“The 1980s brought short hair back into vogue, epitomized by Cyndi Lauper's spirited anthem Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” says Lopez. James adds that the '80s also brought us Demi Moore and Grace Jones, who both rocked various short hairstyles that showcased versatility and strength.
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.
Because that was the time when everyone let their hair grow. It was a part of the drug/pothead culture that was popular then. Short hair cuts were for preppy types. That would hardly fit well with the rock n roll image.
Actually, when you look at old photographs, shorter hair was popular for large parts of the 20th century. Bobbed hair was extremely popular in the 20s, 30s and 60s, and in the 50s women often wore their hair very short and set.
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.
One of the key 80s hairstyles that continues to impress is the side ponytail.
Lack of Volume/Layers: Flat, lifeless short hair can look dull and aging. Too Short: A cut that's too short can expose your neck and accentuate wrinkles. Outdated Style: A hairstyle that's stuck in the past can make you look older than your years.
A very short haircut goes by many names depending on the style itself. For example, women's very short haircuts include pixie cuts, bobs, lobs, wedges, undercuts, afros, and even shags.
While the idea that the less hair you have, the less you can do with it has some truth to it, short hair is incredibly versatile. Celebrity hairstylists assure us that there are plenty of trends for short hair, too. Think: pixie cuts, textured lobs, perky ponytails, and every kind of bob in the book.
After going wild with coloring their hair in the '80s, people started going back to more neutral colors. Light brown hair color was a popular choice to add highlights to your hair.
About The Pixie Cut
Although shorter hair gained some popularity in the 1920s during the “flapper” era, it wasn't until the 1950s and 1960s that the cut soared in popularity. Stars who were the face of the new trend included Audrey Hepburn, Mia Farrow, and Twiggy.
As our skin produces less collagen and elastin, it begins to sag. When our faces droop, they appear longer. A short haircut or even adding short layers to the hair can help create lift and volume to offset this effect, accentuating the bone structure and taking away from the overall longer look.
For lipstick, hot pink and fuschia were among the most popular hues of the decade—the more pigmented, the better. Classic red lipstick also enjoyed a renaissance during the '80s, thanks to some of the era's most popular musicians and tastemakers.
JEWELRY STYLES
As the decade opened, the focus in jewelry was on gold and diamonds. Thin gold chains were worn in multiples as bracelets and, in various lengths, as necklaces, often with gold charms and small gem-set pendants.
In the mid-1980s and through the mid-1990s it was common to see women of all ages from girls, tweens, teens, college and beyond wearing high ponytails or high side ponytails held with a scrunchie.
"Ghost layers are a layering technique you may also hear referred to as 'invisible layers' that helps to add subtle layers to the hair without necessarily looking [like obvious] layers," says celebrity hairstylist and The Beachwaver Co.
It combines the shorter, playful length of a pixie cut with the soft layers and volume of a bob. Typically, the bixie sits longer than a traditional pixie but shorter than a bob, with feathered layers adding texture and movement.
Does short or long hair make you look younger? Long hair can enhance facial features by diverting attention away from wrinkles or age spots and adding volume to your hair. Short hair does not need to age you, though, as the style and texture of shorter hairstyles can add a youthful appearance.
Age should never be the deciding factor behind a haircut.
You might want a new look, and hair texture does change with age, so you might find a previous style doesn't work for you anymore. You may decide it's time for a new look, and a short style might just offer that.
The length of hair doesn't decide femininity however society has termed shorter hair best for boys. However with some experimental styles, one can make shorter hairs look even more stylish and feminine.
Spiked hair, teased hair, brightly colored hair, and shaved hair sections were popularized in the 1980s by the punk movement, as were the Mohawk and its twisted variant, Liberty spikes. The Mullet haircut existed in several different styles, all characterized by hair short on the sides and long in the back.
15 Revived '80s Hairstyles That Are Trendy Again In 2025. Big hair is making a comeback, baby. The 1980s might be long gone, but the current wave of hairstyling trends mean the celebrated decade hasn't left our collective consciousness.
But the '90s style of bandana-wearing was actually first popularized in the 1970s, donned by self-proclaimed hippie women and the likes of Dolly Parton. The style was also worn in the '80s by Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose, though that is an entirely different story.