The Best Throwback MTV VMA Hair and Makeup Looks Ever
Tina Turner, 1984
The ’80s weren’t exactly the best decade for hair, but you can’t deny that Tina’s gravity-defying volume is totally giving you life right now.
Joan Jett and Darlene Love, 1985
It’s hard to say what’s the most ’80s thing about this photo, so we’ll call it a tie between Jett’s dramatic mullet and Love’s straight bangs ‘n’ big curls combo.
Justine Bateman and Nikki Scorsese, 1987
What’s old really is new. Tell us you haven’t see these exact head to toe looks on a street style blog recently. Go ahead, we’ll wait.
Paula Abdul, 1987
Before curly bangs were back, they were Paula Abdul’s. Looking back, we don’t get why they ever left. (The blue sequins on the other hand…)
Cyndi Lauper, 1987
Girls just want to…forget that purple eyeshadow + red lipstick + Aqua Net used to be a thing. Kidding! (Kind of.)
The Bangles, 1988
Never a band that took to blending in—as evidenced by the videos for their ’80s punk-rock anthems like “Walk Like an Egyptian” and “Manic Monday“—The Bangles rocked a level of hair color, texture, and style variety not seen again until The Spice Girls.
Christina Applegate, 1989
Can we petition for such low-key beautiful looks to come back to the VMAs’ red carpet?
Sinéad O’Connor, 1990
Over two decades before Cara Delevingne blew us away with her buzz cut, Sinéad O’Connor was giving us major shaved scalp envy.
Madonna, 1990
Which ’90s are we in here? Per usual, Madonna’s look transported us to another time and place just like she did on her Rebel Heart Tour.
Cindy Crawford, 1992
Who knew a bouffant could look so gorgeous? Cindy obviously would be the one to pull it off.
Halle Berry, 1993
Halle Berry’s had a glow since the ’90s and her curly pixie cut only serves to remind us how fresh-faced she’s looked for decades.
Janet Jackson, 1994
There are few looks equally low-key and iconic as Janet Jackson’s braids and baseball cap duo in ’94.
Alanis Morissette, 1995
Was there ever a more accurate representation of ’90s alt-rock excellence? No, there was not.
Brandy, 1995
These braids were #goals just as much as they were in 1995 as they are in 2017. If you need some tips for maintaining the look, we’ve got you covered.
Drew Barrymore, 1995
So many iconic things happening here, where do we even start? Obviously, there’s the Marilyn wig. (Wig, right? That’s got to be.) And then the brows! Who didn’t pluck theirs into oblivion because of Drew? And could this perhaps be the inspiration for her makeup line, Flower?
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and Lil’ Kim, 1997
The VMAs are known to bring out some real outfit commitment, and this, friends—matching your beaded headdress to your beaded bralette—is commitment with a capital C.
Jennifer Love Hewitt, 1998
Twisted in the front, ringlets in the back: This is the look that launched a million prom hairstyles. (P.S.: For all the JLH stans in the house, you’ll remember this is the year she brought Carson Daly as her date. Memories.)
Salma Hayek, 1998
You know it’s the ’90s when temporary butterfly tattoos are the beauty look du jour.
Renee Zellweger, 1999
Renee is an incredibly strong and confident woman (just check out the powerful essay she recently wrote), so we’re not surprised she was able to move past this look. But to be fair, we’re sure you probably ran straight to your crimper the next morning to copy this.
Lil’ Kim, 1999
No comment needed. You remember this. But how could we not include it.
Britney Spears, 2000
The crimp craze kind of settled down a year later. And dare we say it actually might be returning?
Pink, 2000
Behold: Pink in her pink hair prime. A boss if there ever was one.
Macy Gray, 2000
Macy Gray’s hit single “I Try” will go down in history as stuck in our heads and this monochromatic look—complete with deep magenta afro—will go down in our hearts as one of the rare natural hair red carpet moments in the early 2000’s.
Jennifer Lopez, 2000
This is the definition of Jenny from the Block.
