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How did the zebra get its stripes? Perhaps it went to the salon in 2002.
Gen Z is bringing back chunky highlights and millennials have mixed feelings.
The TikTok hashtag #ChunkyHighlights has 207 million views as young fashionistas show off the resurged Y2K style.
“It’s been on a gradual increase,” James Earnshaw, a hair colorist and stylist based in the UK, confirmed to The Post noting that it’s recently “started to get a lot more popular.”
TikToker Bridget Des Grange recently shared a video of herself after adding chunky dark and blonde highlights to her hair and quickly went viral as her fellow Gen Zers loved the style.
“Honestly never felt hotter than with this 2000s Kelly Clarkson hair,” Des Grange captioned the viral TikTok video.
When someone asked, “Chunky highlights are back?!” Des Grange excitedly confirmed, “YES bestie!”
“Just like we’re back in the 2000s,” got2b, a trendy hair product brand that started in 2006, commented.
Chunky highlights are making their return as Gen Z continues to revive the trends of the early aughts, pulling inspiration from style icons like Lindsay Lohan, Avril Lavigne and Jennifer Lopez.
“I think because of social media such as TikTok people have been rediscovering all things Y2k,” Jasmine Blackbear, a hairstylist at Lure Salon in Dallas, Texas, who has sent many women home with chunky highlights, told The Post.
Des Grange, a fashion and beauty fanatic, admitted she’s hugely inspired by the early aughts and credits the young female celebrities of the time as her style icons.
“They say every 20ish years or so we see old trends resurface and with Y2K clothing back in style, it only makes sense to see matching hairstyles do the same thing,” Des Grange told The Post.
But as with many Y2K trends that are returning, some millennials are like so totally freaking out watching this hairstyle make a comeback.
“I had [thick] highlights,” Lina said. “Omg I hate[d] them on me.”
“Hairstylist here please for the love of God don’t bring this back,” Samantha Uplinger replied.
“Nooooo she wants you to damage your hair!!! Don’t doooo ittttttt,” Kassie Marie commented.
Although some millennials feel they’re being Punk’d, their younger peers are serious about bringing back the bold fashion moments.
Izzy Gutierrez for one knows some people don’t love her hairstyle, but she does.
Her hairstylist told her chunky highlights were “outdated” when she went to the salon requesting streaks of black be added to her light blonde hair.
“Even though I felt like she was judging me, I couldn’t be more excited,” Gutierrez told The Post.
She shared a TikTok video of her new look and was flooded with mostly positive feedback from her 4.5 million viewers.
“We just went through a pandemic and I think a lot of fashion went through a wave of nude colors and simplicity so it was time to change things up,” she said.
And many Gen Zers seem to agree.
“Life is too short to not play around and have fun with your appearance!” Des Grange said.
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