We've all heard the saying “fashion comes back around”, and crimped hair is no exception. This eclectic look was made famous in the 1980s when it turned heads paired with bold colours and accessories.
Was crimped hair an 80s or 90s style? The 80s first popularised crimping due to the big hair trend, but it had a resurgence in 1990 after Christina Aguilera sported the look at the LA Billboard Awards.
Hairstyles in the 80s were perms, crimped hair, shag haircut, farrah fawcett, side pony, highlights, big hair, hairspray styles, mohawks, big volume hair and braided styles.
Yes, we're talking about crimped hair, which, to either your dismay or delight, seems to be making a major comeback from its '80s and '90s heyday. For those who somehow missed out on the decade of excess, crimping is styling straight or straightened hair so it gets a zigzag-wavy look to it using a crimping iron.
Some sources claim the ponytail version of the braid first became popular in the 1980s, while others argue that it's a totally 90s throwback.
Half-up, half-down styles were a top choice in the '80s. The half-up ponytail allows you to show off your length while getting hair out of your face. And like many other styles during that time, it was paired with an ultra-high ponytail and a colorful scrunchie.
Originally dreamt up in the 50s, popular in the 80s and again in the 00s, the bubble skirt – sometimes known as a puffball – is having another moment in 2024. With its rounded shape and short length, it is a silhouette made for parties rather than professionalism.
This eclectic look was made famous in the 1980s when it turned heads paired with bold colours and accessories. It had a brief revival in the early 2000s, when it was sported by celebs including Tyra Banks, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears. Now, crimping is getting a makeover for the 2020s.
Iconic hairstyles from the 80s, like the Jheri curl, wanton crimping, and the mullet, along with the box cut, feathered and voluminous, hair sprayed curls made bold statements. The era was defined by its loud and rebellious hair trends, which were all about expressing individuality and making a statement.
And while perms may spring to mind when you think of 80s hairstyles, today it's all about updating retro looks by taking the volume down a touch but keeping all of the attitude. One of the key 80s hairstyles that continues to impress is the side ponytail.
Vibrant eyeliners, neon eyeshadows, and coloured mascaras were used to create dramatic, larger-than-life 80s eye makeup and lipstick colours like fuchsia, plum and bubblegum pink were lacquered onto the lips to create vivid 80s pouts. Everything looked lifted and dynamic in the 80s, especially when it came to blush.
Hairstyles in the 1980s included the mullet, tall mohawk hairstyles, jheri curls, flattops, and hi-top fades, which became popular styles. Amongst women, large hair-dos, puffed-up styles, permanent waves, and softer cuts typified the decade.
The crimped hairstyle was a big one in the 80s and 90s. It's the opposite of loose waves with its zig-zag pattern and tight waves. This hairstyle adds volume and texture to the top of the hair, giving a Hollywood effect. (A typical 80s vibe).
The Legacy of '80s Hair Accessories
So here's to the scrunchies, bows, and banana clips that made every '80s girl feel stylish. They weren't just accessories; they were symbols of an era when bigger was better, brighter was bolder, and every day was a chance to make a statement.
80s Crimped Hair
Another style that lived in the 70s, 80s and even 90s we can't really get behind is crimped hair, as rocked by Demi Moore in the 80s classic, St. Elmo's Fire.
Beginning in the late 1980s and taking off in the following decade, hair crimping is a method of creating small, sawtooth waves in naturally straight hair. Nineties girls and women would achieve this popular look by braiding wet hair overnight or by using a crimping iron for perfectly crimped hair.
The 1990s were all about iconic and diverse hairstyles that reflected the decade's unique fashion trends. Some of the popular hairstyles in the 90s were the bob, the pixie, the 'Rachel,' space buns, and crimped hair.
Velour, velvet, and polyester were popular fabrics used in clothes, especially button-up and v shirts. Looser pants remained popular during this time, being fairly wide but straight, and tighter shirts were especially popular, sometimes in a cropped athletic style.
Once a staple of 80s wardrobes, bandanas are making a comeback, infusing modern outfits with a dash of retro flair and a hint of the rebellious spirit that defined a decade.
Characteristics of the 80s style
When we think of 80s fashion, the words “oversized and glittery” sum it up perfectly, but let's not forget the many subcultures that characterised the second half of the 80s, when colour gave way to the punk look.