I'm not too proud to admit that I spent the entire 1990s emotionally invested in characters who didn't always made the best choices about love and friendship, or at the beauty counter.
In anticipation of the premiere, here's a look back at the girls' biggest hair and makeup flubs—which we all made—and what we've learned from them.
Bev Blunder #1: Too-dark lipstick. How many coats of Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Toast of New York did Brenda and Kelly have to apply to get that brown shade? About as many licks as it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
What We've Learned: While I still love (and wear) brown lipstick, (Toast of New York is an absolute classic) it's hardly my signature lip color as it was during "The Brenda Years." Thankfully, there's been a major lip gloss boom since then that's made it OK for all of us to look a little more natural and a lot less severe.
Behind the scenes: Allure got beauty industry pros to
spill their "natural-looking" makeup secrets.
Bev Blunder #2: Bad Bangs. Neither thick and blunt enough to be beatnik-y and cool, nor angled and side-swept enough to be breezy and sexy, the girls' wispy, do-nothing bangs existed in some lame netherworld where style ceased to exist.
What We've Learned: New L.A. lovelies like Reese Witherspoon, Mischa Barton, and Nicole Ritchie have showed the masses how to sport decent fringe—blunt and brow-skimming or sideswept.So you've got Brenda's bad bangs? Here's how to grow them out without having to wear your hair in a ponytail everyday.
Bev Blunder #3: Crunchy Curls. Andrea—I mean, Ahn-drea—had soft, pretty curls. Too bad we never saw them. Too much gel and the occasional unfortunate hair accessory detracted from them.
What We've Learned: Conditioning curling products like Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer and John Frieda Frizz- Ease Dream Curls Curl Perfecting Spray have since put a stop to curls that snap, crackle, and pop.
Bev Blunder #4: Visible Roots. Even worse than that hideous mermaid prom dress was Donna’s dye job. Those dark brown roots weren’t trashy—they were tragic, considering the girl had enough cash for weekly salon visits.
What We've Learned: 21st century blondes often go for multi-tonal, shimmering shades of blonde and brown, making roots less obvious. And to be fair, root touch-up kits didn’t hit the market until after Donna Martin (finally) graduated.
The nostalgia is killing me—someone grab me my Dylan pillow.
More from Allure:
- How to get back your natural hair
color
An interview with Negin Zand, colorist at the Sally Hersh-berger at John Frieda Salon in Los Angeles. - Inside Allure: Behind the scenes at the
August cover shoot with Carrie Underwood
View outtakes and photos of her looks through the years—and get exclusive scoop from our shoot. - Ready to slim down, tone up, and look
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