If you’re a millennial or older, you’ve lived long enough to see the full life cycle of a trend: What was considered “outdated” in fashion, home décor and beauty several years (or decades) ago has probably swung back around at least once to make a comeback. Nowhere is that clearer than in the recent hairstyles of some of our favorite celebs. From Jane Birkin’s iconic wispy bangs to the big hair of the 1980s, a select few styles continue to inspire today’s generation with some modern touches that keep them fresh and turning heads.
1960s: Birkin Bangs
Then: Jane Birkin
Now: Daisy Edgar-Jones
The Inspo
Celebrity hairstylist Cervando Maldonado says “Birkin bangs”— the flattering fringe worn nearly 60 years ago by French actress Jane Birkin—continues to be timeless because they aren’t too thick and the style softly frames the face. Maldonado used that softness as inspiration when creating Daisy Edgar-Jones’s wispy curtain bangs, which is a version that he says, “allows the hair to be more versatile in styling.”
How to Get It
At the salon, “ask for a slight curtain bang, going in a V-shape” with the cut being “a little shorter through the middle and tapering out on the ends with the fringe,” says Maldonado. Contrary to popular belief, maintaining bangs at home is easier than you think. Maldonado recommends a rough dry with the air flow heading down toward the face, then using a small round brush just in the middle of the bangs to roll them downward. The last step is blow-drying each side away from the face and then immediately adding three flat clips: one in the middle of the bangs pushing them down and one on either side, directly above the temples, creating the Jane Birkin shape.
1970s: Feathered Fringe
Then: Farrah Fawcett
Now: Kourtney Kardashian Baker
The Inspo
Farrah Fawcett’s signature feathered fringe sits in the pantheon of great hairstyles since its debut in the 1970s. The Charlie’s Angels star wore her voluminous multilayered golden tresses on various hair lengths throughout her life, with bangs and without, and now this style’s renaissance is on full display. The hashtag #farrahfawcett spawns millions of TikTok tutorials, and celeb interpretations were recently seen on A-listers like Rose Byrne and Kourtney Kardashian Barker.
How to Get It
Celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos gave Kardashian Barker a ’70s-coded “YSL Haircut” that is the darker, more sensual version of Fawcett’s feathered blowout. Inspired by the French design house’s aesthetic, the goal was to add fullness, soft layers and feathery movement, which he achieved on the reality star using Great Lengths Hair Extensions.
1980s: Curl Craze
Then: Cher
Now: Tracee Ellis Ross
The Inspo
“Cher’s look in Moonstruck was absolutely stunning. Everything about it was pure ’80s magic: the length, the layering, the rich hair color,” says celebrity hairstylist Ricardo Rojas. “It had that perfectly undone, effortless sexiness that never goes out of style. It’s glamorous without trying too hard, and that confidence makes it timeless.”
How to Get It
“This style works beautifully on naturally wavy hair,” Rojas explains. “Back in the day, clients would even ask for perms to create that texture! The key is movement—you want that soft, lived-in wave that gives the cut its personality. Ask for shorter, layered hair, definitely above the shoulders in the back to give it shape and lift.” Once your hair is cut, Rojas says all you really need to maintain the style is mousse and a diffuser. For extra “wow factor,” he suggests using a curling iron for definition and a drop of volumizing styling spray to finish. “The beauty of this style is that it’s meant to feel natural, not overworked. Let the texture do the talking.”
1990s: The Curve Cut
Then: Jennifer Aniston
Now: Jennifer Aniston
The Inspo
When Jennifer Aniston debuted the “curve cut” on Friends in the ‘90s, her longtime hairstylist and friend Chris McMillan knew he had a classic on his hands. “The ‘curve cut’ is a timeless classic because of the long contouring layers that effortlessly frame the face,” the stylist explains. These “invisible layers,” as he calls them, “give the weight you don’t see,” which results in bounce and movement. “It’s very ‘90s, which is what makes it so cool and chic,” McMillan adds. Bringing the C-cut back nearly 30 years after she made it famous, Aniston gave a nod to the nostalgic style with a softer, updated version at last year’s season four premiere of The Morning Show.
How to Get It
McMillan’s advice for how to get the C-cut is simple: Show your stylist any picture of “The Rachel” or Jennifer Aniston wearing the style. (Pro tip: Ask them to cut the layers on dry hair.) For styling, McMillan says the key to maintaining the ‘90s DNA of the C-cut is parting the hair off-center—not a side part and not exactly in the middle, either. “The part ties in with the way the hair frames the face.”
2000s: Flippy Bob
Then: Gabrielle Union-Wade
Now: Kendall Jenner
The Inspo
A bob’s popularity never really wavers; in any decade it’s a cut as chic as it gets. Right now, the chin-grazing cut of the moment is undoubtedly the flippy bob, a style we also collectively loved in the early aughts. Then, flipped-out ends were usually accented with a strong side part, a la Gabrielle Union in 2000 at the Annual Young Hollywood Awards. Now, we’re more likely to see Gen Z’s preferred middle part, like Kendall Jenner at the Vanity Fair’s 2025 Oscars party, but that’s where the differences end. Both styles are sleek, smooth and lend an air of youthfulness to short hair.
How to Get It
Jenner’s flippy Oscars bob was styled by hair icon Sally Hershberger, who told us this cut is “modern, fresh and totally wearable.” To replicate it, ask your stylist for a “super sharp and blunt” cut with “cheekbone-framing pieces in the front so [it’s not] too severe.” When you’re ready to style, the steps couldn’t be easier: Find your middle part, flip the ends with a flat iron and voilà!
