Remember the wild days of big hair, bold colors, and enough hairspray to damage the ozone layer? The 1980s brought us some truly unforgettable hairstyles that defined a generation. While some of these looks are best kept in old photo albums, others have inspired modern versions that are totally wearable today. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and see which styles to skip—and which updated looks deserve a second chance.
1. The Mullet Mayhem
Business in front, party in the back! The mullet screamed ’80s rebellion with its short-cropped top and flowing locks behind.
Stars like Billy Ray Cyrus made this look famous, but the jarring contrast between short and long rarely flatters anyone’s face shape.
2. Sky-High Bangs
Teased to defy gravity and locked in place with industrial-strength hairspray, these towering bangs reached for the stars.
Girls would spend hours perfecting the height and curve, often using hot rollers, curling irons, and enough Aqua Net to create their own personal hole in the ozone layer.
3. The Jheri Curl Disaster
Glossy, chemically-processed curls that always looked wet became a sensation after Michael Jackson sported them in his Thriller era.
Notorious for staining furniture and clothing with its oil-based products, this high-maintenance style required constant moisturizing to prevent breakage and frizz.
4. Crimped Chaos
Armed with crimping irons, ’80s teens transformed smooth strands into zigzagged textures resembling ramen noodles.
While fun for special occasions, this frizz-inducing technique damaged hair over time. The accordion-like pattern created a voluminous but often messy look that’s better left in yearbook photos.
5. The Feathered Farrah
Farrah Fawcett’s signature wings became the blueprint for ’80s hair goals. Women everywhere flipped, feathered, and fluffed their locks to mimic her iconic style.
Requiring precise layering and daily styling, this high-maintenance look consumed hours of primping time and mountains of styling products to maintain its bounce.
6. The Flat Top Fade
Popular among men, this geometric wonder featured hair cut perfectly flat across the top with faded sides.
Maintaining this architectural marvel required weekly barber visits and daily styling with special combs and heavy products. One windy day could completely destroy hours of careful grooming.
7. The Perm Nightmare
Chemical treatments transformed straight hair into tight, often frizzy curls that resembled poodle fur more than glamorous locks.
The harsh processing damaged hair while creating an unnatural, uniform curl pattern. Growing out these perms created awkward half-straight, half-curly stages that haunted yearbook photos for generations.
8. The Side Ponytail Situation
Gathering all your hair into a ponytail positioned awkwardly on one side of your head was inexplicably cool.
Often paired with scrunchies in neon colors, this asymmetrical style created neck strain and looked perpetually lopsided. Even Madonna couldn’t make this odd positioning look balanced or sophisticated.
9. The Rat Tail Regret
Nothing screams fashion mistake quite like a thin strand of hair hanging from an otherwise normal haircut.
This strange appendage—sometimes braided, sometimes not—dangled down the back like an unwelcome guest. Boys particularly embraced this odd style, often growing their rat tails to impressive lengths.
10. The Mall Bangs Monstrosity
Bangs teased to extraordinary heights then curled back created the infamous “mall bangs” that dominated teenage hangouts.
Requiring an entire can of hairspray per styling session, these gravity-defying creations could withstand hurricane-force winds. The dramatic height often made foreheads disappear entirely beneath a wall of hair.
11. The Bi-Level Blunder
Not quite a mullet but equally questionable, this style featured dramatic length differences between top and bottom layers.
Women often paired this choppy cut with heavy makeup and shoulder pads. The harsh transition between layers created an unbalanced silhouette that flattered almost no one.
12. The Spiked Punk Rebellion
Razor-sharp spikes standing at attention thanks to industrial-strength gel defined the punk movement’s hair aesthetic.
While visually striking, these cement-hard styles damaged hair follicles and often broke off. The amount of product required made hair unwashable for days, creating hygiene issues alongside the statement look.
13. The Mushroom Cloud Cut
Bowl cuts gone wild! This rounded style created a mushroom-like silhouette that expanded outward from the head.
Popular with both men and women, this unflattering shape eliminated any natural angles in the face. The uniform length around the entire head created a helmet-like appearance that rarely complemented facial features.
14. The Spiral Perm Situation
Tighter and more defined than regular perms, spiral perms created corkscrew curls that bounced with every movement.
The dramatic difference between natural roots and processed ends created maintenance nightmares. These tightly wound curls often resulted in severe damage, leaving hair brittle and prone to breakage.
15. The Streaked Disaster
Chunky, contrasting highlights—often in unnatural colors—created zebra-like patterns throughout ’80s hairstyles.
These harsh streaks lacked blending or subtlety, creating stark lines of color. The bleaching process damaged hair while creating a striped effect that looked more accidental than intentional.
16. The Modern Shag Revival
Today’s shag incorporates the textured layers of the ’80s but with softer edges and more natural movement.
Modern styling products create definition without crunchiness or helmet hair. This updated version frames the face beautifully while maintaining a laid-back, effortless vibe perfect for today’s low-maintenance preferences.
17. The New Mullet Makeover
Today’s mullet features softer transitions between lengths and more intentional styling for a fashionable edge.
Celebrity adopters like Miley Cyrus have given this once-maligned cut new life. The modern version incorporates texturizing techniques and subtle layering that creates movement rather than the harsh contrast of its predecessor.
18. The Curtain Bangs Update
Replacing the wall of teased bangs, today’s curtain bangs frame the face with soft, center-parted sections that blend into layers.
This flattering style works with various face shapes and hair textures. The gentle sweep creates a natural look that enhances features rather than overwhelming them, requiring minimal styling for maximum impact.
19. The Textured Pixie Evolution
Short, choppy layers have replaced the severe geometric cuts of the ’80s for a more versatile, feminine look.
Modern styling products create piece-y definition without stiffness. Today’s pixie incorporates softness around the face and neckline, allowing for personalization based on face shape and personal style.
20. The Subtle Highlights Revolution
Today’s color techniques like balayage and babylights have replaced harsh streaks with natural-looking dimension.
Hand-painted highlights create a sun-kissed effect that grows out gracefully. Modern coloring methods damage hair less while creating multi-dimensional color that enhances natural movement and texture.