When you think of the 1980s, you might think of fishnets and legwarmers, giant shoulder pads, turtle necks under sweaters, and layered jewelry. But no outfit during this time would have been complete without a statement hairstyle. This decade saw everything from the mullet to the puffed-up side pony, and there's no doubt that '80s hair was iconic. But while we loved these looks back in the day, there's something about seeing them now that just makes us laugh.
Little Miss Pigtails
It seems that the prerequisite for living through the 1980s was having big hair. But that didn't mean that you couldn't mix things up. And while this girl obviously wanted to keep the big bangs expected of her during this decade, she also wanted to experiment with pigtails. So, that's exactly what she did - and she even added in some giant bows for good measure! It's certainly a unique look.
Although these pigtails don't exactly match the puffy bangs, we have a feeling that her hair probably looked puffy all over when she took out those braids. Maybe that's what she was going for?
The Anti-Mohawk
The mohawk was a hugely popular hairstyle during the 1980s. The idea was that you shaved the side of your head and left a long, spiky chunk of hair in the middle. But we guess this '80s kid wanted to be difficult during his youth, which is why he opted for the anti-mohawk! Instead of shaving the sides, he kept the hair long and dyed each side a different color.
It's the shaved middle section that really pushes this '80s hairstyle over the edge, though. We wonder whether he asked a hairdresser to do this or whether he did this himself.
More Hairspray, Please
You probably don't need us to tell you that the most-used hair product of the '80s was hairspray. Some people would use up a whole can before they were finally happy with the finished product, and we can only assume that this woman was one of them. After all, she couldn't let her hairdresser down! She'd asked them for the ultimate '80s hair that looked larger than life - and the last thing she wanted was for it to look flat.
Overall, the effect of this '80s hairstyle is shocking - quite literally. But how are we to know that she didn't ask her hairdresser for the 'I just got struck by lightning' look?
Opposites Attract
If you've ever wondered whether opposites really do attract, look at these guys! They're as opposite as you can get, especially in the '80s hair department. On the one hand, she opted for the classic 1980s hairstyle that involved several hours of backcombing and a whole bottle of hairspray. The end result was larger-than-life and shockingly huge, but her other half decided to rock another look. And this one looks a little more low-maintenance.
His mullet is what many people dreamed of having during the 1980s, and it's amazing to see this guy's sleek bangs contrasted against his wife's big curly locks. If they're not a match made in '80s hair heaven, then we don't know who is.
Braided Bangs, Yo
The 1980s gave people a real chance to shine. They had the option to do whatever they wanted and push the boundaries of what was expected of them. Yes, even in the hair department. And while braids weren't exactly uncommon during the 1980s, braided bangs definitely were! But that didn't stop this guy from shaving off all of his head, apart from a long chunk at the front. After all, it was perfect for braiding.
We don't know about you, but we can also see a tinge of green in his braided bangs, too! He probably did this to match his T-shirt for school picture day, and we have to admire the coordination.
The Bigger the Hair, the Closer to...
You know what they say; the bigger the hair, the closer to God! And we have a feeling that this young one was trying to shake hands with the big guy, which is why her hair is bigger than her actual head. Of course, this '80s hair is a little outdated today, but we're still impressed with this hairstyle. People spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars trying to get this kind of volume!
We dread to think how many hair products this girl had in her hair, but at least she could be confident that she wouldn't have to deal with stray hairs coming out of place.
Do the Helicopter
The 1980s gave people a chance to really showcase their personality through their appearance, and while some people did that with their MC hammer pants or their Madonna-style leather jacket, there were others who decided to use their hair to their advantage. And while we can safely say that we've never seen helicopter hair before, we'll rest easy tonight knowing that somebody actually did this with their locks! This is pretty crazy.
We have to admire the creativity here, but we also have to question the practicality of this '80s hairstyle. More importantly, we have to question how anyone could sleep with helicopter blades sticking out of their head!
The Elvis Sideburns
Although Elvis sadly passed away in the 1970s, it seems as though his legacy lived on through both his music and his hair. And while Elvis was always famous for his quaffed hair and his statement sideburns, it seems as though he wasn't the only one to rock this look. This 1980s kid also decided to grow out his sideburns, but he didn't stop there. When they were his desired length, he started to style them!
From the smaller ringlets on the left to the long Hollywood waves on the right, this 1980s hairstyle is like nothing we've ever seen before. But if we're being totally honest, his sideburns are like works of art.
Free the Forehead
The 1980s saw a resurgence of the bangs. Yes, bangs were everywhere! And while this little girl's mom obviously wanted her daughter to embrace this '80s hairstyle, it seems as though she also wanted her daughter to show off her forehead. This was the end result, and we probably don't need to tell you that this is one of the most unique '80s hairstyles we've ever seen. If we're being honest, it's a little scary.
