The 1980s were a time of excess and expression. With fashion serving as a bold statement of individuality and freedom, big, curly hair wasn't just a style; it was an attitude—a rebellion against the sleek, restrained looks of previous decades.
Cultural Trends: The 1970s and 1980s saw a shift towards more expressive and individualistic styles. The counterculture movements of the 1960s influenced the embrace of natural textures, including curls, as a form of self-expression.
Our common ape ancestors had straight hair. As we spent more time upright in the hot African sun early humans evolved curly hair most likely because it dissipates heat better (less densely packed) and blocks more UV radiation (like a natural hat).
Big hair that was "often permed to achieve the desired volume" is especially associated with women of the mid 1980s as well as male rockstars of that era, especially of the glam metal genre. Television shows such as Dynasty helped popularize the high volume bouffant and glamorous image associated with it.
Why did people in the 80s like to wear big hair? People were into big hair because the celebs had big hair, and people back then would like to have these looks as their favorite icons. Most of the musicians during the 80s were into big hair. These guys were rockers, and so of course, long hair was de rigueur.
Everything about rock and pop music got big in the '80s. Big sounds, big bands, big clothes, and — perhaps biggest of all — big hair! The decade that introduced Hair Metal saw newly minted rock stars doubling down on the glam and teasing their hair till it was sky-high.
Invented by the hairdresser Jheri Redding, the Jheri curl gives the wearer a glossy, loosely curled look. It was touted as a "wash and wear" style that was easier to care for than the other popular chemical treatment of the day, the relaxer.
What's old is new again, when it comes to hair. But it turns out that Gen Z boys are the ones embracing the perm this time around. Their parents or grandparents may remember back when the tight, coily perms were popular for women back in the 1980s and early 90s.
Unless you were of the echelon of Robin Leach's Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, a salon perm was a costly and likely unfeasible luxury; such a style could set you back as much as $50, the equivalent of a new car payment at the time.
Hair straightening is a hair styling technique used since the 1890s involving the flattening and straightening of hair in order to give it a smooth, streamlined, and sleek appearance. It became very popular during the 1950s among black males and females of all races.
What Ethnicity Does Curly Hair Come From? Curly hair is found across all ethnicities, though its prevalence and type can vary. It is common among people of African descent, who often have tightly coiled hair.
But hormonal shifts—like those that occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause—can alter the shape of the hair follicle. (Think of the follicle as a tube: If it has a slight curve, the hair grows in curly; if it doesn't, the hair grows in straight.)
Curly hair is naturally drier than other hair types because the twists and turns of the curls make it difficult for the scalp's natural oils to travel down the hair shaft. This can lead to a dry scalp, which in turn affects the health of your hair.
Jheri Curls
We couldn't talk about our favorite curly '80s hairstyles without highlighting Jheri curls.
Hair trends of the '70s, '80s and '90s are back with a modern twist: From shixie shag to wolf cuts and the modern-day mullet, look out for these 2025 hairstyles.
The gene for curly hair in Caucasians
A recent genome wide association scan has found a SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) called rs11803731 in the TCHH gene which accounts for about 6% of hair curliness.
In the '80s, big hair was not only a status symbol, but also allowed women to take up space, Rachael Gibson, who runs the account The Hair Historian, told the outlet. It was a statement and, especially for artists in the limelight, “filling the screen with your hair felt like quite a power move,” she added.
One of the biggest complaints about perms is the smell—a strong ammonia odor that emanates from the alkaline perm solution formula. The odor often lingers in the salon and in your hair.
Absolutely! 80s hairstyles are making waves today. From big curls and feathered bangs to shag cuts and messy hair, some looks are finding new interpretations, and fashionistas are embracing the nostalgia of the 80s – but with a fresh twist.
Perms work by permanently waving your hair through shape memory. Though the name suggests these waves will last forever, they're temporary. Perms can damage your hair over time. If you don't take care of your scalp health, you could get hair loss.
Although the hairstyle is gender-inclusive, this trend is gaining a lot of popularity with teen boys. With over 134 million posts relating to #boyperm—and counting—on TikTok, the once-retro hairstyle is back and teens are using a familiar chemical process to achieve the curly, floppy hair look.
However, the EZ curl bar didn't get its current name until Dymeck and Jackson sold the patent to Bob Hoffman, who changed the name to the EZ bar. EZ is an abbreviation for “easy,” as the bar has a grip that makes it easier to use.
"The slang word in England for a Potty ... was commonly called a Jerry" And why? Because it was short for "Jerry helmet" - from the shape; and also, I would guess, from the satisfaction of notionally urinating into a Stahlhelm which some comically stupid Waffen-SS private might then put on his head.
A perm typically lasts three to six months, depending on the type of perm you get, your hair type and how well you take care of it. A traditional perm that produces a uniform curl pattern can last 3-6 months, depending on how fast your hair grows and how you treat it.