1980s Inspired Hairstyle Trends

Go totally retro in 1980s hair

The eighties have come full circle: jeans are suddenly acid-washed with zippers at the ankles, leggings are permeating the casual Friday dress code and makeup and nail polish trends have taken a decidedly colorful turn. Even runway shows at Dior and Prada this year were tributes to hardcore 80s glamour. You don't have to copy David Bowie or Debbie Harry to look the part of 1980s-era goddess for Halloween or any other day of the year. Simply break out the crimping iron and the wild hair color and let your 80s tribute begin. Try on 1980s hairstyle trends in our virtual makeup studio.

The 80s was an era of hair gone crimped, spiked, poufed and intensely colored. The goal was to get noticed. Think long bangs teased to stand up in faux hawk formation (we love our model's cotton candy inspired hair color with a hot red streak to really turn heads). In terms of 80s-inspired hair colors, think blue, red, purple and any shade not normally associated with human hair. Green and yellow tend to look less 80s since green hair is actually the result of too much chlorine and yellow hair is what happens to blond gone wrong. An intense shade of platinum is a much better alternative.

Modern Versions of 1980s Hair Trends

To get full-blown 80s hair, take a crimping iron to strategic parts of hair that's already been curled: crimping just around the face or in intervals will give your hair fullness without looking like someone ran over it with a Big Rig.

If you have a modern crop, simply change the part to look the part of an 80s glamazon. A deep side part, with long bangs brushed forward over one eye will help you achieve rock star status, especially when you place a few streaks of temporary hair color throughout. A zig-zag part will shake up pin-straight or crimped hair. Get the look by creating a zig-zag with a fine-tooth comb. -Stephanie Simons