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The 30 Worst Women's Hairstyles in Recent Memory

There have been a lot of amazing hairstyles to fawn over in recent years. Just in the last decade, we’ve seen the lob, lavender hair, pearlescent hair, and so much more. These styles make you want to run to your hair stylist and drop some real money just to get the same look. However, not every style is absolutely stunning.

Along with these gems, there have also been several looks that are absolutely nothing to write home about. Some of them look utterly hideous. Well, the benefit is that they can make you feel great about your hair even if you haven’t been to the stylist in a couple of years!

We’re talking about the styles that make you wonder “what were they thinking?!” Some of these iconic styles trended thanks to celebrities while others created a life of their own without too much influence from the red carpet. From rainbow hair to too-long bangs, there are some hairstyles that should just be banned at all hair salons. Here are 30 ‘dos you probably aren’t going to be (and definitely shouldn't be) rocking anytime soon! Have you seen any of these looks in public?

Click “Let’s Begin” to start the slideshow.

Eye-Skimming Bangs

Eye-Skimming Bangs

Bangs are slowly but surely having a comeback. One of the most popular bang trends consists of letting your bangs graze your eyelashes. 

 

Can you say irritating? Not to mention, no one is going to be able to see your eyebrows or eye makeup! 

MEGA/GC Images/Getty Images

Two-Toned Long Roots

Two-Toned Long Roots

Long roots or two-toned hair look like someone has neglected their roots.

 

No, it doesn’t look like a natural Ombré. However, an Ombré can solve the long roots issue.

Craig Barritt/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Chunky Highlights

Chunky Highlights

No, no, no. Chunky highlights aren’t flattering. They look horrible at best. It’s like looking at a confused zebra. Try a Bayalage if you’re thinking about chunky highlights.

 

We're so thankful chunky highlights are a thing of the past, and we hope they stay there.

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images

Pigtail Buns

Pigtail Buns

Pigtail buns are two little buns that are made by dividing the hair into two ponytails that wrap around the base to create buns. You can thank Sailor Moon for this hairstyle; the anime heroine sported this hairstyle in every single episode in the '90s; other characters even called her things like "meatball head" and "bunhead."

This look is cute on Sailor Moon and 8-year-olds, but not anyone else who wants to be taken seriously as a grownup.

(Image via Adobe)

Wet Hair

Wet Hair

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could hop out of the shower and go to work with your hair still wet? Well, some women are attempting to make this a thing. Unfortunately, it just looks sloppy and unkempt. 

 

Go ahead and take a blow dryer to your hair before you leave the house, because this isn't it.

(Image via Adobe)

Dyed Gray Hair

Dyed Gray Hair

Many young women have taken to dyeing their hair gray recently, but why on earth do they want gray hair 30 years before it comes in naturally?! 

 

When they turn 50, they’re going to wish they had appreciated their natural color while they had it!

(Image via Adobe)

Voluminous Bun

Voluminous Bun

Voluminous buns are back in style, but we aren’t too keen on the “dead animal on top of your head” look. 

 

Women with thin hair can make this look work, but for the rest of us, it’s best to try to contain volume rather than exaggerate it. 

Imen Akpanudosen/Getty Images Entertainment

Tiaras

Tiaras

Hair accessories are constantly going in and out of style, and the accessory of the moment is the tiara. 

 

We’ve seen them on the runway and the red carpet, but we can’t help but think this childish accessory makes grown women look like children playing dress-up.

(Image via Adobe)

Towering Top Knot

Towering Top Knot

Women are putting in a lot of effort to make their hair tower a foot or more over their heads, but we simply cannot get on board with this trend that looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss movie.

 

And we know pulling all your hair up like that hurts your head! Go ahead and let your hair down so your scalp can breathe.

Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Sleek High Ponytail

Sleek High Ponytail

Victoria’s Secret models and the Kardashians are about the only ones who can pull off this hair trend. 

 

As for the rest of us, when we pull our hair back that tight, all of the places where the hair is thinning or receding is exposed for the whole world to see. 

Andreas Rentz/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Slicked-Back Bob

Slicked-Back Bob

The slicked-back bob can be pulled off by those with great bone structure, but for the most part, this style looks like a glorified mullet. 

 

Bobs look nice enough on their own, so you shouldn’t have to resort to globs of hair gel to enhance your style. 

Taylor Hill/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Center-Part Bob

Center-Part Bob

We love bobs and the center-part, but the two don’t really mix as well as we had hoped.

Unless your hair is pin-straight like Gwyneth Paltrow’s, you’ll end up looking like you have two giant clumps of hair on either side of your face.

(Image via Adobe)

Frizzy Waves

Frizzy Waves

Some women embrace the frizz, but we're just not sold on this look. 

