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.
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.
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.
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.
Wash your hair and turn your head upside down while you scrunch lots of mousse in the roots. This will give you volume and texture for when you back comb it later. It's all about the products you use that make 80's hair so big.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wearing them was fashionable among teenage girls; later to be an adopted fashion by boys in the city of Berkeley in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their popularity was partly due to the influence of the films Fame, Xanadu and Flashdance and the concurrent aerobics craze.
For many years, people never cared about shaving their pubic hair until the birth of bikini in 1946. Between the 1960s and 1970s, trimming took a different twist, and women were discouraged from trimming. In the 1980s, they were now encouraged on trimming and even to do a thorough shave.
One of the key 80s hairstyles that continues to impress is the side ponytail.
Fluffy, wispy '80s "mall bangs" are back, but with a twist. Here's how to wear a retro fringe in a modern way, straight from the pros.
From classic bobs to modern updos, find the perfect style to elevate your sleek strands and stay on-trend. Straight, sleek, smooth hair is at the top of everyone's wish list for 2025, so if you have this type of hair – you're one of the lucky ones!
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.
Notable for its volume and fluffy finish, '80s hair is big and brushed-out. Back then, hairspray was an essential, with many misting their manes into rigid shapes that felt crispy and stiff due to the old-school formulations.
The hairstyles of popular musicians in the 1960s such as the Beatles included bangs and became popular with men. In 2007, bangs saw another massive revival as a hair trend, this time thick, deep and blunt-cut.
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.
Original invented by Jheri Redding, an Irish - American hair care entrepreneur, his products created a two-step process that first softened the hair, then watched the curls form. Even though Redding had created the Jheri Curl, it was Black entrepreneur Comer Cottrell who adapted the look for the Black community.
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.