Pigtails were all the rage among ’90s-era pop stars. Young women emulated Baby Spice of the Spice Girls, who wore her platinum blonde locks in high pigtails, and Britney Spears, who made braided pigtails an iconic hairstyle in her “Baby One More Time” music video. Today, trendsetters like Hailey Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, and Tessa Thompson are bringing the hair phenomenon back into popular culture, putting their own unique spins on the classic and playful style. “The style has been modernized by using extensions and embellishments,” colorist Juliana Ohlmeyer told Bustle, noting that “you see it with celebs who bring a cool streetwear element to them.”
The best part about ’90s-era pigtails is their versatility. They can be worn high on the head, in a half-up, half-down look, braided, crimped, or texturized. They are also a style that suits the addition of ribbons, fun hair ties, or butterfly clips. For high pigtails, create a clean part using the end of a rat tail comb, dividing your hair into two sections. Gather one section of hair high on the side of your head and secure it with an elastic before repeating on the other side. If you want to rock low-key braided pigtails, separate your clean, brushed hair into two sections. Choose how high or low you want your braids to start and the length you’d like, then braid a normal plait. Secure the ends with an elastic and pull out face-framing pieces to keep the style casual.
