It’s hard to believe, but it’s been over 20 years since the iconic film Legally Blonde hit theaters. (I object!) Legally Blonde brought us many iconic moments, including the bend and snap dance, a Harvard admissions video with multiple sequin bikinis, and Elle winning the case using her hair care knowledge (you can brush up on perms here).
Of course, there are also plenty of unforgettable fashion and beauty moments in Legally Blonde. After all, Elle’s happy place is the beauty salon. Her flirty 90s wardrobe includes halter dresses, fluffy coats, and sparkles, all in her signature pink color. The outfits are perfectly complemented by A-plus hairstyles. Whether she’s using legal jargon in her law school classes, making her case in the courtroom, or getting ready for date night, Elle Woods’ hair is always looking fabulous.
She sports everything from glamorous waves to butterfly clips and sleek ponytails in the movie. To celebrate Legally Blonde’s 20th anniversary, we’re launching our Legally Blonde x Luxy Hair set, which includes a ponytail extension, detangling brush, pink Gravity Defying Hair Ties, vegan pink feather pen, and a notebook with a sticker sheet that has the most iconic Legally Blonde quotes. This hair set has all of the essentials to achieve an Elle Woods-worthy hairstyle. To help inspire your Legally Blonde look, here’s a list of Elle’s best hairstyles from the film and step-by-step instructions on how to recreate them at home like a pro.
1. High ponytail with bangs
It feels like yesterday that Elle Woods arrived at Harvard Law School, fresh-faced and eager to win back her ex-boyfriend, Warner. For Elle’s first day of classes, she proves that scholars can be stylish too. She sports a serious blue smoking jacket, knee-length skirt, black glasses, and tall brown boots, perfect for strutting her way down the halls. Her high ponytail perfectly complements her stylish look. Elle leaves out two strands of hair on either side of her face to frame her bouncy pony. If you’ve seen the film, then you know this is the look Elle wears for her iconic run-in with Warner at law school. At first, Warner couldn't believe Elle got into law school. Her response is one of the best lines from the movie: “What, like it’s hard?”
If you need a fierce first-day of school or work ponytail, or just want to dress to impress, you can recreate this look in a few simple steps. One of the things we love most about Elle Woods’ hairstyles is how much bounce and vigor her hair has. If you recently cut your hair short or want to add some volume to thin locks, hair extensions can help you achieve a longer and thicker ponytail instantly.
Start by brushing out your hair thoroughly, removing knots and tangles. Draw hair back into a high ponytail. Remove face-framing bang pieces from the ponytail. You can use an elastic to tie them up and away from your face. Twist the ponytail and pull it up into a bun and secure the bun into place using a Gravity Defying Hair Tie.
Now, you have a choice. You can either use your Curly Ponytail Extensions for a more voluminous look or Straight Ponytail Extensions. Just run over them with a curling iron to get beautiful waves like Elle. Whichever ones you choose, brush them out with our Detangling Wet Brush first.
After your extensions are tangle-free, clip them up onto your bun and wrap the velcro base around securely. Take a strand of hair and put it around the base to conceal the band and use bobby pins to secure your style into place. Grab your Luminous Shine Hair Oil and put a few drops into your hair to make it feel soft and hydrated. As a final touch, use a straightener or curling iron to give your face-framing bangs a subtle wave. The reading glasses are optional.
2. Sleek high ponytail
Elle never says no to a challenge or a sky-high ponytail. She shows her classmates just how fabulous Elle Woods really is in this look, which she wears for lounging around on the school lawn while Warner plays football nearby. Her eye-catching pink sequin bikini, red sunglasses, fluffy jacket, and sleek pony soon draw more attention than the match itself.
The look is super fun, plus it keeps hair out of Elle’s face. If you need to disguise greasy second or third day hair, ponytail extensions will go to work for you.
Want to recreate this ponytail at home? Start by using a brush to remove tangles and knots from hair. When you pull the hair back into a ponytail, use the brush to make it smooth and lump-free, like Elle’s.
Apply a light layer of hairspray and use your hands to spread it evenly over your head to prevent pesky flyaways. Slide a comb under your hair tie at the top of the ponytail and secure your hair extensions. Take the velcro base and wrap it around the ponytail until it is firmly in place. You can hide the band by taking a strand of hair and wrapping it around. Give your head a shake to make sure it’s secure and you’re ready to go!
3. Classic middle part with 90s hair accessories
What would Legally Blonde be without the bend and snap scene? For the unfamiliar, the bend and snap is a move Elle teaches to her friend Paulette in the nail salon to help her win over the hunky mailman. According to Elle, the seductive move boasts a “98 percent success rate of getting a man’s attention.” While Paulette ends up breaking the man’s nose with her bend and snap, the two eventually end up together in the end. It really works!
