1. The Mullet
Ah, the mullet—”business in the front, party in the back.” At one time, it was the epitome of cool, worn by rock stars, athletes, and even your favorite uncle. But today, it’s more of a punchline than a fashion statement. There’s just something about that drastic contrast in length that makes it hard to take seriously. It’s a hairstyle that screams, “I haven’t let go of the ’80s.” Even celebrities attempting a modern spin on the mullet can’t quite escape its cringeworthy roots. Some people embrace it for nostalgia, but it rarely looks good without a full costume to match says Substack.
While it had its heyday in music videos and wrestling rings, the mullet now feels hopelessly outdated. It doesn’t flatter most face shapes, and the upkeep is oddly complicated for such a ridiculous style. Plus, unless you’re in a throwback cover band, it’s hard to justify bringing it back. It’s also one of those styles that looks extra bad when it starts growing out. The short front and sides end up in an awkward phase that no amount of styling can fix. Ultimately, the mullet was fun while it lasted, but it belongs in the past. Let’s leave it to vintage photos and questionable high school yearbooks.
2. The Frosted Tips
If you lived through the early 2000s, you definitely remember frosted tips. Boy bands, heartthrobs, and even your neighbor’s older brother rocked this spiky, bleach-heavy look with an excessive amount of hair gel. It was meant to be edgy but often just made hair look crunchy and unnatural. The contrast between dark roots and blindingly blonde ends made it even worse. No amount of puka shell necklaces or popped collars could save this style from its downfall. Looking back, it’s hard to believe we ever thought it was stylish shares British GQ.
The worst part was how much maintenance it required to keep up that icy blonde effect. If you didn’t touch up the bleach, you’d end up with an awkward brassy mess. And heaven forbid you try to grow it out—those streaks didn’t blend well with new hair growth. Some people attempted at-home dye jobs, which only made the disaster worse. While highlights today are more blended and natural, frosted tips were anything but subtle. Unless you’re starring in a boy band reunion tour, it’s best to leave this one in the past.
3. The Bowl Cut
For many, the bowl cut wasn’t a choice—it was a childhood rite of passage. Whether your mom actually placed a bowl on your head to guide the scissors or a barber gave you a perfectly straight fringe, the result was usually the same: awkward and unflattering. It made kids look like mini monks or characters from an outdated sitcom. Even worse, some people kept it well into their teenage years, refusing to let go of the look. While some modern versions try to update it with texture and layers, the classic bowl cut remains cringeworthy.
There’s just something about that perfectly even line that makes it look unnatural. It doesn’t frame the face well, and unless you have the bone structure of a supermodel, it’s hard to pull off. Add in the fact that it can quickly turn into a shaggy mess as it grows out, and it’s clear why this style hasn’t made a real comeback. Parents may have loved it for its simplicity, but there’s a reason most kids dreaded haircut day. While some trendy revivals play with the idea, the original bowl cut is best left in old school photos says PEOPLE.
4. The Rat Tail
For some reason, there was a time when having a single, thin strip of hair dangling from the back of your head was considered cool. The rat tail was often paired with short hair on top, making it stand out even more. It was the kind of haircut that looked unfinished, like someone changed their mind halfway through. Some people even braided it or added beads, doubling down on the questionable fashion choice. While it may have been a childhood favorite for some, most people cringe when they see old photos of it.
There’s really no way to make a rat tail look stylish or intentional. It always looks like an afterthought rather than a deliberate hairstyle. Even when paired with a buzz cut or a fade, that little strand just looks odd. It doesn’t complement any face shape, and the upkeep is bizarrely specific. If you’ve ever seen someone try to grow one out, you know how awkward the transition stage is. Thankfully, this look has almost completely vanished from modern trends.
5. The Spiky Gel Helmet
Back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, it seemed like the goal was to make hair defy gravity. Armed with maximum-hold gel, people would spike their hair into stiff, rock-hard formations. The problem was, these styles never moved—not even in a hurricane. Running your fingers through your hair was out of the question unless you wanted to scrape your skin. The overall effect looked more like a hedgehog than a fashionable hairstyle.
Paired with frosted tips, this look reached peak cringe levels. It often required multiple rounds of washing just to get all the gel out. The worst part was when the spikes started to wilt throughout the day, turning into a sticky, drooping mess. At some point, we realized that softer, more natural styles were the way to go. Thankfully, modern hair products focus on texture rather than turning hair into a solid object.
6. The Zigzag Part
The early 2000s were a wild time for hair, and the zigzag part was proof of that. Instead of a simple side or middle part, people would take a comb and create sharp, jagged sections across their scalp. It was meant to look trendy and fun but mostly ended up looking like a messy accident. The worst part? It required a ridiculous amount of effort to keep those sections in place all day. Hairspray, gel, and careful brushing were necessary just to maintain this chaotic style.
