This story was originally published on Nov. 7, 2015.
It's no secret that the world is obsessed with celebrity hair, from the latest cuts to the hottest colors. But no matter how many stars get lobs or pixies, most of them could never compete with the most iconic transformations of our time. We're talking about the ones that inspired trends that would last for decades, make careers, and break our hearts. If you're thinking Twiggy's crop or Jared Leto's man bun, you're right.
So, can you guess which model started the bob craze? Or which star got kicked off a popular TV show for a haircut? Ahead, we've put together the most talked-about chops in recent pop-culture history. Sit back, relax, and get ready to reminisce about nine cuts that changed the beauty world overnight.
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Twiggy
The model has made no secret of the fact that her 1966 haircut made her career, taking her from a pretty model to an instantly recognizable superstar.
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images.
Shannen Doherty
Let’s call it Hairgate: Did Doherty's 1994 haircut get her booted from playing Brenda Walsh in 90210? Or did she lose her job thanks to Tori Spelling running to her father with all the drama Doherty was starting? The world may never know, but Doherty ended up sporting a rad short crop.
Photo: SGranitz/WireImage.
Jennifer Aniston
Which came first: the haircut or the blockbuster career? In Aniston's case, the two were neck and neck. She was already America’s sweetheart in 1994, but "The Rachel" was the haircut that launched a thousand imitators. Years later, Aniston called it “the ugliest haircut I've ever seen.”
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.
Keri Russell
What started as a prank Russell played on Felicity co-creator/executive producer J.J. Abrams ended in a summer '99 chop that few of us can forget. Between the first and second seasons of filming the hit show, the star chopped her cascading locks into a short, curly pixie cut. She called it liberating, but ratings dropped, which spurred press conferences, articles, and a slight bit of hair hysteria.
Photo: Getty Images.
Meg Ryan
Choppy, short, and perfectly representative of the beauty world moving into the 21st century, Ryan’s textured cut shifted the direction of hairstyle trends. It also launched the career of Sally Hershberger, who would later become one of the most influential hairstylists in the industry. “Somehow, the haircut I did on her became so iconic,” Hershberger told Yahoo! Beauty. “That was my thing: I would take short hair and make it look cool.”
Photo: Jim Smeal/WireImage.
Justin Bieber
It’s true that almost every time Bieber changes his 'do, his fans freak out. But no chop was quite as shocking as when he took his signature shaggy style to shorter territories in 2011. For many, the world was never the same.
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.
Karlie Kloss
Sure, models cut their hair all the time, but Kloss’ chop in 2012 almost broke the internet. Headlines and shock aside, it also helped usher in a magical era: The last few years have seen a mad dash for the short cut. Coincidence? We think not.
Photo: John Parra/WireImage.
Miley Cyrus
It was a slow burn: First she gave up her Hannah Montana length for a bob, then she chopped a bit more, and finally, she broke out the clippers, driving home the point that the Disney star was gone — the new Miley had arrived.
Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images.
Jared Leto
Even the mighty shall fall. It was true with Napoleon, Caesar, and most recently, Leto’s long, ombré waves. Men, women, children — everyone wanted that hair. After allowing us a few blissful years to shower it with praise, Leto chopped it all off in March for his role in Suicide Squad. Farewell, sweet, sweet locks.
Photo: Pierre Suu/Getty Images.
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