The 1980s were a decade defined by excess, bold statements, and a sense of anything-goes. Nowhere was this more evident than in the towering hairstyles that dominated the era.
For women in the ’80s, big hair wasn’t just a trend—it was a cultural phenomenon that symbolized confidence, individuality, and a whole lot of attitude.
This decade was the golden age of music videos, and stars like Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and the glam metal bands of the time had a massive impact on fashion and beauty trends.
These pop culture icons were larger than life, and so was their hair.
Women everywhere wanted to emulate the wild, carefree spirit of their favorite celebrities, leading to a wave of teased, crimped, and voluminous hairstyles that could barely fit through a doorway.
Achieving the perfect big hairstyle required more than just a comb and a prayer.
The decade saw an explosion of new hair products that made it easier than ever to get the volume and hold needed for those iconic looks.
Mousse, hairspray, and gel became staples in every bathroom, with brands competing to offer the most extreme hold possible.
Aqua Net, in particular, became synonymous with big hair, with its legendary strength helping women maintain their styles through rain, wind, and anything else life threw their way.
Hair tools also impacted the big hair craze. Curling irons and crimpers were must-haves for creating the waves and texture that defined the era.
And let’s not forget the teasing comb, a simple but essential tool for achieving the height and distinctive volume.
The 1980s were also a time when media and advertising wielded significant influence over fashion and beauty trends.
Magazines like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Seventeen frequently featured models and celebrities with voluminous hair on their covers and in editorial spreads.
Television commercials for hair products further amplified this trend.
Brands like L’Oréal, Clairol, and Revlon launched extensive advertising campaigns showing the benefits of their volumizing shampoos, conditioners, and styling products.
The ads often featured glamorous women with impossibly big hair, confidently strutting their stuff, and reinforcing the notion that a woman’s hair was her crowning glory.
Even teen films like Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink influenced younger audiences, with actresses like Molly Ringwald sporting big hair that was both trendy and relatable.
Looking back now, there’s a sense of both amusement and admiration for those larger-than-life hairstyles.
They were more than just big—they were emblematic of a time when everything was bigger and bolder, from the shoulder pads to the hair.
There’s something irresistibly nostalgic about those towering tresses that captures the essence of a time when fashion was all about bold statements and unrestrained creativity.
(Photo credit: Flickr / Pinterest / Wikimedia Commons).
Updated on: August 13, 2024
