Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, Fandom will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
The early 2000s were, let’s say, a chaotic time for fashion, especially when it came to hairstyles.
Bedazzled and wholly unnecessary clips? We were more than happy to snap as many as we could on our heads to frame our messy updos. Those teeny-tiny butterfly hair claws? Please wait while we create an ethereal crown of glittery plastic.
And there was no other TV show where you could see these trends in all their glory than on Lizzie McGuire (Watch now on Disney+).
Adorable and awkward Lizzie, played by Hilary Duff, was constantly conspiring to become the most popular girl in school through hilarious hijinks and, to a lesser extent, hair. Honestly, if there was a popularity contest that came down to the creativity of hairstyles alone, we think she’d win hands down.
That said, if you were a teen or pre-teen in the early aughts, the mere mention of crimped hair or frosted tips might send you into a tailspin of nostalgia. Or nausea. We’re not sure which. Of course, when it came to Lizzie, she could rock any ‘do she wanted and we loved her for it.
Like many true trendsetters, she was clearly not appreciated in her own time. Seriously, though, she got a kiss from Aaron Carter. That alone should have secured her position as the queen of her school. Plus, considering that some of our most beloved hair trends of the early 2000s are back (and with a vengeance), we’re dedicated to putting Lizzie in her rightful place as a style icon.
With all the old episodes now available on Disney+ and an adult-Lizzie reboot on the way, here are just some of the reasons why Lizzie McGuire deserves her due as a hairstyle trailblazer.
Bandanas of Every Color and Pattern
Let’s start with one of the McGuire hair go-tos: the bandana. Who would have thought that this simple, triangular piece of fabric would become a phenomenon? Of course, no one wore this trend like Lizzie, who used this hair accessory to complement any outfit she wore with it, no matter what the color scheme or pattern she had. There might be too many bandanas on this show to count, but a shout out should definitely go to the leopard print bandana, the camouflage bandana, the blue sheer bandana, and her flowery boho bandana.
If there was a bandana that needed to be worn, Lizzie was there to take up the challenge. Also, let’s not forget that she was wearing leopard print (and pretty much every other print from the animal kingdom) before it became the hottest pattern in 2019.
Crimped Hair
Crimping was the ultra cool-girl look in the 80s and had already had a resurgence by the year 2000. That was especially true if your name was Lizzie McGuire. After all, Lizzie was only 13 and she was sporting crimps like Christina Aguilera.
You could probably spot some hints of crimps in a majority of episodes, but perhaps the most iconic looks were the combo curls and crimps, or perhaps just a lone streak of bumpy waves amongst a sea of flat-ironed locks.
Colorful Hair Extensions
You’d be hard-pressed to find a Millennial girl who didn’t want a colorful streak in their hair in the early 2000s, and Lizzie was our style goddess. Whether it was bright green, ultraviolet purple, or even candy red, you can bet you saw these streaks in Lizzie’s hair. This only further proves that the 13-year-old was clearly an alternative girl at heart, secretly listening to Green Day and Avril Lavigne on her Discman.
Tiny Hair Buns
Itty-bitty hair buns were literally everywhere in the 2000s. Whether you were twisting up two little buns on your crown or going for the whole head, bunned-out look, you can’t deny that this was just one of the quintessential styles of the day.
Naturally, being a trendsetter in her own right, Lizzie was rocking these buns practically every other week. The most iconic of ‘dos is Lizzie’s classic half-up style with little alien antennae buns sticking out of the top of her head — with messy pieces pulled out, of course, because it’s uncool to look too polished.
Clips, Clips, Clips
Try to count the clips in Lizzie McGuire and you might be here all night. These small and simple hair accessories were staples in every Millennial girl’s hair arsenal, and Lizzie probably had the most impressive collection we’ve ever seen.
A braid of cascading daisy clips? You can bet she had those.
A crown of teensy butterflies to hold her hair away from her face? Classic Lizzie.
There was no such thing as too many hair clips when Lizzie was around. Of course, many people know that fashion is cyclical, so it may come as no surprise that these snappy barrettes have made a comeback in 2019 from the runways to wherever you shop for your trendiest fashion pieces.
Messy and Spiky Updos
It’s a go-to for a lot of people out there with long hair: If you’re pressed for time, just throw your hair up into a messy bun and voila! You’re all styled up for the day. Messy buns aren’t exactly a new trend, nor have they ever gone out of style as the essential hairdo of very chill girls (and guys) everywhere.
Lizzie had her perfect messy bun routine down to a tee. You could spot Lizzie wearing this style every which way, whether it be curly, crimpy, or that spiky version that was clearly a result of putting super flat-ironed hair into a twist. Phoebe Buffet from Friends also wore her messy bun this way.
Lots of Layers
Oh, the shag hairdo. We dare you to look through your old yearbook and see just how many girls were sporting big, chunky layers in their hair. Naturally, being the “everygirl” of the 2000s, Lizzie was flaunting those feathered-out layers every time she let her hair down.
And in true Lizzie fashion, she accented those layers with messy, face-framing pieces to make her look like a pop star in training. Layers are a pretty versatile style at the salon, so they technically never went away. Perhaps we have Lizzie to thank for that.
Braids
We can’t talk about Lizzie McGuire without talking about her passion for braids. This was the perfect way to accent any style in Lizzie’s book, whether it be a braided crown, braided pigtails, or, our favorite, the skinny braid that’s really just there to make let-down hair look interesting.
Bonus points for braids that were accented with a variety of colorful clips or a headband. It’s just not a Lizzie McGuire hairdo without them.
Bangs
Chances are, pretty much every woman in your life has thought about getting bangs. Or worse, attempted to cut them herself. Bangs were one of the most iconic and permanent aspects of Lizzie’s style. No matter how she wore her hair — up, half-up, crimped, curled, or straightened — Lizzie’s little bangs were always there to tie it all together.
We’re not saying Lizzie was a pioneer for bangs-wearers, but we are saying that the 2000s would have not been the same without her brand of wispy, short forehead hair. Bangs are not easy to pull off, and Lizzie managed to do it effortlessly. Go watch now on Disney+!
Disney+ is the only place to stream your favorites from Disney and more. Watch now!
