Choppy, Colorful “Scene Kid” Hair Is Back and Better Than Ever

“Scene” hair is seeing a new dawn. Bright colored hair applied to choppy, patterned streaks is coming into fashion, and it’s only a matter of time before we see these looks everywhere. From bright magenta hues to richly-toned blues and shocking neon greens, scene hair is taking popular hairstyles to a whole new dimension.

First originating in the early aughts, scene kid hair has strong ties to emo, hardcore, and punk music, which has all been seeing a rebirth with bands like Blink182, Green Day, and My Chemical Romance all going on tour this year. With the return of skinny jeans and studs, indie sleaze has been coming back hard, and scene hair is gaining new traction. Ahead, we unpack the trend, plus how to get the look.

The Trend

As a refresher, scene was a popular alternative subculture in the 2000s and early 2010s that was a spin-off from emo culture. It was centered around music, with scene kids listening to bands like Pierce the Veil and Metro Station. Second to the music was scene fashion, which was all about bright colors with an edge—graphic tees, colorful skinny jeans, piercings, and tons of Hot Topic accessories were key to the look. Most important, however, was the hair, which was choppy, brightly colored or jet black, and often teased or pushed to one side.

With “emo like” haircuts that include flat ironed pieces, severe side bangs, teased hair and asymmetric haircuts, Marc Ballance, celebrity hairstylist in New York City, says nothing with scene hair is precise. However, according to him, scene hair’s revival has differentiated itself from its emo roots now, and the look is having a moment thanks to younger generations who are obsessing over Y2K sounds and aesthetics on TikTok. There’s also the impact of anime and Japanese Harajuku culture happening, which is combining with scene hair for a look that has a lot of visual interest, applied in a contemporary, sleek way.

From bright hues to interesting patterns and styling shapes applied in new ways, this look was once seen as a style that let people know you are in the same scene, says Cara Craig, a hair stylist at Beauty Supply, a celebrity hair salon in New York City. Paired with a heavy eyeliner, scene hair looked like a deep side part, choppy layers, long front pieces, a top heavy shag, and a high/teased crown. “Hair in your face and the texture is very straight,” she tells Byrdie. “The color is high contrast and obvious. The hair is not pretty or soft.” 

In contrast, newer scene hair styles look flatter in terms of volume and have a cleaner look than the scene hair of the past, but the patterns and color combinations, whether that’s calico stripes or leopard print, are all adding new dimension. The trend is mostly alive on TikTok, but celebs like Cardi B and Keke Palmer have played with bright colors and sharp cuts. Last summer, Dua Lipa tried on a pair of heavy sidebangs that would have looked right at home at Warped Tour, and influencer Tara Yummy’s signature style is heavily influenced by scene aesthetics, including her jet-black hair and choppy bangs.

How to Get the Look

According to Craig, scene hair shows that early internet culture is getting its day all over again. “Folks are so online right now so it makes sense to reference the style of people who did it first,” she explains. “The look is pre-indie sleaze so that makes sense in the context of trend cycles. It is likely a swing away from the ‘clean girl aesthetic’,” says Craig.

As the pendulum swings in the direction of scene hair, there’s a growing balance between bold hairstyles and more polished, less messy looks happening. As scene hair is entering the mainstream, it’s becoming even more stylized and pop.

To get the look, have fun at home, says Craig. “Grab your flat iron and your teasing comb.” As a professional she always appreciates references so make sure you have some photos ready for your next hair appointment.