Looking back, it’s hard to imagine why we ever thought this was a good idea. The jagged lines made the hair look uneven rather than intentional. It also didn’t complement most face shapes, making everything seem off-balance. A clean, simple part just makes so much more sense. The good news is that we’ve since learned that effortless styles tend to be the most flattering.
7. The Crimped Explosion
Crimped hair was the go-to look for anyone who wanted to add texture and volume—whether it was needed or not. With the help of a crimping iron, people transformed their sleek strands into zigzagged chaos. The problem? It rarely looked intentional, and more often than not, it just created a frizzy mess. Instead of effortless waves, you ended up with hair that resembled a tangled Slinky. Paired with butterfly clips and glitter gel, it was the ultimate early 2000s look.
The issue wasn’t just the texture but the sheer size of crimped hair. If you crimped all of it, you risked looking like a poodle. If you only crimped sections, it looked random and unfinished. And let’s not forget the damage—crimping irons fried hair worse than old-school flat irons. While some modern stylists have brought back subtle crimping in small doses, the full crimped explosion is best left in the past. If you want volume, a blowout is a much better choice.
8. The Sideways Ponytail
There was a time when wearing your ponytail at the nape of your neck or the crown of your head just wasn’t enough. Enter the sideways ponytail—a trend that had people sweeping their hair over one shoulder like a fashion statement. The problem was, it often looked lopsided and a little silly. Without the right balance, it had a way of making people look like they were constantly in motion. And let’s not forget the elastic situation—one wrong move, and it could slip out completely.
It didn’t help that this style was often paired with scrunchies, which made it look even more juvenile. While some tried to elevate it by wrapping a section of hair around the elastic, it rarely helped. Instead of chic and effortless, it often gave off “just finished gym class” energy. Thankfully, today’s low, sleek ponytails offer a much more polished alternative. If you still want a side-swept effect, a deep side part is a far better option.
9. The Mohawk with Shaved Sides
The classic punk-inspired mohawk was meant to be rebellious and edgy. But let’s be honest—it rarely translated well into everyday life. Unless you were in a rock band, walking around with stiff, sky-high spikes just looked over the top. The upkeep alone was exhausting, requiring industrial-strength hairspray and sometimes even glue. And when it wasn’t styled? The shaved sides made it look like you had a sad, floppy patch of hair in the middle of your head.
Even the tamer versions of this style didn’t age well. The “faux hawk” became popular as a slightly more wearable alternative, but even that started looking outdated fast. The problem is that extreme hairstyles rarely stand the test of time. Trends today lean more toward effortless, touchable hair rather than stiff, sculpted looks. Unless you’re fully committed to the punk aesthetic, it’s best to leave this one in the past.
10. The Bump-It Bouffant
When the Bump-It hit the market, people jumped at the chance to achieve instant volume. The plastic insert was meant to give you that perfect pouf without the need for teasing. Unfortunately, the result often looked anything but natural. The bump was either too big or too obvious, making people’s heads look oddly shaped. And if you didn’t secure it just right, you ran the risk of it shifting out of place mid-day.
Let’s not forget that teasing and hairspray were still necessary to blend everything in. That meant extra damage and a style that often felt stiff and helmet-like. While volume will always be in style, modern techniques rely on layers and soft styling rather than bulky inserts. The Bump-It era gave us some dramatic red carpet moments, but for everyday life, it was just too much. Thankfully, today’s voluminous styles focus on looking effortless rather than engineered.
11. The Liberty Spikes
If you ever wanted to look like a cartoon villain or a porcupine, Liberty spikes were the way to go. This extreme hairstyle involved taking sections of hair and spiking them straight up in multiple directions. The amount of product required to hold everything in place was absurd. People spent hours sculpting each section, only to have their hard work ruined by wind or humidity. While it was a staple in punk culture, it never really had mainstream appeal.
Even as a rebellious statement, it’s hard to deny that Liberty spikes look more comical than cool. It’s one of those styles that only works in certain subcultures and specific settings. Outside of a punk concert, it just looks impractical. Plus, growing it out was a nightmare—imagine trying to flatten hair that had been trained to stick straight up. While edgy styles come and go, this one is probably best left to the archives of alternative fashion.
12. The Waterfall of Tiny Braids
Thanks to pop stars and early 2000s red carpet trends, tiny braids were once considered the height of cool. Instead of a sleek ponytail or soft waves, people covered their entire head in dozens of thin, tight braids. The result? A style that took forever to achieve but never looked quite right. Instead of polished and trendy, it often came off as chaotic and frizzy. And if you ever tried to take them out, you were left with a crimped mess.
The real issue with this look was the sheer amount of maintenance required. It was impossible to brush through, and if you didn’t keep up with it, frizz and flyaways took over. Some even added beads at the ends, which made it look even more like a costume than a fashion choice. While braids themselves will never go out of style, this particular take on them feels dated. If you want to incorporate small braids, subtle accents are a much better approach.