While we love bangs as much as the next guy, we're not sure these things even count as bangs. But maybe this wasn't deliberate. Maybe this little girl was left unattended with scissors and did this to herself!
The Two-In-One
Sometimes, you want to switch up your hairstyle, but you just can't quite decide between two very different looks. Do you go short and voluminous? Or do you go long and sleek? We guess this '80s kid just couldn't choose, which is why she decided to go for the two-in-one look! Let's hope that's what she asked of her hairdresser, anyway. If not, she was stuck with a crazy haircut that looked impossible to tame.
We dread to think how long it took this girl to style her hair in the mornings. Straightening your hair takes a long time, but backcombing the top section, too? That seems like a lot of work.
Just Given up
Have you ever had one of those days where your hair just isn't playing ball? No matter how many times you try and style it to look how you want, it just won't work. It wants to stick up in all directions, and it wants to dance to the beat of its own drum. Most people give up trying to style it after a while, but what if we told you that this guy actually wanted his hair to look like he'd just given up on it?
Yes, this dude wanted his hair to look unruly and all over the place. He even used a whole tub of hair product to ensure those spiked pieces didn't move an inch.
Palm Tree Chic
Nowadays, most people look the same. They have the same hairstyle, they have the same makeup, and they even wear the same clothes. But if you're someone who likes to stand out from the crowd, you might want to take some inspiration from this '80s legend. No, she's not famous, but you're automatically a legend if you decide to choose a palm tree hairstyle. After all, it's certainly a niche look.
This '80s haircut is one of the best things we've ever seen, and we have to congratulate this woman for pulling it off. We don't know what hair products she used to bring this palm tree to life, but we're impressed.
The Bird Nest Mullet
Don't get us wrong; we love birds as much as the next guy. And while we want to make sure that the birds on our planet have a safe place to rest their heads, this '80s hairstyle took this notion a little too far. This bird nest mullet offers the perfect nesting place for any bird, large or small, but we can't help but think of the pain this person went through while trying to brush their hair at the end of the day.
Trying to brush out the hair products in this reverse mullet look must have taken hours, but we guess that pain was worth it. He even gave himself little bangs to finish off the look.
Bringing Bed Hair to Life
We all know what it's like to wake up with serious bed hair, but that wild phenomenon isn't new. Today, it's more of an accident than anything else. But this idea was a popular 1980s hairstyle back in the day! People would head to the salon and ask their hairdresser for a look that was all over the place, and we can only assume that this kid did just that.
Although his bangs look super sleek, the back of his hair is wild and unruly. However, we can't help but think that the mechanics of his orthodonture equipment probably aren't helping with that.
A Family Affair
The 1980s were a time for experimentation and creativity, and this picture sums that up perfectly. Although the mom is sporting a pretty normal '80s haircut, the kids weren't afraid to show off their personalities with their hairdos. But the big question is, which one is your favorite? Perhaps you like the blonde mohawk with extra long bangs and the ear hairpieces? Or maybe you're more into the jet-black mohawk with pointed ends?
If we had to choose, we'd probably go for the blonde look. After all, you'd never get cold ears with those little tufts of hair keeping them warm. Plus, it looks like it uses fewer hair products.
Business on the Front, Party on the Sides
While we do appreciate that there were so many wild and unusual hairstyles making the rounds during the 1980s, this has to be one of the most bizarre. Sure, this guy looks like a nice dude, but did he realize that he had asked his hairdresser to make him look a bit like a dog? On top, he's sporting a Poodle-like perm on his bangs for some extra volume. But on top, he's more like a Bassett hound.
Yes, it looks as though his long hair is really his long ears! But at least he could rest easy knowing that his ears would be nice and warm during the winter months.
A Mullet Cowboy
The 1980s saw so many trends come and go. Some people became punks, and others became cowboys, and it looks as though this guy became both! To bring his dual personality to life, he decided to stick with a punk hairstyle and rock a mullet while still sporting his bolo tie. But while his bolo tie is certainly a statement piece, there's no denying that his mullet is truly a sight to behold.
From the Military-style cut on top to the shaved edges and the extra long ends, this mullet is pure 1980s glamour. And what makes this hairstyle even funnier is the fact that mullets are back in style today!
An Easier Option
Let's be honest; 80s hairstyles look extremely difficult to maintain. Not only did they require a huge amount of hair products, but they probably also took a ridiculous amount of time to perfect each morning. So, we can only assume that this young lady decided to go for the easier option. Although she wanted to stick with the 1980s hair trends, she also wanted some time to have her breakfast in the morning.
