Throughout history, people have worn their hair in a wide variety of ways, largely determined by the fashions of the culture they live in. Hairstyles are markers and signifiers of social class, age, marital status, racial identification, political beliefs and attitudes about gender. No doubt many of us take our beauty cues from celebrities. Recently a poll from hair company Goody officially confirmed it by counting down the six most popular celeb-inspired hairstyles. We’ve added a few iconic styles of our own to make up the 10 best and most popular hairstyles of all time — some of which still work today.
10. Blake Lively’s Layered Locks
Poised to topple the popularity of the “Rachel,” Blake Lively’s long, blonde Gossip Girl tresses have become one of the most requested and most popular hairstyle in salons across American — even prompting a New York Times article chronicling the craze.
9. Mia Farrow’s Pixie Crop
Mia Farrow has one of the greatest Pixie Cuts ever. In 1968, after Vidal Sassoon gave Mia Farrow this extreme haircut for the film Rosemary’s Baby, thousands of woman ran to salons, eager to shed inches of hair, along with traditional standards of feminine beauty.
8. Marilyn Monroe’s Blonde Curls
Marilyn Monroe was blonde by choice. Millions of women emulated her style and the way she styled and colored her hair. Her blonde retro waves, the pouty lips, and her sexy figure are legendary. Her hairstyle became part of her image and appeal. In the history of hair color there is no blonde more famous than Marilyn Monroe. She may not have invented this look, but she certainly owned it. If you’ve got the guts to go bottle blonde, this style still guarantees sex appeal. The Most Popular Hairstyle of All Time.
7. Michelle Obama’s Classic Cut
In 2007, Obama was an unknown political wife. Since ascending to the White House, she’s handled the spotlight with confidence and grace, thanks in part to her elegance, character, and this timeless and flattering cut.
6. Farrah Fawcett’s Feathered Flip
The haircut gained phenomenal popularity in the 1970s and the early 1980s with men and women. The hair was grown long on both sides (normally covering the ears, although it could be shoulder length), unlayered (although some men with curly hair did have it layered), with either a side or a centre parting. The hair would be brushed back at the sides, giving an appearance similar to the feathers of a bird. Many celebrities wore this style at some time or another including Tim Brooke Taylor of The Goodies and Eric Idle, Farrah Fawcett, and Don Johnson. While the ’70s and Fawcett are no longer with us, this vintage style is still a favorite with ladies everywhere.
5. Victoria Beckham’s Posh Pageboy
When Victoria Beckham decided to shed her “Posh” skin, she took the shears to her locks and catapulted herself into icon status with this structured style. Her asymmetrical cut is another favorite with women in every demographic. This become one of the most popular Hairstyle around the world.
4. Princess Diana’s Royal Do
During her short, tragic life, Diana reached the pinnacle of elegance and carved out one of the most recognizable, coveted and most popular hairstyle. According to the poll, her cut is still popular with women in all age groups.
3. Dannii Minogue’s Sleek Bob
Are you tired of the Pixie Bob or just want a short haircut that is more sleek and sexy? If so, then the Dannii Minogue bob hairstyle is for you! This style is super easy to care for, a real “wash and wear” style for girls who love simple, elegant wear anywhere hair.
Minogue’s flawless bob is both sophisticated and confident – the perfect complement for any edgy, no-nonsense woman. This hairstyle is also known as the “A Line Bob” or the “Chinese Bob” in some circles.
2. Meg Ryan’s Shag
Meg Ryan may be famous for her chic Sally Hershberger shag haircut, but the 48-year-old star has gone through many beauty transformations in her career. Ryan’s made a career out of portraying the silly but sexy, quirky girl – a persona best embodied by this choppy, peppy shag. This look was first runner-up in Goody’s poll. Meg Ryan showing off her cute layered, flippy, hair. The interesting this is while this movie is from 1998, the hairstyle could still be worn (and is!) today.
1. Jennifer Aniston’s “Rachel” Cut
The Rachel haircut is a bouncy, square layered hairstyle introduced by Jennifer Aniston in season one of the hit American sitcom Friends (1994) and named after her character Rachel Green. Aniston disliked the hairstyle and did not keep it, but the cut was widely imitated and is still popular, more than 11 million women have tried the cut. Fifteen years later it’s still a frequent request, making the “Rachel” one of the most popular hairstyle of all time.