These 10 Popular Hairstyles From The 80s Will Take You On A Trip Down Nostalgia Lane

We occasionally experience nostalgia for old events that once felt so commonplace—like WordArt, Creme Savers sweets, and low-rise trousers. Okay, perhaps not the latter.

But this time, we're diving deep into the realm of 80s hairstyles. And, boy, there is plenty to see there.

One could describe the 1980s as an era of extravagance. The focus on individuality, materialism, and consumerism heavily influenced the types of clothing and haircuts that were in style at the time.

As usual, major influences on which styles and trends spread across the nation came from music, television, and, for the first time, the computer industry. While the Jheri Curl, voluminous locks, long hair on males, and androgyny all originated in the previous decade, the trends became more dramatic and exaggerated in the 1980s.

Bigger was usually better when it came to hair. Yes, the 80s were a strange time, especially if you judge them solely by clothes and hairstyles.

We have created a list of 10 of the most popular hairstyles of the decade. You may love them, or you may hate them, but you can't deny they were interesting.

Let's take a look at these amazing creations (we use the term intentionally):

1. The Mullet

Stars like David Bowie and Paul McCartney sported the mullet as early as the 1970s, but it wasn't until the mid-1980s that the "business in the front, party in the back" hairdo really took hold. This style was popular among both sexes and could be seen in various lengths on both curly and straight hair.

NBC/ Getty Images

2. Big Hair

Volume was fashionable regardless of style. Huge, voluminous locks on both sexes began to appear in the 1980s, frequently in the form of long, curly hair.

Big hair was prevalent, and "Hair Bands," as they were aptly called, were everywhere.

Ilpo Musto/Shutterstock

3. Punk

Even though it originated in London in the late 1970s, punk culture truly took off in the 1980s, when new musical genres and waves of teenagers began to favor tough-looking, leather, ripped, and studded clothing, as well as wildly colored and styled hair. Along with spikes, mohawks, and creative hair color applications, bleached hair rose in popularity.

This style, which was still quite unconventional, gained traction as more young people sought ways to express their individuality through their fashion choices.

Ken Laszlo

4. Crimps, Curls, and Perms

The 1980s saw curly hair replace the long, straight, sleek styles of the 1970s. People with naturally curly hair teased and hair-sprayed it to extraordinary heights, while those with straight hair tried everything to make their hair look curlier.

As a result, the permanent wave, which involves chemically modifying hair to create tiny, precise curls, became popular once more. This style, more commonly referred to as the "perm," shot to fame among both hip young people and older individuals alike.

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5. Jheri Curls

The Jheri Curl, created by hairstylist Jheri Redding in the 1970s (sometimes spelled Jerry or Jeri Curl), gained attention when Michael Jackson showcased the wet hairstyle in the 1980s. The look required a two-step application process that softened the hair in the first step and then fixed the curls, giving the hair a glossy, untidy appearance.

Rex Features

6. Ponytails with Scrunchies

Ponytails have been popular for decades, but in the 1980s, a wide fabric hair tie called a "scrunchie," frequently in neon or other "hot" hues, gave the style fresh life. Ponytails were often worn high on the back or side of the head and held in place with scrunchies for a look that was intended to be carefree and joyful.

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7. The Hi-Top Fade

Another 80s haircut that emphasized height was the hi-top fade. Young rap musicians and hip hop groups like Salt-N-Pepa, Doug E. Fresh, and Kid 'N Play popularized a style that featured very long hair on top of the head and short hair on the sides.

The style evolved into a more structured design with increased length as the decade progressed, quickly coming to represent the Golden Era of hip hop music.

Big Daddy Kayne / YouTube (via Ebony.com)

8. Aqua-net Bangs

Women styled their bangs to extremely high heights during the 1980s big hair craze. The sky-high bangs trend, often known as "mall bangs," featured a lot of teasing and extra-strength Aqua-Net hairspray for a fluffy, voluminous appearance that could be seen on everyone from famous celebrities to teen girls at the mall.

Richard E. Aaron / Getty Images

9. Wild Hair

In the 1980s, a variety of new hairstyles emerged that had never existed before. Crazy colors, absurd shapes, and whimsical designs produced looks that could only be described as "wild."

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10. The Princess Diana

The Princess of Wales' hair was cut short, voluminous, and fluffed; it had a distinct look all its own. The appearance touched on the decade's androgynous trend, was a little more subdued than other looks, yet managed to be distinctive. Princess Diana is still regarded as one of the greatest fashion and hair icons of all time because the style was so well-liked that women from all over the world rushed to their hairdressers to acquire their own versions.

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The 80s. Large, fluffy, curly, crimped, colorful, and adorned hair was the norm.

Classic cuts, as well as anything that could be viewed as "boring," were avoided. Celebrities like Madonna and Cyndi Lauper frequently changed their hairstyles, inspiring the general public to follow suit.

Hair was one of the most entertaining forms of self-expression in the 80s. It was truly a fun era.