The 1980s brought us more than just neon colors and shoulder pads – it gave us some of the boldest hairstyles in modern history.
These gravity-defying, product-heavy looks defined a generation and influenced everything from music videos to high school yearbooks.
1. The Mullet: Business in Front, Party in Back
The ultimate hair contradiction became the ultimate statement. Short and sensible up front with wild, flowing locks behind, this style screamed versatility.
Rocked by everyone from hockey players to rock stars, the mullet somehow managed to be both practical and rebellious at once.
2. Crimped Manes for Maximum Volume
Armed with specialized crimping irons, ’80s fashionistas transformed straight locks into zigzagged masterpieces. The texture created volume that defied gravity and logic.
Madonna and Cyndi Lauper made this look essential for any girl wanting to make a statement at the mall or school dance.
3. Feathered Farrah Fawcett Flip
Popularized by Charlie’s Angels star Farrah Fawcett, this feathery phenomenon required serious blow-drying skills. The signature look featured voluminous waves that framed the face and flipped outward.
Women everywhere spent hours with round brushes trying to recreate those perfect golden wings.
4. Towering Mall Bangs
The higher the bangs, the closer to heaven! These gravity-defying front pieces required industrial-strength hairspray and a fearless attitude.
Girls would spend upwards of 30 minutes each morning teasing, spraying, and perfecting their vertical bangs before heading to school or the shopping center.
5. The Side Ponytail with Scrunchies
Nothing said “I’m totally rad” like pulling all your hair to one side of your head. Add a neon scrunchie, and you were instantly fashion-forward.
This asymmetrical style somehow managed to be both sporty and girly, making it perfect for aerobics class or hanging at the arcade.
6. The Jheri Curl’s Glistening Glory
Made famous by Michael Jackson and other music icons, the Jheri curl gave Black hair a glossy, defined curl pattern. The style required constant maintenance with special activator spray.
Walking around with a towel on your shoulders became necessary – those curls were perpetually wet with product!
7. Rat Tails: The Unexpected Extension
A thin strand of hair growing longer than the rest became the rebellious boy’s badge of honor. Sometimes braided, sometimes beaded, always controversial.
Parents hated them, kids loved them, and teachers threatened to cut them off. The rat tail represented youth rebellion in its simplest form.
8. Permed Curls Gone Wild
Chemical curls transformed straight-haired folks into curly-headed divas overnight. The pungent smell of perm solution filled salons across America as women (and men!) embraced the curly revolution.
Whitney Houston and Barbra Streisand sported versions that inspired countless high school yearbook photos.
9. New Wave Asymmetrical Cuts
One side short, one side long – geometry ruled new wave hair. Popularized by bands like A Flock of Seagulls, these daring cuts challenged traditional notions of symmetry.
Often paired with vibrant colors, these styles turned heads and confused parents everywhere.
10. The Iconic Flat Top
African American men transformed hair into architectural wonders with the flat top. Perfectly squared off with precision edges, this style required serious barber skills.
Kid ‘n Play and Grace Jones took the style to new heights, literally, making it a cultural phenomenon beyond just a haircut.
11. The Bi-Level (Skater Cut)
Long on top, short on the sides, the bi-level became the skater boy’s signature. Shaggy bangs fell into eyes while the back and sides stayed neat.
Tony Hawk and Christian Slater made this look essential for any boy with a skateboard or a rebellious attitude.
12. The Aqua Net Waterfall Bangs
Bangs became a cascading wonder with this technique. Teased at the roots and curved backward like a cresting wave, these bangs required a full can of Aqua Net.
The style paired perfectly with acid-washed jeans and created a distinctive silhouette visible from across the cafeteria.
13. The Preppy Headband Pouf
Preppy girls mastered the art of the headband pouf. Hair was teased behind a colorful headband to create maximum height at the crown.
Princess Diana made this look royal, while everyday mallrats paired it with polo shirts and penny loafers for instant prep school vibes.
14. The Spiked Billy Idol Rebel Yell
Platinum blonde and pointing skyward, the Billy Idol spike became punk’s answer to the pompadour. Achieved with generous amounts of gel and a devil-may-care attitude.
The spikes signaled rebellion, with each perfectly positioned point screaming defiance against the establishment.
15. The Madonna Bow-Adorned Mess
The Material Girl made messy cool by piling her hair on top of her head and adding a giant bow. This deliberately disheveled look suggested you were too busy having fun to properly style your hair.
Paired with lace gloves and rubber bracelets, this style defined early Madonna and influenced girls worldwide.