I Re-created 5 Iconic Curly Hair Looks from ‘Sister, Sister’

From woven to bowknot, the twins wore this accessory all the time—perfect since headbands have been huge this year. I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with them because they can be painful (most ’90s kids probably have similar memories of their head feeling like it was being pinched to death), so I was definitely hesitant to see how it was going to hold up on my 3c/4a curls. Honestly, though, it’s the easiest style to do and there’s really no preparation needed other than refreshing your curls.

PureWow’s fashion editor helped me pick out the perfect patterned and beaded headband, and I was genuinely surprised by how comfortable and stylish it looked on me. It was giving me major Blair Waldorf vibes, which made me feel like I should enroll in an elite private school on the Upper East Side immediately. It didn’t slide off once, and it kept my curls in place. I can see myself pairing this with an outfit for the holidays.

Get the look: Lele Sadoughi X J.Crew Knot Headband ($135)

The twins constantly used scrunchies to elevate their looks. And they’re not new to me, either—I always use them when I’m rocking a ponytail or messy bun. But a scrunchie-bow hybrid? That was definitely out of my comfort zone.

This look took some time since I was dividing my hair into a half-up, half-down style while trying to keep the bow on display. And it took some getting used to since I’ve never worn my hair like this before. I felt like a mix between a Disney princess and a little girl. Honestly, I should’ve been wearing a dress and singing to animals. 

Clearly I have mixed feelings about wearing a bow, but I can definitely see it being paired with more formal attire. I did really enjoy that it was silk (a major plus for curly gals looking to combat frizz), so it was easy to take off at the end of the day (which I can’t say about many scrunchies).

Get the look: J.Crew Satin Scrunchie ($20)

Silk wraps at home? Definitely. But wearing one outside? Not something I’d ever done before. I’m used to wrapping my hair before bed when a silk pillowcase or cap isn’t present, so I was skeptical of how I was going to rock this look at work. 

I spent the most time working on getting it just right in the morning. I gave up trying to remake this look and opted for a low ponytail with the tied knot in the back instead of the front.

I love that there are so many options out there to match with any outfit, and so many ways to wear it—like the pineapple style or as a headband replacement. But it took a lot of effort. I think with more practice I could incorporate this into my style (especially when it comes to day-three hair or right before wash day).

Get the look: Echo Tassel Rhapsody Silk Square ($149)

Thank the ’90s for bringing out lots (and lots) of hats. On Sister, Sister, there wasn’t a single episode where the girls didn’t wear huge bucket hats, wool berets and fisherman caps. I’m a baseball cap kinda girl, so branching out to berets of all things was both exciting and concerning. I was excited because my image reference for Tia and Tamera made them look chic and fashionable, but I was concerned that my thick curls would prevent me from achieving said look. 

It took a lot of maneuvering because fitting it just right on my thick hair was indeed a challenge, but once I got it the way I wanted, it stayed in place. I liked the material and the fact that it was so comfortable I forgot it was there for most of the day, but ultimately I wanted more out of this look. It fell flat.

Get the look: Hatattack Leather Beret ($110)

I had to do it. I had to try the most notable hat the twins are known for. I was super nervous about this one because I had no idea how I was going to make it work—this denim hat just screams ’90s.

First of all, I was surprised to find an almost exact replica of the hat they wore on the very first episode of the show. (Bless Etsy.) I started regretting it as soon as I put the hat on, but once my whole outfit came together, I saw its potential.

I also want to mention that out of all the accessories I tried this week, this hat was a clear winner for my coworkers. The number of compliments was astounding, and it really brought people back to the good ole days of Sister, Sister.

Oddly enough, I would actually wear this hat again just because it’s super comfortable and easy to style my curls any way I want.

Get the look: Etsy ’90s Inspired Denim Rose Bucket Hat ($30)

Final Takeaway:

Playing with accessories I had steered away from my whole life was totally worth it. I didn’t think I was going to enjoy putting more effort into styles that I’d always written off as being for straighter hair, but I ended up loving the challenge of pairing these looks with everyday outfits in my closet (especially when it came to that denim bucket hat).

After trying these five looks, I’m excited to work with the scrunchie, silk wrap and denim bucket hat again. I’m actually looking forward to re-creating more hairstyles and pairing them with outfits I wear outside of work. I can see myself taking more style risks in the future, which is a huge step outside my comfort zone that I’m proud of. I always used to feel nervous experimenting with something new out of fear that I looked silly. My confidence? Well, it’s boosted, to say the least. Working on my curls for the past three years was already a big step, but now I’m ready to take it to the next level and test the waters of fashion (on trend or not). 

So thank you, Sister, Sister, for giving me some much-needed hair (and life) inspo, and a growing hat collection to look forward to.

Styled by Dena Silver