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.
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.
Crimped Hair
As we mentioned, the '80s were all about volume and texture, so naturally, crimped waves dominated the decade. While they used to feature tiny zig-zag waves, they're now often created with a wider crimping tool for more modern, loose and (almost beach-like) waves.
But there's one trend no one saw getting a revival: crimped hair. This surprisingly hot trend has taken over this season, with huge names from Tyra Banks to Nicole Kidman wearing the look. And whether you want the three-barrel wave or the super fine, traditional '80s crimp, this trend is one we're having fun with.
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.
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.
Barbra Streisand, an American singer,and actress, is the one who made crimping hair popular. She has been seen rocking this look ever since the 1970s. Geri Cusenza was then inspired to invent a modern crimping tool in 1975 because of Barbra.
Crimping won't damage your hair—especially if you use heat protection and set the right temperature. And no, it won't be too visible if you know the right technique! In fact, crimping adds volume and gives the hair a clean, polished look.
According to Byrdie, crimping is back, and celebrities like Beyoncé, KK, Keke Palmer, and Saweetie are all fans. Though anyone who likes volume, big braids, and cool texture never thought it went away.
Historically speaking though, most of us prefer “cramp” to “crimp” when we say, “Don't cramp my style.” However, since there's some occasional confusion over these two similar-sounding verbs, we decided to unpack them. Also, a listener asked us to, and we love our listeners. “Cramp” started off as a noun in the 1500s.
In the 80s, people would braid their hair and leave it overnight. To recreate this, you can simply use a crimper. Hair crimpers are styling tools with zig-zag plates that add textured waves to your hair. You can use a crimper to create a unique, all-over style or to add volume to your hair.
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.
Once shunned for its rather ostentatious volume, the Hollywood blow-dry is making a major comeback in 2025. Ultra-trendy in the 00's, crimped hair is back in style this year. Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé - all the pop stars of our time once relied on this particular style to highlight their hair.
Some of the popular hairstyles in the 90s were the bob, the pixie, the 'Rachel,' space buns, and crimped hair. People loved voluminous hair and distinct styles that stood out. What did the 90s style look like? The 90s style was a mix of pop culture and grunge.
We recommend adding some color to achieve the ultimate '80s look. The key with this style is to avoid cuts, parts, and anything that is seen among more plain styles. Instead, your hair needs to look puffy, curly, big, spiky, and crimped. Accessories can help your hair stand out even more if you want the wild look.
CHICAGO Let's talk about Big Crimped hair it was so disco in the 70th,80th it was so fashionable and still is.
There are many different types of crimp connectors but the most common are barrel and open barrel. With barrel type connectors the stranded wire is inserted into the cylindrical metal opening (hence, “barrel”) and then crimped.
A crimping iron has parallel heated plates designed with a flat S-shaped repeating groove. In 1972, the modern crimping iron was invented by Geri Cusenza, the original founder of Sebastian, for Barbra Streisand's hair. Crimping peaked in mainstream popularity during the mid-1980s.
Early climbing research has shown that the full crimp position puts the most stress (or force) through your pulleys and tendons when compared to other standard grips like half crimp and open hand. This is definitely true.
Disadvantages of Crimp-on
Crimped contacts cannot be un-crimped and re-installed. In many cases, this means the entire connector assembly must be scrapped and replaced by a new one. Unless crimped with the proper dies using professional crimp handles, crimped connections on solid wire can be poor and prone to failure.
Once you've finished crimping, spray all over with hairspray. To get rid of crimped hair, you'll need a wide tooth comb, and a lot of patience”. Our advice: Go all-out 80s and rock a bandana. This will help to keep your crimped hair in place and out of your face.
Tension and Friction
The elastic creates too much tension, which results in: 🛑 Hair Breakage – Constant pulling damages the hair shaft, causing it to snap. 🛑 Hair Loss (Traction Alopecia) – Constant tension from tight hair ties can cause hair thinning over time.
Crimped hair looks are back from the 80's but the 2023 twist is that this look is hydrated and styled in a sophisticated but edgy way that makes it fit in 2024.
Made famous by Bridget Bardot in the '70s, curtain bangs are a feathered cut that creates a mussed-up, cool-girl look.
Crimped Hairstyle
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.