80'S Women'S Hairstyles

Big, teased hair was popular for women in the 1980s.

Skinny jeans, canvas sneakers, and bandannas fill the racks at your neighborhood department store. In the year 2011, the 1980s have made a comeback. But the 80s were more than just clothing and punk attitude--the 80s were all about the hair. Women's hairdos from the 80s may take some time for the novice to master, but getting just the right hairdo complements the look and makes the package complete.

Big Hair

Women accomplished big 80s hair through repeated, generous applications of super-strong hairspray, while teasing with a wide-toothed hair pick. Bangs were an integral part of this hairstyle. Just as the body of the hair expands from side to side, the bangs should reach toward the sky. Pop superstar Madonna popularized this look on the album cover for "Like a Virgin." Male rock stars also wore this hairstyle, leading to a new genre of music called "hair metal."

The Side Ponytail

Closely related to big hair is the side ponytail. Made popular by pop starlets like Debbie Gibson, the side ponytail is just like a regular ponytail, but worn high on the side of the head, giving the impression of greater hair volume without the work of teasing and spraying. Women accessorized the side ponytail with one or more big, fluffy hair scrunchy. Some even crimped, or put small waves, in the ponytail using a hair crimping tool.

The Asymmetrical Look

Not every woman in the 80s wanted a glamorous pop-star pouf. Women playing with the more avant-garde in their hairstyles wore an asymmetrical 'do. Although the asymmetrical look took on many different forms, the common denominator was the lopsided nature of the cut. Half of the hair was straight and cheekbone-length, while the other half stopped at the chin. At its most extreme, a woman might shave half her head and wear the other half at shoulder length.

Styles for Black Women

Black women had their share of 80s hairstyles as well. The big Afro, with its political statement, was out. In its place, black women straightened their naturally curly hair using chemical straighteners, then curled it loosely using a chemical perm. This hairstyle was called the Jheri curl, after its inventor Jheri Redding. Women who wanted a more natural 'do could wear "round, helmetlike cuts" that hinted at the venerable Afro. The "short and angular" box cut, or the "Nefertiti," gave women another low-maintenance option.

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