We Asked Our Editors to Re-Create Their Favorite Childhood Hairstyles, and Oh the Nostalgia

Published on 6/24/2020 at 3:30 PM

POPSUGAR Photography | Jessica Harrington

It's funny how a simple hairstyle or beauty trend can transport you back to a particular time in your life. For me, the infamous bump hairstyle — you know the one that Hilary Duff, the Kardashians, Snooki, and literally every other celebrity in the 2000s rocked at one point or another — reminds me of my days in middle school.

Just like it's common knowledge that butterfly clips are synonymous with the '90s and side bangs were a staple in the early '00s, most of us can look at a hairstyle or accessory and pinpoint exactly when in time it was trendy. (It's also not too far fetched to say that most of us have personal photo evidence of it, too.)

While our personal style, and beauty routines, for that matter, have grown and evolved a lot since our younger years, those nostalgic hairstyles will always hold a special place in our hearts. To take a trip down memory lane, we asked a few of our editors to re-create their signature hairstyle from their childhood, ahead.

Half-Up Messy Top-Knot

"After I graduated from the wearing-tights-on-head-for-longer-hair-effect phase of my life — which, as my mom will attest, went on for way too many years of my earlier youth — I decided Ren Stevens from Even Stevens would be my hair icon. I styled it in every which way she would on the show (think crimped, up with face-framing tendrils, you name it) — but one that's surprisingly carried on into my adult life is this messy, half-up look. The key here is the hair that's spiked forward (and sometimes, sideways) at the knot. Choker not required, but obviously welcome." — Kelsey Castañon, senior beauty editor

Box Braids

"Growing up, the hairstyle I wore most frequently was box braids. It was pretty much the only style I wore when I was 13 — mostly because my mom rarely ever let me style my natural hair on my own — but it really helped my hair continue to grow and stay healthy as a kid. These days I'll wear box braids once or twice a year, either in the summer months or just as it starts to get chilly out. A few months ago once we all started social distancing, I decided to do a little experiment and install some myself. It was an interesting journey considering I'm not the most experienced braider, but I was happy with my results in the end." — Danielle Jackson, assistant beauty editor

Pigtail Braids

"From preschool to the end of elementary school, my mom would style my hair in two long braids every single day. I don't have them anymore, but the look wasn't truly complete without '90s butterfly clips on the top of my head and colorful beaded hair ties at the bottom of each braid — yes, the kind from Claire's. My hair used to be a lot longer, thicker, and shinier (oh, how the years go by), but I still feel like a little kid every time I decide to put my hair in braids." — Chanel Vargas, editorial assistant, trending & viral features

Infamous Bump

"I don't think there was a single day that went by in middle school that I didn't wear my hair in this infamous bump hairstyle. I had side bangs at the time (of course I did), and would pull back this front section of my hair with bobby pins and a lot of hairspray. Staying true to trends of the early aughts, I also wore it with way too much black eyeliner on the top and bottom of my eyes. I couldn't have been any more teenage Jersey girl if I tried." — Jessica Harrington, associate beauty editor

French Braids

"I've actually been throwing it back on the regular with my French braids now that it's warming up and I have the time to do them in the morning. My mom used to French braid my hair all the time when I was young, and I can still picture myself holding my American Girl Felicity doll in matching dresses and braids. It's amazing how a simple hairstyle can make you so nostalgic." — Tara Block, content director, growth and strategic features