Proof That Purple Hair Was Always Awesome

Love it or leave it, pastel hair isn't going anywhere. But, there seems to be one color that stands head and shoulders above the rest of the rainbow: purple. We can send a big thank-you over to Nicole Richie for that one. Her envy-inducing, lilac strands are the stuff of colorful-tress dreams.

But, as much as we love Nicole and her purple hair (we really, really do), the lilac trend started way before that first drop of hair dye hit her scalp. We did some digging and uncovered a slew of celebs who have taken purple hair for a spin. Some were from recent days, while others were total blasts from the past. Consider this your definitive history of purple hair — and your inspiration board for when you finally decide to take the pastel plunge.