The 90s were an interesting time for fashion. Among the general population, the grunge style prevailed and colorful layers were all the rage. In a boy band, however, it's all about highlights and hair parted straight down the middle. Don't get me wrong. My love for N Sync and the Backstreet Boys has almost nothing to do with which band has the best hair. I'm not that superficial. (I was looking at their faces, okay?) But thinking back on my childhood obsession with boy bands, it all seems like random flashes of good music and bad hair. Like, really bad hair. Like, really, really, really bad hair.
However, not every boy band's hair is nightmarish. Some of them are weird, but not inherently bad. Some of them were pretty good for their time. If you compare their hair to other people's hair, some of them still look good. What I'm trying to say is, when you look at old photos of your favorite boy bands, do you laugh for any reason other than their outdated clothes or tacky poses? Are you laughing because you don't remember their hair looking so...interesting? Sounds like it's time to rank boy band hair, from best to worst to what's going on here.
17. Nick Carter, Backstreet Boys
Objectively speaking, there's nothing wrong with Nick Carter's hair. Sure, it's too blonde, but highlights were all the rage in the '90s. It's mostly how he chooses to separate. It would be better if you have bangs on your forehead, okay? Fortunately, he got the memo later in his music career.
16. Nick Lachey, 98 Degrees
Remember when Nick Lachey had blond hair? I do not have either. He looks better with black hair, but it's definitely not his worst look.
15. Robbie Williams, take that
But those sides will burn.
14. Justin Timberlake "N SYNC"
A perm with blonde highlights? The real question is, does this make our beautiful Justin Timberlake any less sexy? I would answer yes, but many 'N Sync fans would answer no. After all, if you can croon "dirrrrrrty pop" with that hair and still have girls all over the world swooning over you, I think you've got the It factor.
13. Little Fitz, B2K
Lil' Fizz (left)'s hair game is too strong for the rest of B2K. That's probably why Omarion started a solo career. He couldn't bear the thought of not having the coolest hair in the band anymore.
12. Brian Littrell, Backstreet Boys
Bleached blonde hair doesn't look good on Brian Littrell. It wasn’t a good look for Nick Carter, but it certainly wasn’t a good look for Littrell. Especially when he failed to dye his beard.
11. Rich Cronin, LFO
Sometimes you just need to highlight the top of your head. Obviously. I have no idea.
10. All, Hanson
I don't know if it was a personal choice or their label's decision to have Henson debut this way, but between the flowing hair and the middle part, this is the height of hippie. However, they still look cute.
9. Sean Lynch, "Boyzone"
I'm looking at you on the right, trying to hide what might be a bald spot by layering blonde highlights in the area. I'm more curious about why only a small portion of your hair is blonde than whether your hairline is receding, so I guess this works.
8. Trevor Penick, O-Town
I understand the fear. I'm happy with fear. What I'm not a big fan of is the blonde highlights in Dread. And just part of it, not even just dyeing all the tips. I don't know what I'm looking at here.
7. Jerome Jones, Immature/IMX
Do I even need to specify which band member I'm talking about? Unlike the guy from O-town, Jones at least went to the trouble of dyeing the entire top of his head blonde. However, I don't understand how he gathered those golden highlighted dreads into double braids. Was this the fashion of the time?
6. Chris Kirkpatrick, "N Sync"
What's going on with this beard?
5. Declan Bennett, "Breaking Point"
I won’t even pretend to understand what Bennett is here for. My real question is why he chose to string one of the three hairs hanging from his forehead with beads. Why beads? Don't understand the beads but they are beautiful beads, I'll give them to you.
4. JC Chasez, “N Sync”
JC Chasez, what's your Fabio look here? I'm not judging, but...well, I'm judging a little. Granted, your perm is longer and flowier than Timberlake's, but still. No.
3. Scott Robinson, 5ive
I know spiky hair is a legitimate fashion trend that's still going on today, but I feel like this is a little extreme. By extreme, I mean wow, was this really how we wore our hair in the 90s?
2. Chris Trousdale, "Street of Dreams"
Street of Dreams may have only been around for two seconds and people may only remember Jesse McCartney, but let's not forget to remember that this haircut was happening. It happened, we made it happen, guys.
1. Chris Kirkpatrick, "N SYNC"
Yes, do it again. because. I just. What?
