Goodbye “clean girl” aesthetic, hello “messy girl.” Just last year, YPulse data showed “clean girl” and “no makeup” makeup looks were the top beauty trends young people were interested in trying. Now, Gen Z is reportedly ditching the polished perfection of the clean girl era for a new look rooted in carefree self-expression. (Which, yes, happened during brat summer, too.) Dubbed the “messy cool girl,” this emerging—or maybe just re-branded—aesthetic embraces wired headphones, bedhead, indie styles, and a nostalgic Y2K vibe with stars like Addison Rae and Olivia Rodrigo inspiring the trend. With YPulse data showing 55% of 18-24-year-old women say social media makes them feel bad about their appearance, the “messy cool girl” aesthetic could be a counter to the pressure of always looking perfect online. Instead of curating every detail, they’re leaning into a more carefree style that feels less like copying others and more chaotic in the best way. (Newsweek)
👀 Read more from YPulse: Young People Say These Are the Top 10 Beauty Trends Right Now
