Victoria Beckham has declared mid-2000s dip-dye ombre hair as back, rocking the once supremely popular style during an outing in Miami.
She's not the only A-lister throwing it back to the 2000s. Zendaya has been mastering the indie sleaze favourite of milkmaid braids during the press tour for The Odyssey, while Gigi Hadid's latest hair look is remarkably reminiscent of the 'the Rachel' made famous by Jennifer Aniston. London's Neville Hair & Beauty confirms the nostalgic nod, sharing that they've seen a "swing back to the old school" in their salons.
© InstagramAs someone who was a teen in the 00s and early 2010s, these hairstyles dominated my Pinterest board, and if I scroll far back enough in my screenshots on my phone, the styles are in abundance in my camera roll, saved ready to show my long-suffering hairstylist.
Lucky for me, I've tried all of the styles and know which are worth trying and which are best left back in the 2000s. Take a trip with me down hair memory lane…
Ombre is back
Victoria Beckham's new look hair is obviously a deliberate choice. Rather than blending her dark roots with her light lengths, she's kept the colour starkly different, harking back to when ombre was known as 'dip dye'.
The first iteration of ombre, which was popular among the Made in Chelsea stars and all the early-day influencers, reigned supreme from around 2011-2013, before gently edging into a more subtle, blended take on the look.
© Getty ImagesI loved it because it was A) cheaper than getting a whole head of highlights, and B) less damaging to your hair as a whole, as you're only bleaching the bottom. But it's not the most natural of looks, and probably not one I'd commit to in this day and age, or recommend to others.
© InstagramI prefer taking my colour right to the roots now, applied with a balayageeffect – still less maintenance than traditional highlights, but less of a contrast between roots and lengths. But if you do want to create VB's look without committing, extensions are the way to go, as clip-in extensions experts Beauty Works explains: "You don't have to book in for bleach to get the look. Clip-in and permanent extensions let you add lighter tones and extra dimension without the commitment or damage."
The return of the Rachel
The 'Rachel' haircut conjures images of Jennifer Aniston's short, choppy, face-framing layers in the early seasons of Friends, but Gigi Hadid just brought back the Rachel Green style from later series, with long, fluid layers, glossy shine and soft movement, finished with the signature flicked ends.
© Getty ImagesAccording to top London hair salon Hershesons, the look is already one of the biggest requests of the summer, likely in part due to Gigi Hadid dabbling with the look, putting sleek supermodel-inspired layers back on the beauty agenda.
© Instagram"The 'Rachel Green' super sleek cut will be a must-have this summer and is already being requested by my clients," says Izzy Warren, Stylist at Hershesons. "Think sleek, long, flowy layers with maximum movement."
A straightener is needed to create this look, with Izzy recommending adding a slight outward bend through the front sections for a classic ’90s flick to really enhance the cut.
I dabbled with the extensive, long layers around 2004 and I loved the look, but ultimately it left my hair immensely damaged due to the excessive heat needed to straighten my naturally curly hair.
The 2026 solution? Ghd's new Sculpt™ straightener, £369, which minimises hair damage by measuring the temperature of your hair 2,900 times per second, stopping it from getting too hot, which can result in damage. Where was this when I was a straightening addict at 14? Heat protection spray is essential too, which wasn't a thing when I ironed my hair every day. My favourite is the Living Proof Leave-In Conditioning Spray, £29, which detangles as well as protecting against heat up to 450°F.
Indie sleaze braids
No night out in 2008 was complete without a face-framing French braid, and Zendaya has proved the indie-inspired look works just as well in 2026.
© WireImageThe Spiderman star's hair stylist Coree Moreno wove braids into her hair looks for the press tour for The Odyssey, and while I always wore my braid right at the front of my hairline (often accessorised with the indie essential of a gold headband), Zendaya's stylist has modernised the look, creating a looser braid, with wispy strands creating the ultimate cool girl look, without trying too hard.
Like everything Zendaya does, the modern take on the trend is effortless – plus it's perfect for summer when you want to keep your hair off your face. Avoid anything stiff and overly polished, and you're good to go.
