Big and eccentric hair styles were popularized by film and music stars, in particular amongst teenagers. Although straight hair was the norm at the beginning of the decade, as many late 1970s styles were still relevant, by around 1982 the perm had come into fashion.
The lack of professional guidance often resulted in less flattering cuts. Rebellion Against Norms: Hairstyles in these decades often reflected a desire to break away from traditional norms and embrace individuality. This included everything from brightly colored hair to asymmetrical cuts.
Perms, teasing, curling irons, using the hairspray and hairdryer together to create height and hairspraying your hair upside down.
The prevalence of curly hairstyles in the 1970s and 1980s can be attributed to several cultural and social factors: Cultural Trends: The 1970s and 1980s saw a shift towards more expressive and individualistic styles.
While it's difficult to predict exactly when or how 80s hair will make a comeback, it's certainly possible, especially as trends often repeat themselves over time.
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.
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 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.
Perms were popularized by iconic movies during the 80s that featured actresses with big, lustrous curls, but this style got its start many years earlier in Germany. The process was invented by Karl Ludwig Nesser, a creative hairdresser who first tested the treatment on his wife.
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.
The high-top fade (or hi-top fade) was a hairstyle that evolved from the flattop haircut popular among White men in the 1950s (and is similar to the crewcut). This haircut was particularly popular in the 80s and 90s amongst African-American men.
The decision about locks for a youthful appearance is more about style than length. As a result, whether or not you choose long or short hair, your hairstyle determines if you look older or younger with your hair.
In the 1980s, alternative trends became widespread. This phenomenon has been associated with such phenomena as street style, punk and post-punk. During the 1980s, shoulder pads, which also inspired "power dressing," became common among the growing number of career-driven women.
Aqua-net Bangs
While this option can take many shapes, one that was popular in the '80s was the aqua-net bangs. It's hard to miss anyone in the '80s forms of entertainment without this style, especially high school movies and TV shows.
From these origins, big hair became a feature of a number of Japanese street and alternative fashions, including Harajuku and ganguro. In the early 1980s, Brooke Shields became a dominant force in the fashion trend after becoming a teen model in 1980.
Type 1A: The rarest hair type, this one is very straight and fine with a “wispy” appearance. It's very difficult to get it to hold a curl. Type 1B: Though still straight, this type has a medium (rather than fine) texture and a little more volume.
An afro can be any length, short or long, but it is different for everyone, especially depending on the person's race and ethnicity. Europeans and Asians will tend to have wavier, looser curls, so they usually cannot grow natural afros.
The curly hair gene, known as TCHH, is prevalent in Irish populations. This gene affects the production of trichohyalin, a protein that influences hair structure.
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.
One of the key 80s hairstyles that continues to impress is the side ponytail.
Victory rolls are a women's hairstyle that was popular from 1940 to 1945, with a recent rise during the 21st century, characterized by voluminous curls of hair that are either on top of the head or frame the face.
While long styles were worn throughout the decade, they became more popular in the late '60s. Long hair was commonly worn middle-parted and curled at the ends or with half-pulled back and a backcombed bouffant. As the hippie look gained popularity so did long hair with bangs that fell below the eyebrows.
Its voluminous, face-framing layers are back in vogue, proving that good style is indeed timeless. Today, it's all about adding a modern twist with subtle highlights or balayage to make it 2024-ready. Once the hallmark of every '90s pop princess, crimped hair is back with a vengeance.
Feathered hair uses layers, but with wispy and feather-light ends. Feathered hair is often styled to have a bouncy, sweeping appearance.