Fashion

30 Pop Star Hairstyles That Defined the 2000s, From Kelly Clarkson's Chunky Highlights To Beyonce's Blonde Curls

The early aughts were a definitive era for pop music. Not only were unabashedly upbeat tunes in vogue, there were also a host of properly (if eccentrically) clad female pop stars who introduced their tween fans to a host of hair innovations. Not only were hair tools in serious rotation around the turn of the century, all manner of accessories found their way into pop stars locks: butterfly clips, pins, and even chopsticks. From Britney to JoJo, here are the top 30 pop star hairstyles that defined the 2000s.

by Tyler Atwood

Mandy Moore's Highlighted Blonde 'Do

2001 provided the world with not only a saccharine year in pop, but also Mandy Moore’s lightly highlighted blond locks and zig-zagged part.

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Mandy Moore's Shocking Crop

Ever the trend-setter, Moore chopped her locks into a short, dark crop less than two years later; thousands of tween girls weren’t far behind.

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Britney Spears' Platinum Locks

The wave of platinum blonde pop stars didn’t simply materialize out of thin air. One of the trend’s key proponents? Britney Spears.

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Jessica Simpson's Permed 'Do

Who says the blonde perm is a thing of the ’80s? Jessica Simpson appeared to disagree, sporting the look through the early aughts.

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Pink's Pink Hair

So attached was Pink’s fuchsia hair to her pop star identity and influence that some fans are still confused when the name Alecia Beth Moore is thrown around.

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Christina Aguilera's Cornrows

Cornrows were suddenly everywhere when the Millennium hit. Why? Some cocktail of culture, modernity, Christina Aguilera, and Alicia Keys.

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Christina Aguilera's Crimped Hair

I vividly recall attempting to crimp my unruly waves by braiding them at night, but it was really Aguilera who started and nailed the trend.

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Christina Aguilera's Marilyn Monroe Homage

Yet another of Aguilera’s iconic looks which the star often riffs on to this day is the platinum-hued, voluminous bombshell curls which pay homage to Marilyn Monroe.

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Shakira's Tousled Curls

The dry shampoo and tousled hair trend isn’t a fresh concept; back in the early aughts, Shakira was sporting her own voluminous variation at every performance.

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Shakira's Black Lowlights

Shakira’s other influential look involved lowlights in the star’s halo of golden hair.

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Aaliyah's Flat-Ironed Locks

The late Aaaliyah managed to make her mark on pop culture during her short time in the spotlight for her melodic voice, sweet smile, and glossy, flat-ironed locks.

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Avril Lavigne's Sk8r Girl Straightened Locks

Avril Lavigne was no stranger to the flat iron, either. However, the tomboyish singer’s own style was punctuated by thin crimson streaks.

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Rihanna's Beachy, Crimped Hair

Before it was gold, red, shaved, cropped, or bleached, Rihanna’s hair was a trend-setting cascade of loose curls.

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Kelly Clarkson's Voluminous Tiger-Striped Updo

Who didn’t try the birds nest twist of an updo with wisps strategically pulled out to frame their face in the early aughts? Kelly Clarkson certainly did.

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Justin Timberlakes Frosted-Tip Curls

Quite honestly, Justin Timberlake and his oh-so-blatantly frosted curls needed to be included, as the look caught on like an ill-advised wildfire.

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Hoku's Ultimate Ombre Locks

If you think Lily Aldridge or Rihanna were the first to rock ombre locks, you’re sorely mistaken. Hawaiian singer Hoku, whose hit Perfect Day became the ultimate brain worm tune after it was featured in Legally Blonde, was an earlier proponent of the look.

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Kylie Minogue's Mussed Curls

Kylie Minogue is nearly as famous for her beautifully mussed curls as she is for her hit songs.

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Eve's Reverse Ombre

Do you remember Eve’s reverse ombre from the early aughts? Of course you do. It was just the thing to demonstrate subversion without jumping into the deep end for a teenager in the 2000s.

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Jennifer Lopez's Supersized Hair

Though many of J.Lo’s looks are iconic, her hair often defied gravity in curls that somehow extended horizontally instead of vertically.

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Gwen Stefani's Uber-Platinum Updo's

Gwen Stefani and her platinum blonde hair are now synonymous, but in the early 2000s, it was the artful style of updo she favored which gained attention.

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Alicia Keys' Side-Parted Cornrows

Much like Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys brought cornrows into the limelight. Hers, however, featured a delightful side part and often an intricate pattern to add allure.

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Hilary Duff's Chopsticks

It’s alright to confess you tried the chopstick-laden look; Hilary Duff won’t tell anyone.

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Hilary Duff's Wispy Bangs

Though they’re now associated with adorkable Zooey Deschanel, bangs were once Hilary Duff’s domain.

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JoJo's Brassy Brunette Hair

A caramel-infused reddish brown shade cut in the perfect side-bang, JoJo’s hair was a significant icon for those with brunette locks.

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Samantha Mumba's Uber-Long Locks

Samantha Mumba may not be on the radio today, but the world can fondly remember the star’s well-groomed long locks, often streaked with sun-kissed highlights.

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Ashanti's Enviably Lustrous Curls

The vocalist’s glossy, perfectly tamed ringlets were almost as iconic as her melodious voice.

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Beyonce's Voluminous, Highlighted Curls

Around the time Beyonce starred in Austin Powers in Goldmember, the singer let her once-straightened locks break free into a haze of highlighted curls.

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The Dixie Chicks' Loosely Coordinated Locks

French twists, feathered hair, and pixie bangs were all in the Dixie Chicks’s wheelhouse.

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Beyonce's Island-Inspired Locks

A substantial dose of highlights and side-swept waves gave Beyonce covetable, beachside charm.

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Britney Spears

Britney Spears made headlines when she shaved her head in 2007, thus making her temporary new look the most iconic of the year, if not the decade.

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