Whether you started with Sex and the City in the ’90s, got in for the reruns and movies or are just settling in to watch And Just Like That…, legendary moments from the pop-culture phenom have undoubtedly left their mark. In between the cosmos, Big, Aidan, shoes and shopping, there were the beauty takeaways—which are nothing short of iconic. As the long-awaited return of the hit HBO franchise starts streaming, here are the ones that stuck with us.
Carrie’s Curly Hair
Perhaps the second-biggest supporting character to the city itself, Carrie’s curly hair is a constant fan favorite and a top beauty-related memory for the NewBeauty team. “To this day, I still try to get ‘c-c-c-curly’ hair a la Carrie in the Season 2 finale of SATC,” says senior digital content producer Leiana Foye. “Nothing I do ever comes close to Carrie’s iconic curls, but watching Carrie stand in front of The Plaza confronting Big solidified for me I never want to be ‘the simple girl’ (IYKYK).”
This scene also sticks with senior beauty editor Allie Hogan: “I think about the contrast between Carrie’s c-c-c-curly, wild hair and Natasha’s prim, sleek hair a lot; especially the episode where the girls talk about it and Carrie brings up ‘your girl is lovely, Hubbell.’ Carrie looks amazing and natural and so herself when she delivers the line to Big. I think the hair callout is such an interesting way to contrast the two women and show their personality through their beauty choices.”
Samantha Goes Wig Shopping
“I love the SATC episode in Season 6 where Carrie and Samantha go wig shopping after Samantha’s breast-cancer diagnosis,” shares director of beauty, Britt Fallon, of the touching moment. “Her famous line is ‘my hair is my thing,’ and I loved the way she owned that and wouldn’t settle for a sub-par wig that didn’t feel like a representation of herself. It’s been 20-plus years since that episode aired, and wigs have come so far! Women have more options than ever before to find a match that makes them feel confident and empowered.”
Miranda’s Post-Baby Salon Appointment
“Baby Brady” may be all grown up, but contributor Danielle Jackson still remembers the heartfelt hair exchange between friends right after he was born. “There’s an episode in one of the later seasons where Samantha books a hair appointment at a really fancy salon in the city, but she ends up gifting the appointment to Miranda in the end because she sees how much she’s been struggling to keep up her appearance after giving birth to Brady,” she says. “I always loved seeing how all of the women interacted with each other outside of their friendship with Carrie, and I thought this was a sweet moment for Samantha, who hated kids, but still agreed to sacrifice her comfort for a few hours to show up for her friend.”
The Chemical Peel
Samantha’s chemical peel snafu is executive editor Liz Ritter’s pick for a Sex and the City beauty moment that belongs in the history books. “What an episode: There was Berger, Carrie’s book-launch party and—gasp!—Samantha’s last-minute decision to get a peel right before the big event. Spoiler alert for those who haven’t seen it: While her big hat was fabulous, her tomato-red face was not, nor was Carrie’s response to it. The episode first ran 20-plus years ago, and while it didn’t do a whole lot of good for the PR of the treatment, it is an iconic all-around moment for the PR queen that is Samantha Jones.”
The Scrunchie Debate
“Forget the Big-versus-Aidan debate, if you are anywhere in the realm of Team Berger, I strongly suggest you take a deep breath and regroup,” Ritter says. “Carrie-boyfriend opinions aside, the scrunchie argument that ensued after she read his book still cracks me up to this day…although I suppose it doesn’t have quite the same effect since the trend has since come back around. Either way, this entire episode is all-around iconic. It even birthed the infamous ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ line, movement and movie.”
Carrie’s Brazilian Wax
The two-part Los Angeles Sex and the City episode had so many memorable moments (hello, Carrie Fisher!), but it’s Carrie Bradshaw’s bikini line that left a mark on staff writer Rowan Lynam. “When Carrie accidentally got a full Brazilian! The show was always so honest about the reality of being a woman, pubic hair and all. As a notoriously conflict-averse person, Carrie getting a full wax because she didn’t want to speak up spoke directly to my soul. For years, any time I’m at a wax, massage, haircut or any other service, I think ‘Don’t end up like Carrie, tell them exactly what you want and be clear.’ Thankfully, I had her as a warning!”
Carrie’s Runway Glam
Director of aesthetic content Tatiana Bido’s favorite Sex and the City beauty moment is the Fashion Roadkill episode. “Carrie’s D&G runway look included an edgy smoky eye—done by none other than ’90s makeup icon Kevyn Aucoin—and a Brigitte Bardot–inspired bouffant. It felt like such a sharp turn from her usual girl-about-town vibe. I remember not loving it at the time. Now, it feels like a preview of the smoky-eye era that took over the 2000s. Carrie was ahead of her time. And that fall? As someone prone to clumsiness I still think about it all the time. It’s not how far you fall (or who you fall in front of), it’s how you recover.”
Editorial assistant Isabelle Buneo concurs: “Her sky-high, half-up half-down curtain bangs, oh-so smoky eye and glowing skin were ahead of their time, and though her catwalk cameo was less-than-perfect, this beauty look will forever be on my inspo boards.”
Miranda’s Braces
“The ‘Hot Child in the City’ episode that came out in 2000 is one of my all-time favorites,” says Ritter. “The storyline is so strong, it’s almost like a standalone movie. It delivers some classic Carrie-and-Wade porch scenes, features Kat Dennings’ television debut and perfectly gets across just how hot New York can get in late summer. But who could forget Miranda’s braces? Truly one for the ages.”
Charlotte’s Post-Miscarriage Rebirth
“In Season six of SATC, Charlotte, after years of trying to conceive, finally becomes pregnant—then suddenly loses the pregnancy, right as Brady, Miranda’s son, is turning one. Understandably, she initially declines to attend the celebration, and falls into a deep depression, until she watches a documentary about Elizabeth Taylor. The Hollywood star inspires Charlotte to stay resilient and reclaim her inner strength,” Foye recalls. “Charlotte emerges from her apartment building in a strapless pink party dress with her hair pulled into a sleek, elegant bun that put her grieving face front and center. Kristin Davis had endless 10/10 fashion and beauty moments on the show’s original run, but Charlotte never looked more stunning to me than in this scene.”
