It's nothing new for fashion to look back at past decades for inspiration. But, lately we've noticed a disturbing trend from recent memory that's risen to the fore. Retrospectively, we miss the early 2000s. Britney and Justin were still together, Christina Aguilera was played on the radio and evenings were spent on MSN messenger, but we're not quite ready to re-embrace it in all its gnarly glory.
While we're happy to accept Bella Hadid's micro Matrix sunglasses and Juicy Couture's ironic collaboration with Vetements, we're less keen on being transported back to the early Noughties hair trends. From Jessica Simpson's streaks to Ginger Spice's bleached tips, it was a scarring time to for celebrity highlights. While at the time we thought we looked good enough to make a cameo on MTV's *Total Request Live *this look needs to remain in the early-aughts graveyard. RIP. The style in question is badger stripe-thick unapologetically chunky highlights. They were usually accessorised with butterfly clips, big hoop earrings or (in hindsight un-PC) chopsticks. Bad taste? Yes. Did we love it at the time? 100 per cent yes. Do we want it to come back in fashion? No thanks!
Click To See: The hairstyle that defined the early 2000s
Flashback Friday Bad Stripe Highlights
1 of 131. Geri Halliwell
History books will state that this is where the trend began. And, yet no one has tried Ginger Spice's colour combination since...strange that.
2 of 132. Atomic Kitten
Keeping an eternal flame alive for these honeyed highlights.
3 of 133. Nicole Richie
Leading the simple life meant doing your own highlights (possibly in a dark room and with no prior hairdressing experience).
4 of 134. Kelly Clarkson
Between the hair flicks and the skinny eyebrows, name a more 2000 look?
5 of 135. Victoria Beckham
'Hey Victoria, what did you apply your hair colour with?' 'A paint roller''Thought so'
6 of 136. Nadine Coyle
Nadine wasn't the only one who underestimated the powers of Sun-In.
7 of 137. Anastacia
I'm not out of love for Anastacia's take on 'The Rachel'.
8 of 138. Jessica Simpson
I always wondered whether naturally blonde Jessica Simpson dyed her roots darker to get that chunky highlighter look...
9 of 139. JoJo
It's not too little, too late to bring back JoJo's lowlights.
10 of 1310. Rihanna
The original badgal was dip-dying her hair long before us hipsters caught on.
11 of 1311. Charlotte Church
Voice like an angel, hair like a Bratz doll.
12 of 1312. Destiny's Child
I am a survivor (of Beyonce-inspired hair).
13 of 1313. Christina Aguilera
One of my biggest fears is that trucker caps will come back in fashion.
**Follow Lucy on Instagram @lucyalicemorris **
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.