The 1980s were a time of bold expression in hair and makeup, with iconic celebrity hairstyles making their mark on beauty history. From Madonna's accessorized ponytails to Whitney Houston's voluminous curls and Princess Diana's signature cut, the decade offered a range of memorable looks. Whether seeking inspiration for a new haircut or simply feeling nostalgic, these 80s-inspired styles are sure to inspire.
The half ponytail, a popular style in the '80s, has made a comeback in recent years. Sarah Jessica Parker's curly half ponytail exemplifies this trend, showcasing how a gel can provide hold for curls, while mousse adds volume to finer hair. This look offers the best of both worlds, combining an updo with flowing longer hair.
Backcombing was a prevalent technique in the '80s, and pop icon Madonna frequently incorporated it into her hairstyles, particularly her accessorized ponytails, which became a signature look. These high ponytails, often adorned with bows, headbands, lace ribbons, and scarves, epitomized the decade's style overkill.
Whitney Houston's iconic curls were a defining feature of her look, with her "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" music video serving as a prime example. Curls with lots of volume were key in the 80s, often heavily swept over to one side, adding height, as seen on Janet Jackson. If your hair doesn't have a similar pattern naturally, these kinds of curls can be achieved using a thin curling wand. Julia Roberts also sported loose curls swept to one side from the late 80s into the 90s, a look seen in some of her most popular films.
This hairstyle is so associated with the late royal that most people know what you're referring to when you say "The Princess Diana haircut".
Read also: Women's Headshot Hair Guide
The shag haircut, popularized by Goldie Hawn with curtain bangs, was a major trend in the 70s that carried into the 80s. The silhouette became softer and more rounded, offering a statement cut with a shaggier vibe. Dolly Parton also favored a voluminous shag haircut with bangs, making it her signature look for decades.
Updos in the 80s were all about volume, often with added height, as seen on Iman. A gel can help slick down the sides of sleek updos, keeping them in place. Salma Hayek's updo, featuring added height on top, embodies the voluminous style of the decade.
A heavy side part was a common sight in the 80s, with many styles swept over to one side to boost volume. Michelle Pfeiffer's waves were accentuated with a soft side fringe, creating a big, beachy look.
Bangs were back in full force, and they usually fell around cheekbone length with long layers at the top which helped to achieve volume. This hairstyle brought Farrah Fawcett into the spotlight and became known as the "Farrah Fawcett." Actresses like Madonna and Cyndi Lauper also wore this style on the red carpet.
Perms were a huge trend in the 80s, with stars like Cher embracing big, curly hairstyles. While perms were once considered out of date, they're now making a comeback. Celebs like Blake Lively, Beyonce, and JLo have all been seen styling this 80s-inspired look.
Read also: Mastering French Braids
Equally emblematic of the 80s hair scene was the crimped hair trend, which brought a zigzag texture that screamed fun. Achieved with a crimping iron, this style electrifies one’s look, fitting perfectly with the decade’s adventurous fashion sense.
Beyond the voluminous perms and the cascade of crimped locks, the statement headband continues to hold its own. These brightly colored and often sequined bands of fabric weren’t just functional accessories meant to tame tresses. They were bold declarations of style - a wordless motif of the era’s extravagance.
Like statement headbands, the big-hair trend reflected the era’s ethos of extravagant self-expression. The 80s were a time when hair volume reached new heights, quite literally, with hairstyles that defied gravity.
Several industry insiders have referred to the shag as L.A.’s hairstyle du jour, and to be quite honest, we didn’t exactly see this one coming. We’re happy bandwagoners, though, as this year’s redux features totally directional texture-shiny waves-in the hottest length of the year: the lob.
Gleaming, middle-parted waves molded to perfection were the hallmarks of the decade’s pretty girls. A feathered hairstyle was the first-generation “Rachel,” and flattered almost all face shapes due to its democratic layers and low-maintenance length.
Read also: Easy Braided Hairstyles
The fe-mullet gets renewed airplay this year but in a decidedly quieter dosage brought on by a softer, fuller fringe and more blended layers. More Euro-punk than backwater Podunk, this infamous ’80s look sheds its reviled reputation this year with a much more sophisticated, shorter disconnect between layers.
Once the sole property of tweens, pop stars, and after-school-special celebs, crimped hairstyles are another one of those ’80s hairstyles that grew up for the better. Now crimped hair isn’t the zigzag shape it used to be.
It doesn’t get more 80s than this. What’s more ’80s than a bob with bangs? Get in on the curly bangs trend and rock your curls with confidence.
Round out your curls with a layered bob that gives your hair shape and bounce. Adding these layers to your hair is the perfect way to give thin hair a pop of volume.
Show off your curls. Go big or go home! Grow out your curls and wear them long for a major statement, especially with the bangs.
Dressing preppy was huge in the ’80s, and offsetting all those sweaters and pastels was the half-updo. Braids-especially the French braid-were an added one-two punch to the whole more-exclusive-than-thou look prevalent in teen TV tropes everywhere.
At one point, “accessories” such as bows, headbands, lace ribbons, and scarves all blurred together into one big, hot mess-#SorryNotSorry! These days, we’re thankfully taking the deconstructed route in terms of hair accessorizing and using headwraps as both a practical and stylish way to look polished with minimal effort. In the 1980s, it was about style overkill.
Make your ’80s style a bit more modern by mixing it with an ombré color story to your curls as opposed to fully dying your hair.
A lot of curly-haired beauties used to style their hair in a tapered look during the 1980s.
Looking back, we sometimes think the unofficial goal of the 1980s was just to find funky, irregular ways of doing anything. This includes this offbeat way of revving up your standard ponytail. Simply segmenting the tail with hair elastics throughout the length creates a whole new look.
Short, natural-looking perms evoke a youthful vibe. The short perm features loose, somewhat lazier curls on a relaxed bob. More ingénue than incredulous, it’s a less uptight version of the original ’80s short perm, which is a more flattering look.
Long-haired perms are tighter than waves but still retain a manageable feel. A long-haired perm can veer away from traditionally tight ringlets. Even in men, we’ve seen waves of ’80s hairstyles come back.
Jheri curls are achieved by first applying a chemical softener to loosen the hair. Then the hair is wound into perm rods, and more chemical solution is applied. The final steps are to rinse the solution and apply a neutralizer to set the curls.
When you think of 80s glam metal, the first thing that comes to mind is big hair!
The resurgence of 80s hairstyles is part of a broader movement of retro beauty trends making their way back into the mainstream. Celebrities and fashion enthusiasts are embracing the nostalgia of the 80s, but with a fresh twist. Miley Cyrus brought back the mullet, while others are sporting spiral perms and updated shag cuts.
The 80s were an electric decade of excess, with everything from hairstyles to clothes, music, and pop culture being delightfully over-the-top. As these trends make a comeback, they offer a chance to relive the fun and express oneself with a touch of retro flair. Whether you're a hairstylist looking to give clients a blast from the past or simply seeking inspiration for your own style, the 80s offer a wealth of iconic looks to explore.
tags: #80s #hairstyles #women #long #hair
