Mariah Carey's Return To Her Y2K Hair Is The Transformation We Didn't Know We Needed
Anytime that Mariah Carey graces the stage is a special event, and fans had the honor of seeing her perform at the 2025 BET Awards on June 9. Clad in a glittery gold dress, she stunned with a look that gave us butterflies. While her song "Type Dangerous" is a new hit, Carey hearkened back to the early 2000s with her gorgeous, poker-straight hair (which has so much hairstyle potential). The five-time Grammy Award winner's wheat-colored locks flowed over her shoulders as she sang into the mic, and there was not a single dent in her glistening locks. Although Texas hair has been trending in more ways than one since 2024, Carey is proving that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better.
In recent years, we've seen Carey's hair with a lot of volume, as well as plenty of stunning waves, but this latest hair transformation has us itching to reach for our flat iron. And it's not even the first time that the "Obsessed" singer has brought this hairstyle back. Carey revisited the Y2K hair trend back in 2023 during a night out, as shared by Just Jared on Instagram. Just like her BET performance, the "Honey" singer had her long, blond hair parted in the middle and flattened to perfection. "Wowwwwww!!!!! She looks unbelievable," a fan gushed. Heat-styling your hair frequently can lead to damage, but Carey's strands looked oh-so shiny, and if you want to get this look, there's a safe way to rock the early-aughts straight-hair trend.
How to get pin-straight Y2K hair like Mariah Carey
You can get super-sleek strands without following the Japanese hair straightening method, which is a long and arduous undertaking, and it's easier than you think. Hairstylist Mannymo93 told TikTok users that the first thing they should do is use a heat-protectant serum. Demonstrating on himself, he parted his hair in the middle and used a blow dryer with a nozzle attachment to lay down his locks as much as possible. This part is key for those who don't have a natural center part. Section off your hair into four parts, and starting from the lower half, gently run your flattening iron over your strands, beginning as close to your scalp as you can without burning yourself.
@mannymo93 The flat iron always gives me PTSD #hairtutorial #hairstyle #y2k #hairstylist #hair
If you don't have a flat iron or want to take a break from heat-styling your hair, YouTube content creator Amy Serrano shared a method that requires larger rollers, bobby pins, a comb, and a bristle brush. Working with wet hair, give yourself a side part with your comb, ensuring that there are no knots. Comb out two small sections on the back of your head and wrap them in rollers, ensuring that they're as taut as possible. Next, start wrapping your hair around your head using the side part as a guideline. Secure it with bobby pins as you go along, and once you're finished, leave it to set overnight. When you wake up, once you undo the pins and comb out your hair, you'll find silky smooth strands that Mariah Carey would likely approve of.