While giving her bend and snap lesson to the folks at the nail salon, Elle wears a chic and sweet outfit with jeans, pink tank top, and a yellow tie top. It’s simple, but undeniably chic. Her hair is parted in the middle, pulled back on top with cute hair clips, and worn down on the sides.
Whether you use ‘90s butterfly clips, a claw clip, or glittery bobby pins to secure your hair, you can easily use this hairstyle to inspire your next look. If you want to achieve Elle’s length, use our Seamless clip in hair extensions for a comfortable and secure hold. They will stay in place, no matter how much snapping you get up to.
4. Low ponytail with side part
Elle Woods’ outfits are never disappointing, especially when she’s trying to make a good impression at school. For her orientation day, she pairs a blue and pink striped shirt with a pink newsboy cap and low ponytail. Of course, her Chihuahua Bruiser is by her side when she introduces them as “Gemini vegetarians.” While her classmates are not amused, that doesn’t stop Elle from making the most of the day.
If you want to copy her effortless low ponytail style at home, you just need to follow a few simple steps. Gather your supplies, including a clip in ponytail extension, bobby pins, a hair elastic, a hairbrush, and your favorite hairspray. It’s best to start with second day hair or hair that’s slightly oily so that the style doesn’t slip and slide. If you just washed your hair, use a texturizing spray for extra hold.
Once you have your accessories, brush out your hair and pull all of it back towards your head. Smooth out the hair at the crown and secure the ponytail into a bun at the nape of your neck. Take your extensions and secure them around the bun using the wefts. Take a half-inch strand of hair and wrap it around a ponytail and secure it with a bobby pin to hide the extensions. After your long and luxurious ponytail is in place, give your locks a dose of hairspray to ensure it stays in place all day or night long. And if you want to accessorize the pony with a pink newsboy cap, we’re not standing in your way!
5. Bouncy blowout
Last but not least is this bouncy blowout Elle wears at the beginning of the film for a date night out with Warner. While Elle thinks the blowout is for her proposal dinner, the look turns into her breakup blowout when Warner breaks the news that he wants to end their relationship. However, Warner is definitely a bonehead for dumping Elle. Everything about this hairstyle is swoon-worthy!
From the volume to the curls, Elle’s blonde locks are bringing it. You can use this look to inspire your next date night or girl’s night out. If your locks are feeling limp, don’t fret! Our Halo Hair Extensions Collection can add natural volume and length to your hair instantly.
If you want to recreate the curls, start with hairspray. This will help your waves last all day. Lightly mist your hair with the spray from root to tip. Brush through your hair a couple of times and then use a curling iron to curl 1-inch sections of your natural hair away from your face. Hold the wand parallel to the floor, no matter which hand you’re using. Always curl your hair in the same direction for a consistent look.
After your natural hair is curled, it’s time to curl your extensions before clipping them in. Use the same curling technique so that your extensions will blend well with your natural curls. Once your extensions are curled, you can clip the wefts directly into your hair. Secure a 3-clip weft at the nape of your neck and a 4-clip weft above it. The 2 and 1-clip weft can be arranged around your face for an extra dose of va-va-voom volume.
If you are looking for a no heat method, you can use our Velcro Hair Rollers for a healthy, no-heat style. The set comes with 18 rollers in large, medium, and small sizes. Simply start with hair that’s slightly damp and brush out your front pieces of hair with a comb. Clip the rest of your hair back. Take the hair pieces and apply a layer of hairspray. Then, take one of the large rollers and roll the bangs away from your face. Secure the roller in place with one of the included clips.
Continue with the rest of your hair, spraying each piece with hairspray before securing the roller. Roll hair inwards to frame your face. Use smaller rollers in the front and larger ones in the back to get that va-va-voom volume. After all of your hair is up in the rollers, leave them in for 20 to 30 minutes. When it’s time to take them out, simply remove the rollers one by one and enjoy hair that looks fresh from the salon.
Although there were definitely some fashion bumps along the way. For example, who can forget when Elle showed up at the non-costume party wearing a pink bunny costume, complete with a tail? Or when one of her professors asked her to leave class on the first day for her outfit choice? Luckily, Elle had Bruiser and her friend Paulette around for support.
While many characters frequently underestimate Elle based on her blonde locks and fun fashion choices, she smashes stereotypes and proves you can have beauty and brains. As Elle says herself at the end of the film, “You must always have faith in yourself.”
Looking for more hair advice and styling tips? Subscribe to our newsletter to step up your hair game.
LEGALLY BLONDE-LEGALLY BLONDE 2 TM & © 2001-2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
