Thinking about getting a twee haircut? Here's how to nail the trending 2010s-era look

The twee haircut à la Zooey Deschanel is making a comeback on TikTok in a big way

Zooey Deschanel attends the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California
(Image credit: Storms Media Group / Alamy Stock Photo)

Everything that's old is new again—like the 2010s-era twee haircut.

According to one of the latest trending hashtags on TikTok, #Twee has raked in a cool, casual 88 million views. It appears we're all dying to channel our Manic Pixie Dream Girl idol, Zooey Deschanel, in the hairdo department. 

Though Peter Pan collars, bright plaids and "adorkable" skirts à la Deschanel and her New Girl character Jess Day are not part of everyone's capsule wardrobe, the twee hairstyle of the augts is messy perfection that all fashionistas appreciate. 

"It's a trend that's fun—I love it and personally never got rid of it," says Merita Ibrahimi a New York-based hairstylist and a member of the Bridal By Alexandria team. "I think it gives people an opportunity to do more than just a basic haircut. Any way you style it, it looks really fun and playful."

This trendsetter? It's all about the fringe, baby. Let's dive into the nitty-gritty deets so you, too, can look like you've time-traveled from 2012. 



Twee haircut how-to

Once you plop down in the salon chair, your stylist is going to put a huge emphasis on your bangs and shaping your strands according to your facial structure. 

"The biggest thing to achieve twee hair is usually the bangs," Ibrahimi says. "Make them super piece-y and textured. You don't necessarily need full layers going down the rest of your hair. Make the side of the hair frame your face—not a shaggy look, but a textured layer look."

The bangs will be touching your eyebrows and they likely will not be cut straight, and that's a good thing.  

"It's not a haircut that needs to be perfect," she says. 

Though a bit of a mess is desirable with this look, if you were wondering how to cut your bangs at home, don't—it's the universal law all hairstyles stand by. 

Twee haircuts on TikTok

Notice that users are playing the popular track "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" from Deschanel's band, She & Him? It's definitely one of the best TikTok songs out there, in our opinion. 

One TikTok user rightfully reminds us that Alexa Chung is also a master of the twee style. 

@steffydegref

♬ Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? - She & Him
@jag.lever

♬ Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? - She & Him
@mcwchloe

♬ Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? - She & Him

How to style twee haircuts

"To style it, you'll usually use a big, thick curling iron to wave them out or in," Ibrahimi says. "Just make it as messy, piece-y as possible around the front."

Do be sure to use a volumizing or textured spray upon getting out of the shower. Once you've dried and styled your hair, use a not-too-stiff hairspray to leave it all in place.

Amazon, HOT TOOLS Professional 24K Gold Curling Iron, 2 inch ($54.99)

Amazon, HOT TOOLS Professional 24K Gold Curling Iron, 2 inch (<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=110169&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FProfessional-Curling-Multi-Heat-Control-1111%2Fdp%2FB0002L93N2%2Fref%3Dsr_1_2%3Fcrid%3D3TRU5CV3TJAM3%26keywords%3D2%2Binch%2Bcurling%2Biron%26qid%3D1646168248%26sprefix%3D2%2Binch%2Bcurling%2Biron%252Caps%252C83%26sr%3D8-2%26tag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$54.99)

Amazon, RETYLY Cordless Curling Iron 1-Inch Ceramic Curling Wand (£19.84)

Amazon, RETYLY Cordless Curling Iron 1-Inch Ceramic Curling Wand (<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=110169&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.co.uk%2FRETYLY-Cordless-Professional-Rechargeable-Worldwide%2Fdp%2FB07YFC7X1N%2Fref%3Dsr_1_7%3Fkeywords%3D2%2Binch%2Bcurling%2Biron%26pd_rd_r%3D41ce27f6-af68-4f7b-9707-3ae73d94c726%26pd_rd_w%3DQ5mps%26pd_rd_wg%3DX64Jq%26pf_rd_p%3D7c89f663-1851-4f5c-ad06-b2fd7b71af3e%26pf_rd_r%3DQKWC0B1YT96MME0B8R5X%26qid%3D1646168450%26sr%3D8-7%26tag%3Dhawk-future-21%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-21" data-link-merchant="Amazon UK"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">£19.84)

Amazon, CHI Volume Booster Liquid Protection Spray ($13.53, £12.39)

Amazon, CHI Volume Booster Liquid Protection Spray (<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=110169&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FCHI-Booster-Liquid-Bodifying-Glaze%2Fdp%2FB002RS6JTE%2Fref%3Dsr_1_11%3Fcrid%3D3IR02BJDPTY6H%26keywords%3Dvolumizing%2Bspray%26qid%3D1646168589%26rdc%3D1%26sprefix%3Dvolumizing%2Bspray%252Caps%252C108%26sr%3D8-11%26tag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$13.53, <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=110169&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.co.uk%2FCHI-Booster-Liquid-Protection-Spray%2Fdp%2FB002RS6JTE%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fcrid%3D1CD9A9YAB1XO0%26keywords%3DCHI%2BVolume%2BBooster%2BLiquid%2BBodifying%2BGlaze%26qid%3D1646168624%26sprefix%3Dchi%2Bvolume%2Bbooster%2Bliquid%2Bbodifying%2Bglaze%252Caps%252C276%26sr%3D8-1%26tag%3Dhawk-future-21%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-21" data-link-merchant="Amazon UK"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">£12.39)

If you're looking to add the twee to your hair trends' canon, Ibrahimi suggests accessorizing.

"I personally like headbands where you separate the hair and the bangs," she says. 

When it comes to a playful look, she typically opts for braids and leaves a few pieces hanging down around the face.

Need us? We'll just be over here attempting the twee along with the other 88 million people curious about the trend.

Danielle Valente
Digital News Writer

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.


Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few. 


When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again.