Do You Miss Having a Mullet?
The 1980s were a big, bold, and colorful decade that produced a lot of noticeable beauty trends. From big hair to scrunchies, iconic looks of the '80s have never truly gone out of style. Even looking at old pictures of our teased hair makes us feel nostalgic. To help you get in touch with your side ponytail, here are 20 beauty trends from the 1980s.
1. Big Hair
The most defining quality of 1980s beauty trends was big hair. We're talking really big, like full of hairspray and having to duck to walk through a doorway. Beauty in the '80s meant height and width and a thick cloud of hair.
2. The Perm
Perms were a voluminous hairstyle that was uber popular in the '80s. This hairstyle was originally inspired by the disco era and popularized on soap operas. To get a great perm, you need rods and solutions, and a lot of time.
3. The Mullet
To understand how enduring the beauty trends of the '80s are, consider that the mullet has come back into fashion. The hairstyle that was "business in the front, party in the back" is the quintessential look of the '80s.
4. Jheri Curl
The Jheri curl is a glossy and distinct curl that was popular in the Black community in the '80s. You needed activators and a solution to get the perfect Jheri curl, just like Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie had during the height of their stardom.
5. Feathered Layers
Feathered layers helped usher the late '70s into the early '80s with flair and style. Part of the Hollywood blowout culture, this beauty trend emphasized face-framing layers that looked great in music videos that featured a wind machine.
6. Crimped Hair
Popularized by celebrities like Cyndi Lauper and Demi Moore, a head full of zig-zag textures was a staple of '80s beauty and looked pretty cool. Crimping irons were found in most bathrooms in the '80s, and they produced a stunningly dramatic look.
7. Side Ponytail
The side ponytail is still pretty cute and fashionable if you ask us. It's fun and youthful and truly captures the '80s when used with a scrunchie. The side ponytail can be seen on a lot of Halloween costumes and '80s nights at the club.
8. Scrunchies
Scrunchies were fabric-covered elastics that were popular in dancewear in the '80s. Scrunchies were worn casually but snuck into a few prom photos and pageants from that era. You can still spot a scrunchie or two out in public today.
John Carlo Tubelleza on Unsplash
9. Blue Eyeshadow
Women with electric blue eyelids were all the rage in the '80s. It was a bold and captivating look that drew a lot of stares, and for good reason. Many celebrities, including Debbie Harry, made it a popular trend at the time.
Vince Mariel Conlu on Unsplash
10. Frosted Lipstick
Frosted lipstick delivered an icy look and was a popular item in drug stores in the '80s. Rooted in the glam of the disco era, it became a defining beauty trend of the decade and looked even more stunning under bright lights.
11. Neon Makeup
Faces covered in colors like hot pink and acid green were quite the look. What started as a trend in exercise videos eventually seeped into everyday use. Even the cartoon, Jem, got into the fun, making it an aspirational style for young girls in the '80s.
12. Bold Eyebrows
Maybe it was Brook Shields or maybe they just made a statement, but big and bold eyebrows were huge in the '80s (pun intended). The '80s were not a decade obsessed with tweezing.
Alexander Krivitskiy on Unsplash
13. Glitter
The streets were practically covered with glitter in the '80s. Glitter was everywhere, sticking to people's bodies or eyelids, and could be seen under strobe lights in many clubs and concerts.
14. Metallic Eyes
Many women in the '80s were caught up in the beauty trend that used silver, gold, and gunmetal eye shadows. It gave eyes a futuristic aesthetic that was undeniably striking. Chrome glam was a thing and, in some ways, ahead of its time.
15. Contouring
Born from drag artistry and popular print photography, contouring helped sculpt cheekbones immaculately. Nowadays, contouring is more subtle, but in the '80s, it was all about dramatic lines and edges.
16. Golden Highlights
Popularized by surfing culture, everyone in the '80s wanted lemon-colored hair. Golden highlights were a big style for fashionable people living in the '80s, and a lot of it was done outside of salons, thanks to home products that were on the market.
17. Tanning
People in the '80s tanned religiously, thinking it gave them a healthy glow. Deep tans were everywhere, and people didn't think about the dangers of UV rays, and not a lot of people talked about SPF. In the '80s, tanning salons were a booming business, even though it would have been better to just hit the beach.
18. Wet-Look Gel Hair
Hairstyles with a glossy sheen made people look as if they had just run out of the ocean. This look dominated clubs, bars, and runways, and is still sometimes used by celebrities on the red carpet.
19. Hot Rollers
If you were around in the '80s, you probably saw a woman marching around the house with a head full of hot rollers. These rollers provided bouncy curls and a lot of volume. Hot rollers were a must-have item and not just for people working the pageant circuit. Everyone was in love with soft curls and a lifted crown.
20. Diffusers
Diffusers helped you dry curly hair while adding volume and definition. These beauty products helped people scrunch their hair and created a controlled frizzy look, if that's what you were going for.
