That was then! As MTV celebrates the 10th anniversary of reality hit The Hills, FEMAIL looks back at the show's most memorable beauty moments

  • The Hills 10th anniversary special, That Was Then, This Is Now, aired last night on MTV
  • The season one finale of the reality show aired 10 years ago
  • FEMAIL looks back at the best (and most cringe-worthy!) beauty trends made famous by cast members like Lauren Conrad,  30

By Sarah Ferguson For Dailymail.com

Published: 16:15 EST, 3 August 2016 | Updated: 20:11 EST, 3 August 2016

Ten years and one day ago, we were sitting on the couch, riveted by the season one finale of the hit MTVreality show, The Hills. Last night, we were brought back to the glossy, emotional world of the show by its anniversary special, The Hills: That Was Then, This Is Now.

The nostalgia-packed special reminded us of so much, from notable one-liners ('You know what you did!') to dramatic, boy-related plot lines (Jason, we're looking at you).

During the hour-long show, we also recalled just how many beauty trends took off because of the fashion-forward cast, namely Lauren Conrad, 30. 

From side braids to black nail polish, read on below to relive them all.

Remember when? You have MTV's The Hills, starring (L-R) Whitney Port, Audrina Patridge, Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag to thank for some of the best (and the worst) beauty trends of the late aughts

Remember when? You have MTV's The Hills, starring (L-R) Whitney Port, Audrina Patridge, Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag to thank for some of the best (and the worst) beauty trends of the late aughts

HEADBANDS 

If Hollywood experienced a shortage of headbands, specifically thick ones, between 2006 and 2009, Lauren was likely responsible. 

The star topped her head with plaid, snakeskin and polka dotted headbands, in addition to countless colorful scarves, throughout the show's run.

In a recent interview on mtv.com, several cast members estimated that she appeared on-screen in close to 100 headbands. The real number, according to MTV, is (a still impressive) 29.

Top it off: According to MTV, LC appeared on-screen in nearly 30 headbands during her five seasons on the show
Top it off: According to MTV, LC appeared on-screen in nearly 30 headbands during her five seasons on the show
Top it off: According to MTV, LC appeared on-screen in nearly 30 headbands during her five seasons on the show

Top it off: According to MTV, LC appeared on-screen in nearly 30 headbands during her five seasons on the show

BLACK NAIL POLISH 

In 2006, black nail polish quickly went from the shade you wear with ripped jeans and Black Sabbath T-shirts, to the shade you wear with summer scarves and faux pearls thanks, in part, to the girls on the show. 

During the same time, the dark manicure was also popular with tabloid darlings like Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan.

Grunge goes glam: The female cast members had a penchant for pairing edgy black nail polish with ladylike accessories, like pearls
Grunge goes glam: The female cast members had a penchant for pairing edgy black nail polish with ladylike accessories, like pearls

Grunge goes glam: Female cast members like Kristin Cavallari (left), 29, and Lauren (right) had a penchant for pairing edgy black nail polish with ladylike accessories, like pearls

SIDE BANGS 

According to The Hills, side-swept bangs were the only acceptable style of bangs in the late aughts.

Even more specifically, the style could be no longer or shorter than your jawline and was best paired with a low ponytail.

Blunt bangs need not apply! If you hung out with Lauren (or just wished you did), the side-swept style was the only way to go
Blunt bangs need not apply! If you hung out with Audrina (or just wished you did), the side-swept style was the only way to go
Blunt bangs need not apply! If you hung out with Lo Bosworth (or just wished you did), the side-swept style was the only way to go

Blunt bangs need not apply! If you hung out with Lauren (left), Audrina (center) or Lo Bosworth (right) - or just wished you did - the side-swept style was the only way to go

SIDE BRAIDS 

And what do you do when you need to get your side bangs out of your face? In a stroke of genius, LC decided to braid the section and pin it back - a look that she stuck with for all five of the seasons she appeared on and beyond.

In 2011, her hairstylist Kristin Ess posted a tutorial on the website The Beauty Department (which Lauren helped launch), of an update on the oft-copied style.

'Remember when Lauren’s go-to hairstyle was the bang braid? Well, lately this little lady’s had a new favorite,' Kristin wrote on the site before diving into the how-to.

Side plaits: The braided side braid became the former reality star's signature and most copied look; a search for 'The Lauren Conrad Braid' on YouTube yields more than 30,000 results
Side plaits: The braided side braid became the former reality star's signature and most copied look; a search for 'The Lauren Conrad Braid' on YouTube yields more than 30,000 results
Side plaits: The braided side braid became the former reality star's signature and most copied look; a search for 'The Lauren Conrad Braid' on YouTube yields more than 30,000 results

Signature style: The braided side bang became the former reality star's most worn and copied look; a search for 'The Lauren Conrad Braid' on YouTube yields more than 30,000 results

TOP AND BOTTOM EYELINER

There wasn't a single female cast member who didn't have a heavy-handed approach to eyeliner. 

The show proved that the intensely rimmed eye look, most often worn with matte foundation and a swipe of clear lip gloss, is perfect for any occasion, be it clubbing at Hollywood hot spot Les Deux (sadly, now defunct) or steaming clothes at your magazine internship.

Rim it to win it: LC (pictured), Kristin and Heidi must have gone through a lot of eyeliner pencils
Rim it to win it: LC, Kristin (pictured) and Heidi must have gone through a lot of eyeliner pencils
Rim it to win it: LC, Kristin and Heidi (pictured) must have gone through a lot of eyeliner pencils

Rim it to win it: LC (left), Kristin (center) and Heidi Montag (right), 29, must have gone through a lot of eyeliner pencils

WATERPROOF MASCARA 

Before Lauren's single, mascara-stained tear (the result of an emotional fight with Audrina) inspired memes and gifs, it inspired what we can only imagine was thousands of girls to run to their nearest drugstore to stock up on waterproof mascara.

The now infamous tear might not have been so memorable without the sneaky behind-the-scenes editing process, however, 'They slowed it down for dramatic effect,' the former reality star told Us Weekly.

The tear shed around the world: In a recent interview, Lauren revealed that the now infamous mascara-tinged tear was presented in slow motion for 'dramatic effect'

The tear shed around the world: In a recent interview, Lauren revealed that the now infamous mascara-tinged tear was presented in slow motion for 'dramatic effect'

 

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