17 Iconic 1980s Hairstyles and How to Wear Them Today
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If you grew up in the 80s, you remember the smell of hairspray before you remember almost anything else. Bathrooms were fogged up every morning, crimping irons were always warming up, and somebody’s mom had perm rods soaking in the kitchen.
If you missed it, here is the short version. 80s hair was big, curly, teased, and proud of it. Here are 17 of the most iconic 1980s hairstyles, who made them famous, and how to pull each one off today without a time machine.
The quick answer: The most iconic 1980s hairstyles were the perm, big teased hair, the mullet, the side ponytail, crimped hair, feathered hair, the Jheri curl, and the hi top fade. Most of them shared one goal: volume, held in place with a lot of hairspray.
17 Iconic 1980s Hairstyles
1. The Perm
The perm was the decade’s signature move. A chemical treatment set the hair into tight curls or loose waves that lasted for months, which meant you could wake up with big hair and skip the curling iron.
Get it today: A real perm is still an option at most salons. For one night, use a small barrel curling iron, then brush the curls out gently and add hairspray.
2. The Mullet
Business in the front, party in the back. The mullet kept the hair short on top and on the sides and let it grow long in the back. Richard Dean Anderson’s MacGyver mullet is one of the most remembered versions from the decade.
Get it today: The modern mullet is back in barbershops. For a party, a clip in hair piece at the back of the neck does the job.
3. Big Hair
Big hair was less a style and more a lifestyle. Teased roots, layers, and hairspray built height on top and width on the sides until the hair looked like it had its own zip code.
Get it today: Tease small sections at the root with a fine comb, smooth the top layer over, and lock it in with hairspray.
4. The Bowl Cut
Plenty of 80s kids had the bowl cut, usually done at home with real scissors and sometimes an actual bowl. It was a straight, even cut all the way around, just above the eyebrows.
Get it today: A soft, textured version is popular again. Ask for blunt bangs and even length around the head.
5. The Side Ponytail
Why put a ponytail in the back when you can put it on the side? The side ponytail was fun, a little rebellious, and almost always held with a scrunchie.
Get it today: Brush everything to one side, tie it high above the ear, and finish with a big scrunchie.
6. Crimped Hair
Crimping irons pressed the hair into tight zigzag waves. Some people crimped all of it, others did a few sections for texture. Either way, the whole room smelled a little bit like toast.
Get it today: A hair crimper still exists and works exactly the same way.
7. Feathered Hair
Feathered hair started in the late 70s, with Farrah Fawcett’s famous layers, and carried right into the early 80s. The sides were cut in layers and blown back away from the face so they looked like wings.
Get it today: Ask for long face framing layers and blow dry them back with a round brush.
8. Teased Bangs
Some people called them mall bangs. The bangs were curled, teased, and sprayed until they stood straight up off the forehead, sometimes several inches high.
Get it today: Curl the bangs back over a round brush, tease the roots, and spray them in place while they cool.
9. The Jheri Curl
The Jheri curl gave hair a loose, glossy, wet looking curl. Michael Jackson wore one in the early 80s, and it was everywhere for a while, along with the activator bottles that kept it shiny.
Get it today: For a costume, a curly wig and a shine spray get you there without the chemicals.
10. The Hi Top Fade
Short on the sides and tall and flat on top, the hi top fade took over in the late 80s. Rappers like Big Daddy Kane and the duo Kid ‘n Play made it famous, and barbers turned it into an art form.
Get it today: A good barber can still cut one, and a pick comb helps shape the top.
11. The Flock of Seagulls Swoop
Named after Mike Score, the singer of A Flock of Seagulls, this one was dramatic. The hair was swept up and out in front of the face in a big, stiff wave that looked like it might take off.
Get it today: Strong gel, a blow dryer, and a lot of patience.
12. Poodle Curls
Tight, springy curls from root to tip, usually from a perm with very small rods. It was full volume all over, a little bit like a poodle, which is where the name came from.
