From Cruel Intention’s Kathryn Merteuil to Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl, mean girls have stolen the attention all through pop culture history, especially in the aughts. But it wasn’t just their zingers that had us hanging onto every word—it was also their flawless beauty looks. That’s why the “mean girl hair” is making the rounds. Think prissy, fluffy hair that would feel at home on the popular girl in a teen movie from yesteryear—it’s Cher and Dionne’s coordinated headbands in Clueless, Isis from Bring It On and her sky-high pony, or Regina George, the ultimate Mean Girl, with her voluminous blowout.

For more recent examples, look to Astrid Sloan in The Politician, or Riverdale’s Cheryl blossom—and IRL, Normani and Rachel Sennott have taken the hair inspiration for a spin. No matter what decade it lives in, it’s hair that’s shiny, polished, and basically says, “I’m better than you.” Though we don’t encourage anyone to adopt a mean-girl vibe, we do suggest copying their hair. Here’s how to get the mean girl hair trend, no attitude adjustment required. 

Why Mean Girl Hair Is Everywhere

To put it simply, it looks good, and it’s simple to style. That power duo makes it unbeatable in the hair trend world. “Mean girl hairstyles are trending big time because it’s easy to achieve a variety of looks simply by using different styling techniques,” says Gina Rivera, Celebrity Stylist and Founder of Phenix Salon Suites. “If you choose to cut your hair, you won’t need to lose a lot of length because these styles are simple. Yet, they make a statement by creating a powerful look that is sexy without being overdone.”

You can also blame Y2K everything making a resurgence, especially when it comes to beauty trends. “The mean girl hair look is a perfect example of the Y2K hair trends,” says Lauren Paglionico, founder of Lrn Beauty. “Y2K was all about side parts, and every character in Mean Girls wears one. Along with their side part were their side bang, layers, and volume.”

One of the joys of mean girl hair is that it can be adapted to suit practically everyone. “Hair with a bit of length is what’s needed to easily achieve the mean girl styles,” Rivera says. “These are looks that can be styled in multiple ways, from straight to soft layers with loose curls and layers that frame the face. And let’s not forget the pointy ponytail, as this is always a classic. Some pizazz can be created by…