It has been a quarter of a century (!!) since the world first heard 'Genie in a Bottle' and a culture-shifting pop star was born. However, Christina Aguilera is not only a Y2K music icon but an OG beauty muse, too, who, 25 years on, continues to prove that this legacy will long live. I'm talking about a 'skunk hair' resurrection... but more on that below.
In a recent Instagram post shared just short of 24 hours ago [August 21, 2024], Xtina thanked fans for the love of her latest performance look. "Thank you for all the love on this special look. I was so excited to see that so many of you were as inspired by it as I was. Thank you for the messages, the tweets, the uplifting comments, and for loving my creative expression. Love you a million!!!!!! 🥹🦋🤍," she wrote to caption the seven-part carousel post.
Of course, the 'special look' in its entirety is otherworldly – what with the monochromatic embellished 'fit – but what makes for a sentimental, bold statement is the chunky highlights that have been styled in butt-skimming pigtails. This hair look is reminiscent of the unapologetic badger stripe-thick trend circa the early 2000s.
Today, thanks to the blonde and black colour combination, we like to refer to this as the skunk hair trend. And within the past year, fellow industry legends Gwen Stefani and Rihanna have both rocked the hairdo in question, so, you know what that means... three is not a crowd but a trend!
Life is cyclical and the best of beauty always comes back around. You heard it here first, folks.
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
