Skip to content

30 Most Iconic Celebrity Hairstyles of All Time

The resplendent, the regrettable, the Rachel.

Celebrities are undeniable trendsetters—for better or worse. From beehives to braids, these celebrity hairstyles are every bit as iconic as their wearers themselves. So read on, and remember to tell your stylist if you're opting for "the Rachel" or "the James Dean" during your next hair appointment. And for more insight on how to look like your favorite star, steal these 20 Secrets of Ageless Celebrities!

1
Amy Winehouse

amy winehouse celebrity deaths hair
Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock

Much like her music, Amy Winehouse's hairstyle took a retro classic and put a modern spin on it. Her messy beehive is a far cry from the well-shellacked look girls were wearing to formals in the '60s. If you want to attempt this amount of teasing and torture on your hair, learn how to offset some of the damage with the 15 Top Hair Tips From Top Hollywood Stylists.

2
James Dean

James Dean celebrity deaths
Getty Images

James Dean was the epitome of cool, so much so that, despite only starring in three films, he remains instantly recognizable, thanks in no small part to his classic hairstyle. If you really want to complete the James Dean look, check out The 4 Keys to Buying a Classic Car.

3
Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe iconic hair

You can probably picture Marilyn Monroe's iconic mane without even looking at a photograph. Today, her bleached and curled look is still nearly as famous as her films. Before you commit to this glamorous Hollywood look, however, make sure you know that This Is The Safest Way to Dye Your Hair.

4
Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple iconic hair

Little starlet Shirley Temple is such a Hollywood legend that she has a beverage and a type of curled hair named after her. Not bad for somebody who retired from film at the age of 22. And for more old school stars, Meet the Most Famous Celebrity of Every Decade Since 1900.

5
Jennifer Aniston

Friends Rachel's First Check Funniest Jokes From Friends

"The Rachel"—the layered shag Jennifer Aniston was wearing in the late 1990s—became so wildly popular that you can walk into a salon and ask for it by name, which just about everyone and their mom did at the time. The look may seem a little regrettable now, but you can't say it didn't pay off for Aniston, who is living very well these days—Take a Tour of Jennifer Aniston's Sumptuous L.A. Home and see what we mean.

6
Mike Score

Flock of Seagulls iconic hair

You probably can't even name a Flock of Seagulls song, but you can probably imagine singer Mike Score's hair. If you think this is bad, check out the 20 Worst Style Trends of 2017.

7
The Beatles's mop-top

The Beatles mop tops

It feels quaint to look back at the Beatles' mop-top hair in the early 1960s and think about how scandalously long parents considered the young musicians' haircuts to be. And if you're wanting to recapture some of your own youth at the salon, consider one of the 15 Best Men's Haircuts for Looking Instantly Younger.

8
Victoria Beckham

Posh Spice iconic hair

Before she relaxed her style a lot, Victoria Beckham was known for her completely straight, angled bob. To get this look, you'll need some product and a flat iron, but if you don't want to fry your locks, This Is the Healthiest Way to Straighten Your Hair.

9
Grace Jones

Grace Jones iconic hair
Alamy

Grace Jones is definitely not one to fear extremes, and her short, geometric style stands as proof of that. If you're wishing you could pull off a look this extreme, try out these 70 Genius Tricks to Boost Your Confidence.

10
Bo Derek

Bo Derek iconic hair

Bo Derek's run down the beach with her hair in cornrows in the movie 10 is now legendary. However, crediting Bo Derek for them, instead of calling them cornrows, is pretty controversial: Kim Kardashian landed herself in hot water for copying the look and referring to them as "Bo Derek braids." Luckily, even without braids, you can up your glam factor in seconds with these 15 Genius Tricks for Appearing More Attractive.

11
Twiggy

Twiggy iconic celebrity hair

Model Twiggy was known for her painted-on eyelashes and her extremely mod short hair. With an extreme side part and swept long bangs, you could almost consider her a proto-Bieber.

12
Elvis

elvis presley celebrity deaths
Getty Images

From the beginning to the end of his career, Elvis's hair was always iconic. From the moppish 'do of his early career to the shellacked bouffant that he wore in the final years of his life, both looks are still pretty cool by today's standards.

13
James Brown

James Brown Outrageous Celebrity Interview

James Brown's tousled and straightened head of hair was perhaps his greatest accessory, and no matter how he wore it, it was always fabulous.

14
Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett hair

Farrah Fawcett's famous mane deserves a spot in the dictionary under the word "feathered."

15
Mia Farrow

Mia Farrow's iconic haircut

The enduring legacy of Mia Farrow's pixie cut is pretty impressive, considering she did it herself with a pair of fingernail scissors.

16
Bob Marley

Bob marley celebrity deaths, inspiring quotes
monosnaps / CC BY 2.0

Bob Marley's long dreadlocks were a reflection of his Rastafari beliefs and helped introduce the world to that religion.

17
Audrey Hepburn

wittiest put downs

The high chignon Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakast at Tiffany's is a look that will be forever associated with the grace and style she brought to the screen.

18
Brigette Bardot

Brigette Bardot iconic hair

Brigette Bardot has had many looks over the years, but this long, layered look with a bit of teasing toward the back is undeniably her most famous.

19
Princess Diana

Princess Di hairdo
Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images

There's no doubt Princess Diana was a style icon, and her hair was always an important part of that look. Parted on the side with some serious layers, her look inspired countless women to chop off all their hair.

20
Tina Turner

Tina Turner iconic hair
Getty Images

Tina Turner has always been on the cutting edge when it comes to hair fashion, but her foot-tall teased 'do from the 1980s is undeniably her most iconic look.

21
Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake's iconic waves
Getty Images

The extreme side part and waves Veronica Lake rocked are still copied today when somebody wants a style that exudes Hollywood glamor.

22
Louise Brooks

Louise Brooks Iconic bob

Louise Brooks was the original "it" girl, and her short bob with even shorter bangs was the original "it" hairstyle.

23
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Jackie O iconic hair
Alamy

Jackie Kennedy's bouffant was copied by women throughout America and beyond long after her tenure as First Lady was over.

24
Meg Ryan

Meg Ryan iconic hair

Meg Ryan's short, shaggy, layered bob was the cherry on top of her adorably '90s style, making America's Sweetheart a style icon in her own right.

25
Halle Berry

Halle Berry iconic hair

Halle Berry has had many looks over the years, but the pixie cut she proudly wore in the 1990s is undeniably the most iconic.

26
Keri Russell

Keri Russell iconic curls

Keri Russell's curls were so iconic and popular that Felicity fans were furious when she cut them off for the show.

27
Diana Ross

Diana Ross iconic hair

Diana Ross has always been a style icon, but the long, voluminous hair she's known for made her a frequent salon inspiration, too.

28
Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts iconic hair

Despite the fact that Julia Roberts has been wearing her hair straight for years, she will be forever associated with the auburn curls she wore in Pretty Woman.

29
Zooey Deschanel

Actress Zooey Deschanel

While she's had numerous hairstyles onscreen over the years, Zooey Deschanel's bangs-and-curls combo brought back this retro style in a major way.

30
Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson iconic box braids Poetic Justice

Box braids were nothing new when Janet Jackson wore them for the movie Poetic Justice in 1993, but she did put the look on the map for the many women who emulated this iconic style. And for more celebrity fun, check out the 30 Most Hilarious Celebrity Instagram Photos.

To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life, click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter!

Filed Under