Get it today: A set of small perm or flexi rods set on damp hair overnight.
13. The Rat Tail
A regular short haircut with one thin, long strip of hair left at the back of the neck. Sometimes it was braided. Every school had at least one kid with a rat tail.
Get it today: Honestly, a clip in braid at the nape is the safest way to try this one.
14. The Mohawk
Punk kept the mohawk alive, and Mr. T made a version of it famous on TV when The A Team started in 1983. The sides were shaved and a strip down the middle stood up or stayed short.
Get it today: For one night, slick the sides flat with gel and spike the middle strip.
15. Long Hair With Bangs
Long, straight or wavy hair with full bangs was the softer 80s look. It showed up on pop stars, in teen movies, and in pretty much every school picture.
Get it today: Full bangs plus some volume at the crown and you are there.
16. Hair Band Hair
The glam metal bands of the 80s, like Poison and Bon Jovi, wore some of the biggest hair of the decade. Long, layered, teased, and sprayed, it was bigger than most of their fans’ hair, which is saying a lot.
Get it today: Tease every layer, flip your head upside down, and spray. Then do it again.
17. The Aqua Net Finish
This is less a haircut and more the glue that held the decade together. Whatever style you had, it was finished with a heavy cloud of hairspray, and Aqua Net was the name on most bathroom counters.
80s Hairstyles at a Glance
Here is a quick way to pick your look and figure out how to get it.
| Hairstyle | Who wore it | How to get it today |
|---|---|---|
| Perm | Almost everyone, especially mid 80s | Salon perm or small barrel curling iron |
| Mullet | MacGyver and plenty of dads | Modern mullet cut or clip in piece |
| Big teased hair | Pop stars and prom queens | Tease the roots and use strong hairspray |
| Side ponytail | Teens and pop fans | High side pony with a scrunchie |
| Crimped hair | Teens with a crimping iron | Hair crimper |
| Feathered hair | Late 70s and early 80s TV stars | Face framing layers and a round brush |
| Jheri curl | Michael Jackson in the early 80s | Curly wig and shine spray |
| Hi top fade | Big Daddy Kane, Kid n Play | Barber cut and a pick comb |
| Mohawk | Punks and Mr. T | Gel the sides flat, spike the middle |
How to Do 80s Hair for a Throwback Party
You do not need a perm to pull this off for one night. Start with volume at the roots, either from teasing or a round brush. Add curl or texture with a curling iron or crimper. Then finish with a scrunchie, a banana clip, or a big bow, and spray everything in place.
Pair the hair with bright eyeshadow and a bold lip and you are basically done. If you are dressing up for an 80s prom night, the hair matters as much as the dress.
Did you rock one of these? Tell me which 80s hairstyle you had in the comments. Bonus points if there is a photo.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1980s Hairstyles
What were the most popular hairstyles in the 1980s?
The most popular 1980s hairstyles were the perm, big teased hair, the mullet, the side ponytail, crimped hair, feathered hair, the Jheri curl, and the hi top fade.
Why was hair so big in the 80s?
Big hair matched the bold, bright style of the decade. Perms, teasing, and strong hairsprays like Aqua Net made it easy to build height and volume, and pop stars and rock bands made big hair the look to copy.
What is a mullet haircut?
A mullet is short on the top and sides and long in the back. People often describe it as business in the front and party in the back.
How do I do 80s hair without a perm?
Tease the roots, add curl with a small barrel curling iron or crimper, and finish with plenty of hairspray. A scrunchie or side ponytail makes it look instantly 80s.
What men’s hairstyles were popular in the 80s?
Popular 80s hairstyles for men included the mullet, feathered hair, the hi top fade, the Jheri curl, the rat tail, and long, teased hair band styles.
Bring Back the Hairspray
The 80s were never subtle, and the hair proved it every single morning. Pick your favorite, tease it high, and do not be shy with the spray. For more of the look, visit the 80s fashion hub.
