It’s no surprise that celebrities are trendsetters, on and off the carpet. While their ensembles are often in the limelight, their hair also influences many. From Julia Roberts’ gorgeous curls in Pretty Woman to John Stamos’ signature mullet on the show Full House, there have been plenty of celebs who have set the red carpet and the internet ablaze with their iconic hairstyles. Often, these hairdos make a comeback, inspiring a whole new generation.
1. Julia Roberts’ big red curls
At a time when most of the world was fixated on straight hair, Julia Roberts, one of the most beloved faces on screen, stepped out of the box with her iconic big red curls. This look was first featured in the movie Pretty Woman, followed by several of her red carpet appearances. While the stunning actress has since sported several cuts, colors, and hairstyles, this remains one of the most memorable looks in her repertoire.
2. Farrah Fawcett’s feathered look
Despite just being on Charlie’s Angels for a year, Farrah Fawcett inspired hairstyles for over a decade with her iconic fringe and feathered hair. With the 70s hair often making a comeback every now and then, the high-volume, fluffy hairdo continues to be popular and is known as “The Farrah.”
3. Grace Jones’s flattop haircut
The singer-model-actor has always been quick to change her look. Of all her styles, perhaps the most notable has been the flat top cut, which she wore in the James Bond movie, A View To Kill.
4. Princess Diana’s short, shaggy style
A true cultural icon, Princess Diana is responsible for a lot of cult favorites, as everything she wore, styled, and sported got noticed, liked, and adopted, setting the stage for the next generation of divas. From her chic black dress to her bikinis, the outfits and accessories she adorned made waves. The most iconic, though, was her wedding hairstyle—the short, shaggy, and fluffed hair that took the 80s by storm.
5. Shirley Temple’s pin curls
Methodically styled by her mother, Shirley Temple’s pin-curls hairdo featured exactly 56 curls. Although this style dates back to the 1930s, several A-listers have revived it on the red carpet recently, including rapper Snoop Dogg, who tried the look for his music video “The Next Episode.”
6. Jennifer Aniston’s “The Rachel”
The Friends franchise was a global phenomenon in more ways than one. While the show introduced a new idea of domesticity, it also ushered in a new era of style. One style choice that stood out most among them was “The Rachel” haircut, sported by Jennifer Aniston. This shoulder-length haircut has a lot of layers for added volume. Each layer turns outwards to help frame the face. The cut was designed by hairstylist Chris McMillan to help Aniston help her deal with some damaged hair and grow out her bangs. While the actress has revealed that she wasn’t a major fan of the look, it firmly holds the position of one of the most iconic hairstyles of the 90s.
7. Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow’s matching jair
Back in 1997, Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow got a lot of attention for sporting the same hairstyle at the premiere of The Devil’s Own. The look was a short blond number. While Paltrow has since admitted that this was unintentional, their photo has etched a place in popular cinema history!
8. Leonardo DiCaprio’s floppy hair from The Titanic
A young heartthrob in The Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio’s on-screen charm seemed unmatched. Yet, many took inspiration from other facets of his appearance—most notably his floppy hairstyle. The bountiful mop has since emerged as a classic style, making an appearance on screen every now and again.
9. John Stamos’s mullet
The mullet is a haircut that is shorter in the front, top, and sides but longer at the back. Though the mullet was popularized by rock stars like David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, and many others, it seemed to become an even bigger phenomenon with John Stamos. He first appeared on screen with a mullet on Full House as Uncle Jessie. His bad-boy personality, coupled with his effortless charm and good looks, had fans swooning.
10. The Beatles’ mop top
One of the biggest names in musical history, the band got their haircut idea from a rather unassuming individual—an art student named Jürgen Vollmer—who they befriended in the early sixties. The novelty of this style, which had the locks brushed straight down to hide the part and the slightly shaggy but effortlessly done bangs in the front, was one of the main reasons behind its popularity. While the four of them eventually changed their appearance, their famous mop top (or Arthur, as they called the haircut) influenced the generations to come.
11. Justin Timberlake’s frosted tips
While frosted tips have often received mixed opinions and reviews, the style certainly deserves to be on this list of the most iconic hair moments. Timberlake, known for being experimental with his looks, opted for the frosted tips in 1998. The style features a short haircut that has been spiked, with the ends of each spike bleached to a pale blond color. While Timberlake has often seamlessly switched to new and previously tried hairstyles over the years, this look will forever be a part of popular memory.