By
Photo: Hubert Boesl/Corbis

Tina Fey has defined contemporary comedy for the last fifteen years, from her time as SNL’s head writer and “Weekend Update” co-anchor on through Mean Girls, 30 Rock, and Bossypants. But what really matters is her hair. We kid! It doesn’t matter at all — but it’s interesting anyway, especially to those of us whose lives, intentionally or not, sometimes feel like they’re one big exercise in Liz Lemon fan fiction. Side parts, center parts, soft layers, collar-grazing bobs: Let’s journey back through Tina Fey’s different looks over the years.

View 1 / 42 Photos
This is what women's magazines call "fresh-faced." This is what women's magazines call "fresh-faced."

This is what women's magazines call "fresh-faced."

Photo: Theo Wargo/WireImage
Ah, choppy baby bangs were not a good time for anyone. Ah, choppy baby bangs were not a good time for anyone.

Ah, choppy baby bangs were not a good time for anyone.

Photo: Carmen Valdes/WireImage
Bangs, glasses, bouncy layers: the Tina Fey trifecta. Bangs, glasses, bouncy layers: the Tina Fey trifecta.

Bangs, glasses, bouncy layers: the Tina Fey trifecta.

Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Highlights! Highlights!

Highlights!

Photo: Getty Images
Toned-down highlights! Toned-down highlights!

Toned-down highlights!

Photo: Mark Mainz/Getty Images
It's not not part of a Lisa Loeb tribute look. It's not not part of a Lisa Loeb tribute look.

It's not not part of a Lisa Loeb tribute look.

Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images
Those are some perfectly symmetrical highlights. Those are some perfectly symmetrical highlights.

Those are some perfectly symmetrical highlights.

Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images
And a few months later, back to a darker brown. But still with the center part and silky blowout. And a few months later, back to a darker brown. But still with the center part and silky blowout.

And a few months later, back to a darker brown. But still with the center part and silky blowout.

Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Side part and bouncy layers are back, but no glasses. Put down your drink. Side part and bouncy layers are back, but no glasses. Put down your drink.

Side part and bouncy layers are back, but no glasses. Put down your drink.

Photo: Fernando Leon/Getty Images
Ooooh, soft curls. Ooooh, soft curls.

Ooooh, soft curls.

Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images
Slightly redder color, much heavier bangs, and blunt layers. Note the A-for-Alice necklace too. Slightly redder color, much heavier bangs, and blunt layers. Note the A-for-Alice necklace too.

Slightly redder color, much heavier bangs, and blunt layers. Note the A-for-Alice necklace too.

Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Mega curls for the 2006 Emmys. Festive! Mega curls for the 2006 Emmys. Festive!

Mega curls for the 2006 Emmys. Festive!

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Pretty, but less festive somehow. Pretty, but less festive somehow.

Pretty, but less festive somehow.

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Super-sleek and flatironed, per Writers Guild regulations. Super-sleek and flatironed, per Writers Guild regulations.

Super-sleek and flatironed, per Writers Guild regulations.

Photo: Stuart Ramson/Corbis
The reddish undertones are back, as is the slightly off-center part. The reddish undertones are back, as is the slightly off-center part.

The reddish undertones are back, as is the slightly off-center part.

Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Nope, back to darker brown. But the bangs are making a comeback! Nope, back to darker brown. But the bangs are making a comeback!

Nope, back to darker brown. But the bangs are making a comeback!

Photo: Steven Henry/Getty Images
Full-on bangs. Full-on bangs.

Full-on bangs.

Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images
When I die, scatter my ashes on this photo. When I die, scatter my ashes on this photo.

When I die, scatter my ashes on this photo.

Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
She's not in character as Liz Lemon, but those might be Liz's glasses. She's not in character as Liz Lemon, but those might be Liz's glasses.

She's not in character as Liz Lemon, but those might be Liz's glasses.

Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images
Super dark, still with the side bangs. Super dark, still with the side bangs.

Super dark, still with the side bangs.

Photo: Edward Le Poulin/Corbis
Ooh, the rare formal braid. Ooh, the rare formal braid.

Ooh, the rare formal braid.

Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Super glam ... Super glam ...

Super glam ...

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Messy glam ... Messy glam ...

Messy glam ...

Photo: JEWEL SAMAD/Getty Images
So, like, once a year, Tina Fey makes her hair way redder. And then changes it back. So, like, once a year, Tina Fey makes her hair way redder. And then changes it back.

So, like, once a year, Tina Fey makes her hair way redder. And then changes it back.

Photo: Matt Sayles/Corbis
See?! See?!

See?!

Photo: Matt Sayles/Corbis
Again, possibly cribbing a Liz Lemon look here with the bangs peeking out from under a slouchy hat. Again, possibly cribbing a Liz Lemon look here with the bangs peeking out from under a slouchy hat.

Again, possibly cribbing a Liz Lemon look here with the bangs peeking out from under a slouchy hat.

Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
Here's a fail-safe guideline for good red-carpet hair: VOLUME. Go with something with volume. This is exhibit A. Here's a fail-safe guideline for good red-carpet hair: VOLUME. Go with something with volume. This is exhibit A.

Here's a fail-safe guideline for good red-carpet hair: VOLUME. Go with something with volume. This is exhibit A.

Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
And this is exhibit B. And this is exhibit B.

And this is exhibit B.

Photo: JESSICA RINALDI/Corbis
Seems like a lot of people should be pinning this to Pinterest boards titled "medium-length bobs." Seems like a lot of people should be pinning this to Pinterest boards titled "medium-length bobs."

Seems like a lot of people should be pinning this to Pinterest boards titled "medium-length bobs."

Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images
Exhibit C in the volume files ... Exhibit C in the volume files ...

Exhibit C in the volume files ...

Photo: LAN/Corbis
Exhibit D ... Exhibit D ...

Exhibit D ...

Photo: Matt Sayles/Corbis
Exhibit E ... Exhibit E ...

Exhibit E ...

Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Exhibit F ... Exhibit F ...

Exhibit F ...

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Exhibit G ... Exhibit G ...

Exhibit G ...

Photo:
All together now: exhibit H. All together now: exhibit H.

All together now: exhibit H.

Photo: Hubert Boesl/Corbis
One more! Exhibit I. One more! Exhibit I.

One more! Exhibit I.

Photo: Lisa O’Connor/Corbis
A slightly funky twist — har har — on typical awards-show updos. A slightly funky twist — har har — on typical awards-show updos.

A slightly funky twist — har har — on typical awards-show updos.

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
We're Team Side Part. There, we said it. We're Team Side Part. There, we said it.

We're Team Side Part. There, we said it.

Photo: ? Walter McBride/Corbis
Whoa! Much lighter. Whoa! Much lighter.

Whoa! Much lighter.

Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
You have to have flouncy Veronica Lake hair when you're hosting. You have to have flouncy Veronica Lake hair when you're hosting.

You have to have flouncy Veronica Lake hair when you're hosting.

Photo: Hubert Boesl/Corbis
More vintage styling. More vintage styling.

More vintage styling.

Photo: Byron Purvis/AdMedia/Corbis
That is a really impressive amount of body. (And her hair is just straight-up auburn now.) That is a really impressive amount of body. (And her hair is just straight-up auburn now.)

That is a really impressive amount of body. (And her hair is just straight-up auburn now.)

Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
1 / 42