The 7 Most Iconic Hairstyles From Pop Culture And The 7 Most Bizarre Trends

Hair has always had a flair for the dramatic. History shows a wild ride of iconic and odd hairstyles in pop culture. One decade, it's sleek and polished. The next? It's teased to the heavens or chopped into rebellion. Many styles stole the spotlight, but others just left people scratching their heads. But every one of them made a statement. Some hairstyles sparked global trends. Others... well, let’s just say they live on in yearbook photos and internet memes. Maybe you begged your stylist for “The Rachel” or tried to recreate Farrah’s feathered flip with a can of hairspray.    So grab your gel, hold your spray, and prepare to revisit the cuts and catastrophes that made us double-take. Let’s start with the hairstyles that won everyone's hearts.

  Debuting on “Charlie’s Angels” in 1976, Farrah Fawcett’s bouncy, feathered hairstyle launched a worldwide obsession. Millions rushed to salons chasing the breezy, layered flip. Her poster, which sold over 12 million copies, immortalized the style. Hairstylists had to replicate it constantly. Even today, it defines the spirit of 1970s glam.

Nothing reminds us of the mid-1950s rock ‘n’ roll explosion like Elvis Presley’s pompadour. It exploded onto the scene, and it was a rebellion. Styled with Vaseline and tonic, the high-gloss lift became iconic. Bruno Mars and Prince followed in his footsteps, and the pompadour is now shorthand for boldness and swagger in pop culture.    

Although Jennifer Aniston reportedly disliked it, The Rachel instantly became the haircut of the decade when it hit the screens in 1995. Women worldwide asked salons for the layered, voluminous look that Chris McMillan whipped up at the last minute, unaware he was creating a phenomenon. Its widespread imitation cemented it as a 1990s beauty hallmark.    

Many don’t know that the Hollywood star was actually a brunette, but Marilyn Monroe’s icy curls became a signature look for many actresses to follow. She maintained it with biweekly bleaching. Paired with crimson lips, it created the diva archetype. Stars like Madonna followed, cementing Monroe’s influence on generations of blonde beauty.

His dreadlocks were somehow spiritual. Naturally formed without combs, his locs were a proud symbol of Rastafarianism. These locks helped reggae explode globally and introduced Caribbean culture to the world. Fashion and music soon echoed the look. Today, dreadlocks remain an enduring badge of faith and cultural pride.

More than fashion, Princess Diana’s sleek short crop showed her growing independence. Popularized in the early 1990s, her look represented a personal and public reinvention. What many don't know is that a spontaneous trim during a photoshoot turned into one of the most requested styles worldwide. Today, it's still considered a timeless symbol of elegance and strength.    

The Beatles’ mop tops made their American debut in 1964 on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” instantly reshaping youth fashion. The shaggy, boyish cuts became a mod-era trademark. Schools tried banning them, but fans mimicked the look worldwide. Even on tour, their barbers followed to preserve one of pop culture’s most recognizable haircuts. But not every legendary look became iconic for its beauty. Some earned their fame by being downright bizarre.    

Nothing screams awkward, quite like the bowl cut. Shaped like an upside-down salad bowl, it found fame with the Beatles—then clung to 1990s school photos. Often DIY with real bowls, it became a joke in “Dumb and Dumber.” South Korea even banned it once. It’s hair history’s weirdest kitchenware crossover.  

Few hairstyles have baffled people more than the mullet. “Business in the front, party in the back” became an unholy slogan of 1980s excess. Billy Ray Cyrus and hockey players made it mainstream. Briefly banned in Iran, it was revived as a meme in the 2020s. This dual-personality cut still sparks confused rage and cult devotion.  

Inspired by plastic toys with neon hair that stood on end, this style was pure chaos. Teens spiked their hair straight up using fluorescent gel, mimicking 1960s Troll dolls. Seen at school spirit days, then resurrected by the “Trolls” movie, it’s among the most delightfully bizarre styles to ever leave the toy aisle.    

Liberty spikes were engineered madness. Hair twisted into rigid skyscrapers with glue and spray, sometimes exceeding a foot tall. Punk rebellion turned architectural hazard! Clubs banned them, combs snapped trying to tame them, and yet they ruled the 1980s and 1990s punk scene like a spiked crown of anarchy.  

A frosty relic of the late 1990s, frosted tips looked like someone dipped just the ends in bleach and walked away. Paired with spiky gel and boy band fame, they became absurdly iconic. Justin Timberlake reportedly loathed his cut. Constant touch-ups made them high maintenance. Parodied endlessly, they’re a masterclass in odd hair trends.    

  Part hairstyle, part structural marvel—the beehive tower was wonderfully absurd. Popularized by The Ronettes and later Amy Winehouse, it stacked teased hair so high it needed wires to hold it. Women slept sitting up. Pens and even lighters were stashed inside. Equal parts glamour and madness, it’s a monument to hairstyle extremes.