas.

Y2K fashion, also known as "millennial" or "Z-generation" fashion, has become an increasingly popular trend in recent years.

“The clean, short bob that falls around your chin and a little bit below is going to be a big haircut trend in 2024,” says Polko. The stylist notes that while the trend has already started making the rounds, she expects to see another surge around springtime.

Medium-Length Cut with Long Layers

Hemple says long layers always give off a youthful appearance. She adds that off-center or side parts that "fall naturally in place can make the eyes seem wider to give you a more youthful appearance."

The idea that bangs make you look like a child or too old is a common hair myth. The reality is that there are so many ways to style bangs. Each and every one of these styles brings a youthful energy to your look in a different way. Bangs can be chic, sweet, sultry — it's all in how you style them.

While blunt bangs can make round faces look a little squat, side-swept bangs move the eyes diagonally across your face. The angled fringe helps make your face appear longer and, therefore, thinner.

What Are Waterfall Bangs? “Waterfall bangs are in between a curtain bang and a straight across bang,” explains Jenna Spino, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon. “The bang has various lengths, the longest hitting around the cheekbone, blending right into the sides of your hair.”

What hairstyle makes an older woman look younger? ›

Loose waves are more younger-looking, while straight hair can be aging. Play around with face-framing layers to give your hair some softness and movement. Layers can also make your hair appear to be more luscious and healthy. Parra recommends asking your stylist for perimeter layers that are cut in a straight line.

Y2K fashion, characterized by its nostalgia for the early 2000s, included elements such as low-rise jeans, crop tops, mini skirts, platform shoes, and colorful accessories. It embraced a mix of styles from the late '90s and early 2000s, with a focus on bold, eye-catching fashion choices.

But what is a 'Bubble Braid', you ask? Well, it's basically a combination of the different variants of 'bubble braids' that've been around since the early '00s. Taking a regular ponytail or pigtail, the trend sees the hair portioned into small sections and tied with a hair tie—huge Y2K vibes.

Y2K design is characterised by its unique blend of retro-futurism and digital aesthetics. It embraces bright, neon colors, often in unconventional combinations, along with glossy and reflective surfaces. Geometric shapes, abstract patterns, and pixel art also play significant roles, paying homage to the digital era.

In recent years, Gen Z has set its retro-gazing sights on another era: Y2K. The Y2K aesthetic is a retro-futuristic fashion trend that emerged during the late 1990s and the early aughts (memorably called the “noughties”). It is characterized by bold colors, shiny materials, and unique textures.