In a recent video with British Vogue, Hailey Bieber gave us her trend predictions for 2024 – declaring grunge is back. While she is the self-proclaimed queen of beauty trends and gave us a plethora of ‘natural’ looks to experiment with last year yet, this year, her premonition feels a touch behind the times. After all, how can you herald the return of grunge when it never really left the scene?
From Rekha to Sonali Bendre, and now Sobhita and Deepika Padukone – grunge has always been on the periphery of every single micro-trend. The grunge aesthetic originally popularised internationally, found a unique expression in Indian cinema, setting the stage for a timeless aesthetic. While the leading ladies of the ’90s introduced us to the smoky eye and brown lipliner, today’s on-screen woman doesn’t shy away from expressing herself as a ‘sexy, sultry mess’.
Beauty icons and fashion aficionados have managed to seamlessly marry classic grunge elements with a modern flair. But instead of leaning into the Western idea of what qualifies as grunge, Bollywood has given us its own version – compiled with a series of elements that can all be worn individually. These elements have been used and re-used by celebrities and fans alike, so I thought I’d break them down in case you were ready for your grunge revolution.
Bar Eyeliner
The easiest way to do eyeliner, the bar eyeliner never deserved the hate it got. While it genuinely does not work for hooded eyes, it does enhance the lash line and makes your eyes look rounder and more open. Every picture of my mother to date, is in this eyeliner style proving that some things truly never go out of style!
The ‘I Slept With My Kajal On’ Look
This is one look I’ve personally really gotten into. The ’90s were all about the intense smokey eye, as seen on Sonali Bendre and Zeenat Aman but who has the time anymore? Instead, a popular version of this age-old trend is to just put on some kajal, rub your eyes, go in with some mascara, and leave the house looking like you just woke up. What can I say, sometimes what works just works.
Silver Eyeshadow
Now any type of glittery, shimmery eyeshadow has always caught my eye but silver eyeshadow has a special place in a makeup girlies heart. Most prominently seen on Juhi Chawla and Aishwarya Rai, silver eyeshadow will never look the same on any actor of our generation – but it doesn’t hurt to have some on hand for when you want to replicate their eponymous characters.
Glossy Lips
Brown glosses most popularly worn by Rani Mukerji and the one and only Poo are another element that make a gauge look complete. While their characters were perky, and cheerful, the same look has been worn in a multitude of variations – especially resonating with a more dishevelled and unpolished aesthetic.
Fluttery Eyelashes
Lastly, your eyelashes played a significant role in accentuating the eyes, a key feature of looking grunge. During the ’90s, Bollywood actresses often sported thick, voluminous lashes. This wasn’t about the neat, separated lashes of today’s styles but rather about creating a dense, impactful look.
The lashes were often clumped together, adding to the smudgy, smoky eye effect that was synonymous with grunge. Mascara was applied generously, sometimes even deliberately clumped, to give that edgy, raw look that grunge celebrated.
As Hailey Bieber revives grunge, it’s clear Bollywood never really said goodbye to this trend. The industry has continuously embraced and adapted these styles, proving that good trends never really fade, they just evolve. From bar eyeliner to glossy lips, Bollywood’s beauty playbook is a testament to the enduring appeal of ’90s makeup, inspiring a whole new generation.
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