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50 Truly Iconic Beauty Looks From Your Favorite '90s Movies

Two words: Cher Horowitz.

Headshot of Charlotte ChiltonBy Charlotte Chilton
clueless
CBS Photo Archive//Getty Images

Raise your hand if you hoarded butterfly clips in the '90s. Come on, we know we weren't the only ones. Between the trips to Claire's to buy hair accessories to the truly devastating makeup choices we made that are now immortalized in our yearbook, we can only think of one place to blame: Hollywood. But it wasn't all bad. From Pretty Woman to She's All That, please enjoy this very thorough deep-dive into the most influential '90s cinematic beauty looks of all time.

1

1990: Julia Roberts's Ponytail in 'Pretty Woman'

pretty woman
Touchstone Pictures

The only thing better than Julia Roberts' impeccable low pony and hat combo is her "big mistake" moment.

2

1990: Demi Moore's Pixie in 'Ghost'

los angeles   july 13 the movie ghost, directed by jerry zucker and written by bruce joel rubin seen here, demi moore as molly jensen initial theatrical release july 13, 1990 screen capture paramount pictures photo by cbs via getty images
CBS Photo Archive//Getty Images

Thanks to Demi Moore's pixie cut with arched bangs in Ghost, the low-maintenance style became super trendy in the '90s.

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3

1991: Christina Applegate's Ponytail in 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead'

don't tell mom the babysitter's dead
HBO Pictures

Christina Applegate's feathered bangs were her most iconic beauty feature in the '90s, but we're demanding justice for this multi-hair-tie pony, because it's the real unsung hero.

4

1991: Patrick Swayze's Faux Mullet in 'Point Break'

lebanese born american actor keanu reeves and american actor patrick swayze stand on a beach as swayze holds a surfboard during the filming of the action movie point break directed by kathryn bigelow, 1991 photo by richard foremanfotos internationalgetty images
Fotos International//Getty Images

There was nothing hotter in the '90s than a sun-kissed Patrick Swayze. As part of his surfer look in Point Break, the actor rocked fringe bangs and long textured hair.

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5

1991: Geena Davis's Blue Eyeshadow in 'Thelma & Louise'

actresses susan sarandon left and geena davis star in the film thelma and louise, 1991 photo by fotos internationalgetty images
Fotos International//Getty Images

There's plenty of fashion to gawk at in Thelma & Louise, but Geena's blue shadow stole the show. Our teenage selves may or may not have run to Limited Too to buy a palette of my own immediately afterwards.

6

1992: Whitney Houston's Baby Bangs in 'The Bodyguard'

bodyguard
Warner Bros.

Her chin-grazing bob was a standout moment, but Whitney Houston's piecey bangs are what everyone tried to replicate after this movie—hopefully with the help of a salon visit and not a DIY scissors session at home.

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7

1992: Drew Barrymore's Big Hair in 'Poison Ivy'

poison ivy
New Line Cinema

Although somewhat reminiscent of the big hair from the '80s, Drew Barrymore's curls in Poison Ivy were perfectly grunge and sparked a hair trend that continued throughout the decade.

8

1992: Tupac's Fade in 'Juice'

juice
Paramount

You know a hairstyle is important when it becomes IDed by the film it was in. When Tupac appeared in Juice sporting an elaborate fade, fans took note and sideways parted fades are known as the "Juice Cut" to this day.

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9

1992: Goldie Hawn's Voluminous Curls in 'Death Becomes Her'

death becomes her
Universal

The soft full curls Goldie Hawn wore in Death Becomes Her are super retro-glam. When paired with wispy bangs, it became the most '90s thing ever and was coveted by 30-somethings.

10

1992: Sharon Stone's Slicked-Back Hair in 'Basic Instinct'

basic instinct
TriStar Pictures

We'll raise you your middle part and give you Sharon Stone's no part in Basic Instinct. Her short messy 'do paired with an oatmeal turtleneck for the beach was particularly memorable.

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11

1993: Janet Jackson's Box Braids in 'Poetic Justice'

poetic justice
Columbia Pictures

Another instance of a style becoming synonymous with a movie, Janet Jackson's long box braids kicked off people asking for "poetic justice braids." They were just that iconic.

12

1993: Meg Ryan's Feathered Bangs in 'Sleepless in Seattle'

sleepless in seattle
TriStar Pictures

The most famous era for Meg Ryan's hair was her feathery style in Sleepless in Seattle, which we can say from experience served as inspiration for countless haircuts during the decade.

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13

1993: Mara Wilson's Headbands in 'Mrs. Doubtfire'

mrs doubtfire
20th Century Studios

You were the coolest kid on the playground if you rocked one of these two-inch thick felt headbands in kindergarten. Bonus points if it coordinated with your outfit.

14

1994: Uma Thurman's Blunt Bangs in 'Pulp Fiction'

pulp fiction
Miramax

It was the hairstyle that launched thousands of replicas—not to mention killer Halloween costumes. There's no other way to describe Uma Thurman's bob in Pulp Fiction other than a work of art.

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15

1994: Elizabeth Perkins's Red Lip in 'Miracle on 34th Street'

miracle on 34th street
20th Century Studios

Elizabeth Perkins was the perfectly polished mother in Miracle on 34th Street and her red pout in every scene is all the makeup department had to do to nail her vibe.

16

1994: Natalie Portman's Bob in 'Léon: The Professional'

natalie portman's bob in léon the professional
Gaumont

For the first time in history, adults wanted the same haircut as an 11-year-old after Natalie Portman wore this chic bob in her breakout role.

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17

1995: Alicia Silverstone's Blown-Out Layers in 'Clueless'

clueless
Paramount

Clueless defined '90s beauty and style—it's that simple. Cher's blonde blowout was everything and while many a teen tried to replicate it, few succeeded.

18

1995: Elisa Donovan's Feathered Headband in 'Clueless'

clueless
Paramount

This look is still on our to-do list. The marabou feather headband perfectly matches the marabou feather shrug and don't even get us started on that buckle choker.

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19

1995: Stacey Dash's Red Lip in 'Clueless'

clueless
Paramount

In addition to her wardrobe in Clueless, Stacey Dash's red lip stole the show. She wears it here with a clip art-inspired hat, as one does in the '90s.

20

1995: Brittany Murphy's Hair Color in 'Clueless'

clueless
Paramount

Purple-red hair? As if. Well, except in the '90s, when it was actually really cool. No one pulled it off better than Brittany Murphy in Clueless.

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