27 Most Iconic Hairstyles in TV History
Carissa Pavlica
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These TV characters all sport iconic hairstyles.
Six of them have had actual Barbie dolls made of them. More have had dolls made of their likenesses, some more than one.
Why? These characters matter. Their hair matters (probably more).
You may have tried to emulate one of these hairstyles whether you knew they were from a TV character or not. Maybe your mother forced one on you.
Have fun scrolling through the slideshow. If the characters are new to you, or if you've had one or two of the styles, let us know!
1. Rachel Green - Friends
Although Rachel's hair went through many stages over the seasons on Friends this was THE RACHEL, the haircut that girls flocked to the hairdressers to get. If only it were that simple.
2. Jill Munroe - Charlie's Angels
The soft waves that flipped back away from the face, flowing softly down around her shoulders are one of the most iconic hairstyles of the 20th Century. Known more as the Farrah than the Jill Munroe because Farrah Fawcett outlived her one season as Jill on Charlie's Angels.
3. Samantha Stephens - Betwitched
Decades before The Rachel was a cut, women everywhere were clamouring to look like a witch, Samantha on Bewitched, to be exact. A little teased on top and an imperfect flip on the bottom.
4. Brandon Walsh - Beverly Hills, 90210
Hot hair isn't just for the gals! Jason Priestly made Brandon Walsh's sassy 'do look simple on Beverly Hills, 90210.
5. Denise Huxtable - Cosby Show/A Different World
Do you know there are entire websites dedicated to the fashion sense and changing hairstyles of Denise Huxtable? How she looked on The Cosby Show and then on A Different World has been scrutinized and dissected. With good reason. Just look at that hair!
6. Felicity Porter - Felicity
Felicity's hair was so important to the character that when actress Keri Russell cut her hair before the sophomore season of Felicity, the entire country was in an uproar – and this was before social media.
7. Will Smith - The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
The high flat top was Will Smith's signature cut, and he looked damn good in it, don't you think?
8. Chrissy Snow - Three's Company
Chrissy Snow was a sexy bimbo (with great comedic style) type on Three's Company, and she had hair to match. Her pigtails would pop up all over. Sometimes there would be one, sometimes two. Whether they were symetrical or asymetrical was at the whim of the show!
9. Lucy Ricardo - I Love Lucy
Lucy's signature red locks are almost as recognized as the comedianne herself. If anyone put on a wig with that color and style, there would be no doubt who you were trying to emulate.
10. Vinnie Barbarino - Welcome Back, Kotter
What? John Travolta was once a heartthrob? That's right. Before Grease he was a regular on a TV series sporting soft flowing waves. Kind of feminine and very 70s.
11. Krystle Carrington - Dynasty
There's something to be said for consistency. While other characters held their signature styles for only a portions of their series' run, for nine seasons Krystle Carrington never lost her whispy bangs.
12. Carrie Bradshaw - Sex and the City
Carrie Bradshaw is probabably best known for her more natural locks as shown, even though she regularly straightened her hair and even subdued her curls into less natural waves. This is the Carrie cut we identify with.
13. Julia Baker - Julia
Julia was a mother and a nurse and had a short, no muss hairstyle for her hectic lifestyle. The short style with the little curly cues in front of her ears are gorgy!
14. Doug Ross - ER
Doug Ross did wonders for the Ceasar cut. Unfortunately for the males of this world, there is only one George Clooney, and what looks fabulous on him didn't look so great on the dude next door, if you know what I'm saying.
15. Julie Barnes - The Mod Squad
Julie Barnes was one of the first mostly adult characters to have a long, straight haired look. Around the same time we also had Laurie Partridge and Marcia Brady. This is a look you're either born with or you will die trying to get.
16. Jeannie - I Dream of Jeannie
Jeannie had two lovely hairstyles, but one was more popular than the other. It's not very often, after all, you see a female genie! This one lived in a bottle and wore the sexiest of outfits. Put your hair up in this style, and we'll get the point.
17. Keith Partridge - The Partridge Family
One of the biggest male heartthrobs of the 70s, David Cassidy's hair helped propel Keith Partridge to superstardom. That feathered look was found on young men all over the world.
18. Carol Brady - The Brady Bunch
Carol Brady had a cute shag. Then she cut that lower layer off to sport a pixie. Her fellow blonde mom at the time, Shirley Partridge, shared a similar cut. They were the role models for moms everywhere (mine included!).
19. Claire Underwood - House of Cards
Claire Underwood has a hairstyle unlike any other on TV at the moment. She's making waves without waves with a cute pixie cut. Women have pulled away from short styles in the last few decades, and Claire proves there's no need to fear the shears if you have the confidence to go there.
20. Don Draper - Mad Men
He's a classic. If you see someone who looks like Don Draper walking down the street (first, tap me on the back), you'll know where he got the look, because not since the actual 60s have men worn their hair in this style.
21. Ann Marie - That Girl
Ann Marie had many different hairstyles over the run of That Girl, too, but is known for the bangs and flip over all others. There was a That Girl Barbie with this cut.
22. Peg Bundy - Married With Children
Peg might have been a couple of decades too late to the beehive party, but that's what made her character so memorable. She did everything in a big way, hair included.
23. Jesse Katsopolis - Full House
Remember when mullets on guys were cool because Uncle Jesse had one? Well, kinda, anyway. Jesse did for mullets what Krystle Carrington did for whispy bangs. Or something.
24. Lisa Turtle - Saved by the Bell
Lisa Turtle's hair was special because of the way it was pulled back and natural from behind while her bangs were teased and fuller in the front. She was called an early blueprint for Carrie Bradshaw!
25. Punky Brewster - Punky Brewster
OK. Not many of us are going to want to emulate this one, but if you're playing charades, you know how to make it happen, right?!
26. Jordan Catalano - My So-Called Life
Jordan Catalano gave Angela Chase a definite run for her money with best hair on My So-Called Life, and his is far more iconic than hers. It didn't hurt that when Jordan leaned, half of his hair fell into his face, either.
27. Elaine Benes - Seinfeld
Elaine is one more of the lucky characters with curly hair, letting it fly free. If you have straight hair, you probably lament the ringlets she has that you cannot have (and no permanent will ever do you justice).