 

We're all for a natural look, but you don't want to look unkempt.

(Image via Walt Disney Pictures/BrownHouse Productions)

Half Bun

Half Bun

The half bun consists of pulling half of your hair back into a (usually messy) bun and leaving the rest down. While this style is super popular because washing your hair is just really time consuming and it's a great style for when you're short on time, it doesn't look great on everyone. 

 

This style can really only look okay if you have thinner hair, but if it’s thick or curly, the half bun is going to look poofy and overwhelming.

Gabe Ginsberg/WireImage/Getty Images

Wispy Bangs

Wispy Bangs

Wispy bangs are meant to have a carefree vibe about them, but we think they’re just a little too laid-back looking.

 

They make the wearer look as though they haven’t had their bangs trimmed in a couple months and attempted to do it themselves.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Poodle Perm

Poodle Perm

Why does the poodle perm exist? It makes the wearer look like Lionel Richie or an overgrown Chia Pet.

No. You’re not the one I’m looking for.

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Super Short Bangs

Super Short Bangs

Some women are turning to super short bangs to get the bang look without the hassle. Unfortunately, this style reminds us of the terrible bangs we were subjected to in the second grade and never want to see again. 

 

Super short bangs will never not look like a kid who took scissors to their own hair while their mom wasn't looking.

Presley Ann/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Bowl Cut

Bowl Cut

The bowl cut has been around for decades and still seems to hang around. Why? It looks like someone literally put dishes on their head and followed the line.

 

Maybe it’s alright for children, but adults should know better.

(Image via 21 Laps Entertainment/Monkey Massacre Productions)

Feathery Flip

Feathery Flip

The feathery flip, aka the Farrah flip, was stunning back in the day, but not anymore. 

 

Now, women are trying out this hairstyle, and it looks dated. Just stop. Please, for the sake of humanity.

Fotos International/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Hidden Rainbow Hair

Hidden Rainbow Hair

The “hidden rainbow” hair trend is great in theory and looks gorgeous in professionally-taken photos. In real life, though, it’s not that fabulous. 

 

Unless you have extremely thick hair, that rainbow is never going to be completely hidden. And then it just looks unprofessional.

(Image via Adobe)

Beehives

Beehives

Beehives were huge in the 1960s. They eventually died out, but all that changed when Amy Winehouse hit the scene. 

 

Women began mimicking her classic hairstyle which is…out of date, to say the least. Some things have to be left in the past.

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Shelf Layers

Shelf Layers

Shelf layers work alright with curly hair, but for someone that has straight hair, good luck. 

 

Unless the plan is to get up early in the morning and curl, curl, curl -- move on.

(Image via Adobe)

Super Long Extensions

Super Long Extensions

Extensions are a gift from the Heavens, but they can get out of hand. They can make your hair full or they can make you look like a crazed cat lady that’s trying their best to mimic Rapunzel.  

 

Leave your hair at a manageable length for your sake and ours.

(Image via Adobe)

Modified Mullet

Modified Mullet

The modified mullet is best described as the look ScarJo sported early in her career. You’d think it would have died out, but nope. 

 

Just like the regular mullet for men, it’s managed to hold on with sharp teeth.

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images

Hair Bow

Hair Bow

Unless you’re five, you shouldn’t wear a hair bow. It’s cute but little-kid cute. It’s best to let children sport this one.

 

Just because it's become a recent trend doesn't mean you need to partake.

Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Slicked Back Pixie

Slicked Back Pixie

There isn’t a whole lot you can do with a pixie cut, but slicking it back shouldn’t be an option.

It just looks like the hair is so greasy that you can literally comb it back, and it’ll stay.

TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images

Half Shaved

Half Shaved

A close cut is fine, but half a shaved head? It just looks super strange, and it isn’t flattering on anyone – not even Natalie Dormer.

 

The asymmetrical look just throws off the balance of your face.

Christopher Polk/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Crimped Hair

Crimped Hair

Crimped hair was a ‘90s craze, but has returned. No one really knows why, but it should go back to wherever it came from.

 

It's not good for your hair or our well-being.

Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Kate Gosselin

The Kate Gosselin

You may know this cut as the “Kate Gosselin” or the “I need to speak to your manager cut.” Either way, it isn’t flattering. 

 

It’s short but long, spiky but smooth. Side effects may include complaining to management more.

Michael Kovac/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Super High Pony

Super High Pony

Similar to the super slick pony, the super high pony can only be worn by some. If Beyoncé can barely pull it off, there are very few that can.

 

It shows off any thinning areas, and the hair will inevitably end up in your face.

Jim Spellman/WireImage/Getty Images