Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: Hair Trends We Hope Never Come Back

Some hair trends are timeless—and then there are the ones that should have never left the bathroom mirror. Join me on a nostalgic, cringe-worthy tour of hair history as we laugh (and maybe cry a little) at some of the styles that made us question our life choices.

1. Frosted Tips: From Cool to Cruel

Ah, the frosted tips of the 90s and early 2000s. If you weren’t bleaching the ends of your hair to look like you fell headfirst into a snowbank, were you even trying to be cool? *NSYNC made it look somewhat bearable, but for the rest of us, it was a frosty disaster. Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a sibling say, "You look like a human Q-tip."

Alternative: If you love lightened tips, go for a soft balayage instead. It’s natural, low-maintenance, and won’t make you look like a snowman.

2. Crimped Hair: The Accordion of Regret

Crimped hair was all the rage in the 80s and made a brief (but terrifying) resurgence in the early 2000s. If you wanted to look like your hair had been pressed between two hot waffle irons, this was the style for you.

Alternative: Want some texture without the waffle look? Loose beachy waves are the modern solution.

Recommended Product: Use The Bio Ionic Long Barrel Styler 1.5" from The Warehouse Salon for effortless, natural-looking waves.

3. The Mullet: Business in the Front, Party in the Back—and Regret All Around

The mullet is like the bad penny of hair trends—it just keeps coming back. Whether you’re a country music star or a hipster, some people just can’t resist this two-faced haircut. And yet, no one’s ever looked at a mullet and thought, Wow, that’s timeless.

Alternative: Go for a modern shag cut. It has layers and texture without the drastic dual personality.

Recommended Product: Use Design.Me Puff.Me Volumizing Powder from The Warehouse Salon to add definition and movement.

4. Bowl Cuts: DIY Disaster

The bowl cut has haunted childhoods for decades. If your parent ever plopped a mixing bowl on your head and snipped around it, I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that. No one did.

Alternative: Opt for a sleek, blunt bob for a more polished and chic take on short hair.

Recommended Product: Keep your bob shiny with Apira Coconut Oil Treatment from The Warehouse Salon.

5. The Rat Tail: The Single Strand of Shame

Whoever thought growing one long, skinny braid down the back of your neck was a good idea? The rat tail should be reserved for rodents, not humans. Yet somehow, this hair disaster had its moment.

Alternative: A sleek undercut or braided style can offer edge without regret.

Recommended Product: Use Kenra Platinum Finishing Spray from The Warehouse Salon to keep edgy styles locked in place.

6. Teased Bangs: The Bigger the Hair, the Bigger the Oops

Teased bangs were an 80s staple, standing tall enough to interfere with ceiling fans. There was enough hairspray involved to create a fire hazard—and let’s not even talk about the crunchy texture.

Alternative: Soft curtain bangs are a gentle, face-framing option that’s both trendy and versatile.

Recommended Product: Use Color Wow Style On Steroids Performance Enhancing Texture & Finishing Hairspray from The Warehouse Salon to add volume without crunch.

7. Rainbow Hair Stripes: Skunk, but Make It Fashion?

At some point, people thought it was cute to dye single stripes of their hair in bright colors, like a neon skunk. This was often paired with side-swept emo bangs for maximum edginess.

Alternative: For a modern pop of color, try hidden peekaboo highlights that reveal themselves when you move.

Recommended Product: Keep color-treated hair vibrant with Alfaparf Milano Semi Di Lino Reconstruction Reparative Low Shampoo from The Warehouse Salon.

Embrace the Good, Laugh at the Bad

While some trends come back around (hello, curtain bangs and shag cuts), others are best left in the archives of questionable style choices. Remember, hair is about fun and expression—but it’s also about learning from our past mistakes.

What’s the worst hair trend you ever tried? Share it in the comments—and let’s laugh together (because we’ve all been there).