Bella Hadid is more than impartial to a good Noughties throwback. In fact, the supermodel’s off-duty aesthetic often feels like one giant nod to the era of her youth, from kitschy Playboy trousers to shrunken vintage anime tees, and low-slung denim jeans. And, as it turns, out Hadid’s penchant for the 00s doesn’t end with her style choices: it influences her beauty looks as well. Bella, who has repeatedly changed-up her brunette tresses in the name of fashion, took to Instagram yesterday to showcase a new look: multicolored tendrils.
Yes, you read that right. Those face-shaping strands of hair—beloved by the likes of Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson, and Jennifer Love Hewitt in the late 90s and early 00s—are back, and this time, they’re colored. Dua Lipa—the girlfriend of Bella’s brother, Anwar, and Bella’s regular style twin—first pioneered the look back in February, when she wore chunky, contrasting tendrils on the Grammys red carpet. Now, Hadid is following suit, having dyed the front strands of her hair an ombre shading of red and orange.
This isn’t the first time Hadid has experimented with the wispy strand hairstyle—tendrils have been an ongoing feature in both her red carpet and off-duty looks for the last few years (2018 CFDA Awards? Check. 2019 MTV Video Music Awards? Check.) What is new is the addition of color, the kind of brash Noughties touch that brings to mind Gwen Stefani in her No Doubt heyday, and Christina Aguilera any time between 2001 and 2006.
As we head confidently into 2021, convinced it simply must be better than 2020, is the return of bold-hued hair color the first bona fide beauty trend? Granted, we doubt Hadid’s new color is permanent, but she makes an unexpectedly compelling case for the look. New year, new us?