Aaliyah, 2000
The new millennium ushered in the age of the flat-iron. Aaliyah led the charge with this sleek, long look. (Part of why we def can’t wait for MAC’s new collection in honor of the late singer.)
Eve, 2001
In the era of extensions, Eve was a breath of baby bangs and fresh air.
Gwen Stefani, 2001
A few years after her infamous blue bindi moment, Gwen hit the red carpet mark with a fresh pair of platinum blonde victory rolls. Still punk rock glam, much less appropriative.
Christina Aguilera, 2001
X-Tina went full Moulin Rouge for her appearance at the 2001 VMAs. We’re guessing more than one person tried asking, “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?”
Jennifer Lopez, 2002
From Jenny on the Block to classic Hollywood chic, there’s no look J.Lo can’t pull off.
Avril Lavigne, 2002
After schooling us on the correct spelling of skater boi, Avril Lavigne brought her sleek hair and grunge style to VMAs. Looking back, the frizz-free center part and cargo pants maybe don’t match up.
Maya, 2003
There was a lot of texture happening in 2003 and Maya embraced it—along with chunky blond highlights.
Christina Aguilera, 2003
Before there was contouring, there was spray tan. And a whole lot of it. A match to X-tina’s now dark brown hair.
Beyoncé, 2004
Two words: Bow down.
Naomi Campbell, 2004
Before there was an endless array of insta-models in Coachella crowns, there was OG supermodel Naomi Campbell’s perfectly situated headpiece atop a flawless center part.
Christina Aguilera, 2004
Switching up her dark brunette hair, Christina brought us major flapper vibes with this bleached blond bob.
Fergie, 2005
The side swoop: the look every teenage girl in 2005 crushed on. We’re glad we’ve all moved on to these hair trends.
Lindsay Lohan, 2005
Lindsay Lohan’s jump from redhead to blond was one of the ultimate hairstyle changes of 2005. Never forget.
Jennifer Lopez, 2006
Proving again that no one is quite as versatile as she is, Jennifer Lopez wowed us with an iconic no-hair-visible hairstyle in ’06.
Mary J. Blige, 2007
Long blond pixie cuts aren’t new—even in 2007—but none stick out in our memories the way Mary J. Blige’s glossy, piece-y look has.
Taylor Swift, 2008
Listen closely as you stare at this darling throwback of Taylor Swift’s curls and you might just hear “Teardrops on My Guitar” playing. My how things have changed.
Lady Gaga, 2009
Only one beauty look can top the Meat Dress Hat, and that’s this Phantom of the Opera look, with her sharp, smoky eye and small tuft of pink hair.
Amber Rose, 2009
Amber Rose has been flaunting a buzz cut for almost a decade, but we’ll always remember how we felt the first time she stepped out with her bleached close crop. Jaws met floor.
Katy Perry, 2010
Before Katy Perry blessed us with this, she gave us this gem: Russell Brand nail decals and pink streaks.
Cher, 2010
Cher will always be Cher and that means big jewels, big songs, and big hair.
Nicki Minaj, 2011
We haven’t seen Nicki like this since she announced her makeunder was here to stay in 2013. Is it wrong that we miss the cotton candy hair? Just a little?
Rihanna, 2012
Rihanna landed herself on every best VMAs beauty look list when she debuted a simple pixie cut that let her natural beauty take center stage.
Katy Perry, 2013
In his hit song, “Grillz,” Nelly once said, “I got my mouth looking something like a disco ball.”
Demi Lovato, 2014
Demi’s undercut was major news on the 2014 red carpet as she proved that being feminine doesn’t equate to long Hollywood waves.
Miley Cyrus, 2015
If you were able to take your eyes away from Miley’s outfits last year, you’d remember her OTT ponytails—which had wardrobe changes of their own.
Beyonce, 2016
All hail Queen Bey! ‘Yonce was at peak Goddess-level with this sleek, intricate updo she wore last year.