How often have you been frustrated by an awkward haircut or a stubborn cowlick? How many photos have you looked back on to cringe at the so-called “hot looks” of the times? Don’t worry, you’re not alone in your embarrassment.

In fact, history is riddled with a yearbook of ridiculous looks, such as the following.

The Perm
We all know the ’80s had a reputation for big hair, and the trend reluctantly stayed around through the ‘90s. With frizzy layers and just plain bad curls that didn’t go away until the perm grew out, it’s safe to say the overdone perm of the ’90s was one of the worst trends in hair. Even glamorous stars such as Mariah Carey couldn’t escape the perm. Thankfully, this particular hairstyle doesn’t seem to be making a comeback anytime soon.

Too Much Volume
Usually, when it comes to hair, volume is a good thing – nobody wants to be seen sporting a limp, stringy mess on top of their head. However, there is such a thing as too much volume. Throughout the early ‘90s, a volume overload seemed to be the mainstay, especially for women. Yet, when you need at least a full bottle of hairspray to get your hair to look like you just stuck your finger in an electrical outlet, you know something has to be a little off.

Hair Extensions
When used in moderation, hair extensions can be a somewhat simple way to get longer hair without waiting months for it to grow. However, over the past two decades hair extensions have been overused. First, it can be extremely difficult to have hair extensions that actually look real and blend well with your natural hair. Second, an alarming trend concerning hair extensions has been to let them fall past your waist. Even Britney Spears is guilty of this one. Sadly, when your hair gets that long, it tends to look a bit mangled, or even like a wig, and not even hair extensions can save it. In short, be happy with the hair you’ve got. And really, it doesn’t take that long to grow.

The Mohawk
The mohawk, which has been around since the glory days of punk rock and has stuck around throughout the first decade of the 21st century, is not a hair trend worth repeating. With a resurgence of the mohawk in the mid-2000’s, both men and women were sporting the ‘do. The mohawk certainly takes a lot of courage to pull off, but it really doesn’t do anything good for your hair, your face or your style. Plus, who wants to deal with styling this look every morning?

Spiked Hair
Although there may be some women out there who have had spiked hair in the past, this bad hair trend generally applies to males. Not only does spiked hair look anything but natural, it tends to include copious amounts of gel, leaving it resembling a cactus. Men: if you want to impress the ladies, let your hairstylist work his or her magic and accept your hair for its natural texture. There is no need to laden it with gel and pomade so that it sticks straight up – it’s just not flattering.