Hairstyles Of The 80'S

Big hair defined the 1980s.

Hairstyles from the 1980s are largely inexplicable messes of bangs, hairspray and loud, obnoxious styles. With the invention of Music Television (MTV) and an explosion of irreverent, rebelling cultural icons -- from Michael Jackson to Madonna -- hair styles during the 80s often mirrored bold attitudes displayed on TV.

Why So Bold?

The decade of the 1980s was defined by the end of the Cold War, corporate growth and conservative politics. Cultural leanings during the 80s generally rebelled against the conservative mainstream and found expression in punk and carefree hair. Hairstyles also matched clothing -- generally patterned with bright, fluorescent colors. The 80s marked an era of experimentation and a happy-go-lucky spirit marked by courageous cuts and audacious grooming habits.

Female Cuts

Female hairstyles were often big and fluffy with lots of frizz and feathered locks. Perms were common styles with both loose and tight curls making curling and crimping irons standard devices in any bathroom. Bangs were wavy, vertical and sprayed heavily to remain fixed in position. Long hair was the rage for most women, with cuts generally falling just below shoulder level. Young women also wore pony tails to the side of their head as an added expression of a punk or carefree mentality.

Male Cuts

Men walking the conservative trend stayed with short, tight and un-dyed haircuts, often parted to one side. Short cuts often included a feathered touch, giving a fuller sense of body to the hair. Boisterous styles included long, poufy hair with sprayed bangs. Dark roots, contrasted blonde locks, and rat tails (thin strips of hair running down the back of the neck) were accepted as standard fare. Mullets (short hair in front, long in the back) were also popular with young men and super mullets made an appearance on a brave head every now and again.

The Influence of Music

The rise of hip hop music in the mid to late 1980s gratefully influenced African American hairstyles, particularly in men. Asymmetrical cuts -- standard flat tops, etc. -- made the style purposefully uneven, while high flat tops gave an extended, vertical look to a man's hair. Hip hop only perpetuated the persuasion music had on the style of male and female citizens alike. Incidentally, Caucasian males wore tall and spiked hair to match many musical pop rock and heavy metal celebrities.

Tags: expression punk, expression punk carefree, flat tops, punk carefree