10 Times Zendaya Rocked Retro Hair Trends

Zendaya seems to be taking her role as rising young starlet seriously, ping-ponging from much-buzzed-about TV and film projects to glitzy Hollywood affairs with ease. A Disney Channel darling, Zendaya has become one of our favorites to watch — we've got our eye on the work and, of course, the red carpet looks. Pics of her pop-outs regularly flood timelines and group chats, but there are plenty of underrated Zendaya outfits you may have missed. How can we possibly be expected to keep up? 

Alongside the garb, Zendaya's stunning beauty transformation has had few rivals; she switches up her makeup and hairstyles effortlessly and effectively. And she's been known to deliver dreamy retro moments with her 'dos, whether offering up 1950s roller-set curls, a disco-era afro, or a saucy '90s updo. In short, she and her styling team know that it's all about the head-to-toe lewk, and sometimes that means a trip back in time. 

Zendaya attended the "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" premiere in Rome in June 2026 alongside husband Tom Holland, but she could've been mistaken for a woman on her way to a jazz club in 1920s Harlem. She was still rocking the layered, mullet-like short haircut we saw her debut in 2025. For the movie premiere, she styled her brunette locks in tight waves and ringlet curls with a deep, slicked-down side part for that flapper look that'll never fail to make us swoon. And a special shoutout to the butterscotch lip color.

When Zendaya walked the red carpet at the 96th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood in March 2024, the "Dune: Part One" star looked like she'd stepped straight out of Old Hollywood's golden era. Zendaya parted her collarbone-length, chocolate brown hair on the side and styled it in wide waves with upturned face-framing curls that hearken back to the 1940s and remind us of the studio sirens of yesteryear. Note if you're trying this one at home: The behind-the-ear tuck is key.

Zendaya may have looked like a 1950s housewife when she hit the premiere of "The Drama" in Paris in March 2026, but something tells us her social calendar would be far too jammed for pot roasts. The actor strutted along the Parisian red carpet with her shiny brunette hair parted on the side and done up in tight roller-set curls that floated high above her shoulders. The whole look is the definition of feminine allure — that is, graceful yet powerful, and just a little bit mysterious. 

Who doesn't love a fun, mid-century mod moment, especially when we're talking 'dos? There's no shortage of great hair trends from the 1960s you may have forgotten about, but if we're following Zendaya's lead, it might be time to put some back on our radars. First, consider the teased, voluminous bouffant she rocked for a "Challengers" press event in Paris in April 2024. You might remember that all of her press looks around then were tennis-themed, and this charming bumped low bun was a perfect fit. We especially love the addition of the bow-adorned headband and dramatic front fringe swoop. 

Afros were their most popular in the late '60s and early '70s — introduced first by Black activists before being adopted by everyone else — and Zendaya took us right back with the impossibly shiny version she brought out for the third annual InStyle Awards in Los Angeles back in October 2017. The flawless coils were shaped into a perfect sphere, and we can't get over how the dramatic structure pairs with Zendaya's strong brows.

Zendaya swung by the Green Carpet Fashion Awards in Hollywood in March 2024, but, if the hair is any indication, she could've just as easily been headed to a '70s-era outdoor music festival. The "Euphoria" star wore her waist-length locks in tousled water waves that look like they got little more than a few finger combs but still managed to look ultra glamorous and hippie-approved. And the front pieces being casually tied back only added to the undone vibe. Peace and love, indeed.

When Zendaya hit the Louis Vuitton spring/summer show during Paris Fashion Week in October 2024, the "Malcolm & Marie" actor brought out some serious '80s power dressing energy. She rocked a piece-y slicked-back bun, teased and lifted in the front, and ready for upward mobility. And we're still not over the ashy blond against those dark brown roots for the way it delivered that funky, sometimes questionable '80s quirk that'll always be equal parts charming and nostalgic. 

The super sultry '90s blowout is enjoying a recent resurgence, and the version Zendaya wore to a "Challengers" press event in Paris in April 2024 had that distinctly '90s feel. We're looking at the 'do's teased crown and deep side part that leaves the hair no choice but to almost completely cover one eye à la Aaliyah. The style is a forever favorite and transports us right back to the days of towering supermodels and blockbuster rom-coms. And we especially love the iced latte blonde, punched up with sparkling highlights.

The '90s gave us a bunch of memorable hairstyles, many managing to strike that delicate balance between chic and sexy, and the messy updo firmly nails that look. Zendaya must be a fan, because she adopted the aesthetic for the Australian premiere of "Challengers" in Sydney in March 2024. The actor twisted her caramel blonde hair into an updo that probably took two stylists three hours, but gives the enviable illusion of having just been slapped together. Notable features include face-framing front pieces, loose strands all about, and a general effortless vibe. 

When Zendaya attended a special screening of "Challengers" in West Hollywood in January 2025, the "it" girl reminded us why we loved the hairstyles of the early 2000s so much. That era gave us a slew of 'dos that were fun, funky, youthful, and felt sort of futuristic. One example is the sky-high ponytail with the heavy bangs that are a bit too long, and, of course, undone face-framing strands. Zendaya looks like she could've been hitting the parties back in the day with Paris Hilton and Tara Reid. A true relic.