Iconic Hairstyle of Cindy Lou Who from How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The Iconic Hairstyle of Cindy Lou Who

Cindy Lou Who, with her messy blond hair and pink pajamas, is one of the most iconic characters from the 1966 animated classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Her scene where she encounters the Grinch while getting a drink of water is perhaps the most memorable from the entire film.

Cindy Lou's tousled hairstyle has become just as iconic as her character. With strands going every which way, Cindy Lou's hair epitomized bedhead and perfectly captured the look of a tired toddler who was abruptly woken up on Christmas morning.

The Inspiration Behind Cindy Lou Who's Hair

The inspiration for Cindy Lou's tousled locks reportedly came from a photo of Angela Lansbury from the 1946 film The Picture of Dorian Gray. In the photo, Lansbury wears a somewhat disheveled updo with loose pieces framing her face. This look served as an inspiration for the animators when creating Cindy Lou Who's messy blond mane.

The animators wanted Cindy Lou to appear sympathetic and innocent. Her messy hair makes her seem young, relatable, and helps establish an emotional connection with viewers.

Recreating Cindy Lou Who's Signature Style

Decades later, people still love emulating Cindy Lou's signature bedhead style. It's become a go-to Halloween costume and cosplay choice. Recreating it is also fun for themed parties or just when you want to channel the adorable moppet from Whoville.

Luckily, her disheveled locks are easy to recreate at home.

What You Need

• A wig or your own blonde hair
• Mousse, hair spray, or texturizing product
• A wide-tooth comb or brush
• Bobby pins
• Pink hair bows and headband (optional)

Instructions

1. Start by brushing out your hair thoroughly so there are no tangles.
2. Apply mousse all throughout your hair, especially targeting the crown and sides.
3. Bend over and lightly ruffle your hair upside down to create lift.
4. Gently brush the top and sides of your hair, avoiding flattening the crown.
5. Secure any stray strands back with bobby pins for extra messy volume.
6. Finish by topping your 'do with pink bows or headband just like Cindy!

Modern Takes on Cindy's Hairstyle

While the original animated Cindy Lou sports her blond strands up in a gravity-defying messy bouffant, we've also seen modern live-action takes on the character's hair.

In the 2000 film starring Jim Carrey as the Grinch, young Cindy Lou (played by Taylor Momsen) wears her hair down a bit straighter and less volumized. Her style still features a deep side part and strands loosely framing her angelic face.

In the 2018 animated Grinch movie, Cindy's hair appears slightly more tamed. Though still undeniably messy, her locks seem a bit flatter and smoother compared to the ultra-textured original look.

Cindy Lou Who Hair Tutorials

You can find all sorts of hair and makeup tutorials online for achieving the Cindy Lou Who look. Beauty vloggers on YouTube offer step-by-step guidance perfect for Halloween or your next Grinch-themed party.

Easy Messy Cindy Lou Who Hair

This tutorial by YouTuber Coolirpa shows an easy way to get Cindy's messy hair using just a few tools and products you likely already own. It's perfect if you want to pull her look together last minute.

She parts damp hair deeply to one side and roughs it up with fingers and brush. After air drying, she finishes with hairspray for extra hold and pops in wispy faux bangs.

Cindy Lou Who Cosplay Wig Styling

For cosplay or a costume wig, YouTuber Cosplay Apprentice has an excellent Cindy tutorial. She demonstrates on a curly blond wig, but the techniques work for straight wigs too.

She trims the wig then teases sections using a comb and hairspray. Piece by piece, she sculpts and defines chunky strands going every direction. The finished style impressively mimics Cindy's animated bouffant.

FAQs About Cindy Lou Who's Hair

What color is Cindy Lou Who's hair?

Cindy Lou Who has blonde hair in both the original 1966 animated special and the 2000 live-action film. Her shade is a light golden blonde.

Why does Cindy Lou Who's hair look so messy?

Cindy's very messy, tangled hair reflects the fact that she was abruptly woken up by the Grinch on Christmas morning. Her crazy bedhead gives off the impression she just got out of bed.

Did Taylor Momsen wear a wig as Cindy Lou?

No, Taylor Momsen's natural hair was styled to play Cindy Lou in the 2000 Grinch movie. Her long blonde hair was parted deeply and crimped to give it extra volume and texture.

What is the Cindy Lou Who haircut called?

Cindy Lou Who's iconic messy bouffant doesn't have one specific name. But descriptions for her gravity-defying, tangled 'do could include:

• 60s voluminous bouffant
• Messy retro bedhead
• Tousled mod updo

Her bangs are also described as wispy curled bangs or faux bangs.

Is Cindy Lou Who's hair supposed to be messy?

Yes, Cindy Lou Who's very messy hair is a deliberate and iconic character design choice. The wild, gravity-defying style enhances her sweet innocence and also reflects the humorous situation of being woken abruptly on Christmas morning.

FAQs

Does Cindy Lou Who have bangs?

In the original animated version, Cindy Lou's signature look does not include full bangs. She has loose wispy strands that frame her forehead and cheeks, giving the impression of faux bangs. Some modern takes on Cindy Lou have given her straight across blunt bangs or side-swept bangs.

What accessories did Cindy Lou Who wear in her hair?

In the 1966 animated special, Cindy Lou Who wears a large pink hair bow on the left side of her head. The bow is secured right against her hairline. She also wears a thin pink headband that blends into her blond hair.

How can I protect my hair when styling a Cindy Lou wig?

Teasing and backcombing hair can damage it over time. When styling a wig, use a texture spray or dry shampoo instead of excess hairspray. Only backcomb the wig gently and in small sections. Use a wide-tooth comb when brushing. If needed, trim wig ends to remove split ends and frayed bits.

What's the best way to fix my Cindy Lou Who wig/style if it loses volume?

Try washing and re-styling the wig from scratch if possible. You can also spot-treat flattened sections by spraying texture spray or dry shampoo and teasing lightly with a comb to boost body. Set your style with cool air from a blow dryer. Finish by securing problem pieces with bobby pins or mini claw clips.