In the end, she opted for a bit of both. Nobody could say that she didn't have the 80s-inspired big hair, but she only had to deal with half of her head! If you ask us, this is pretty smart.
Balling With Beads
The 1980s were all about accessories. No gym outfit would be complete without leg warmers and sweatbands, and no punk look would be complete without a giant hair bow or white fingerless gloves. And it seems as though this person was all about that 1980s accessory life. In their eyes, their giant quaffed bangs weren't enough. They wanted the rest of their hair to be sleek, and they wanted to add some beads into the mix!
While we have to admire the creativity, we can't help but think that this must have been a high-maintenance look. What hair products did they use? Were they even able to brush their hair with all those beads in there?
The Baby Perm
The 1980s and the perm went together like peanut butter and jelly. Kids and adults alike would ask their hairdressers for poodle perms and spiral perms, and they'd leave the salon with voluminous bouffants that could be seen from space. And while this little girl obviously wanted to embrace the curly locks, we guess she didn't want to commit to the whole look. Or maybe she got bored halfway through the treatment.
Either way, the half-perm look is certainly an interesting one. Her hair looks like a mixture of a poodle and an Afghan hound, and we dread to think how many hair products she needed to keep this '80s hairstyle intact.
Shining Like a Star
From the starry background to her cheesy grin, this photo from the 1980s puts a huge smile on our faces. This kid looks so happy, and you can tell that she genuinely wanted to look good for her school picture. But if you compare this to the school pictures kids take today, there's certainly a big discrepancy when it comes to hairstyles. This is the ultimate 1980s hairstyle and is not quite as common today.
This hairstyle obviously took inspiration from the great Pyramids of Giza, as the triangular shape is front and center of this photo. And, naturally, the 1980s curls are out in full force.
Standing to Attention
The 1980s was a chance for people to stand out, and this girl obviously got that memo. In her effort to stand out from the crowd, she decided to make her hair stand to her attention. But we guess she didn't want to be the center of attention all day - so she just focused on her bangs. Yes, this is the epitome of a 1980s hairstyle, and some of our favorite celebs from that era sported this look!
While this look is iconic, we do have a few questions. How many hair products did it take to keep this hair in place? And how did she manage to keep her bangs so swoopy?
Mullet Side Eye
You've got to be pretty brave to get a mullet. After all, you have to grow your hair for a long time before it can be shaved off, and it's a big risk. Sure, it suits some people - but not everyone. And judging by the look on this guy's face, we can only assume that he regrets his decision to shave off the top of his head and leave the rest long.
To try and save his dire situation, he opted to get the sides shaved even shorter while keeping a few bangs long for that little extra pizazz. However, he still looks like he's on the verge of crying.
That '80s Dread
Some people would do anything to go back to the 1980s. And we don't blame them! This decade was full of fun and flamboyance and seemed like a whale of a time. However, we're sure there are others who couldn't think of anything worse - and we're going to go out on a limb and guess that this person is one of them. They really didn't enjoy the 1980s, and this '80s haircut was to blame.
We're not sure whether this is a mullet or not, but one thing we do know is that a hairdresser might cry when they see those bangs. We do love the earring and the sweater, though.
A Portable Pillow
Being alive is tiring, and sometimes it pays to have a little nap in the middle of the day. And while we're no experts when it comes to '80s hairstyles, we can't help but think that this guy decided to go for this haircut to help out his sleepy situation. Instead of falling asleep on his school desk, he decided to use his hair to his advantage and create a portable pillow.
All he had to do was lay on his hair, and his head would be protected from the hard surface of his desk. However, with the amount of hair products in this hair, it probably wasn't as soft as a real pillow.
The Crash Helmet
Are you clumsy? If you're prone to knocking your head on a cupboard door, you might joke about wearing a crash helmet 24/7. And it seems as though hairdressers from the 1980s took inspiration from this notion to bring this '80s hairstyle to life. In creating this bouffant, they made this kid look as though they were wearing a giant crash helmet - with a little curl on the side for a little extra detail.
Of course, let's hope that this kid didn't rely on their hair when they were riding their bicycle. A real helmet would ruin their hair but keep them safe in the long run.
Dreading the Salon
Today, white people wearing dreadlocks are considered to be somewhat of a fashion faux pas. But back in the day, this was one of the most popular 1980s hairstyles of all time! The idea was that you could twist your hair into individual dreads and not have to wash or tend to your hair for months or even years on end. And while we're not deadlock experts, it looks as though this guy had been wearing his dreads for a few years.
By this point in his dread experience, his hair probably needed some real TLC. But we don't blame him for sticking with them. We'd dread going to the hair salon to get these taken out, too.
Eye Eye Captain
Living during the 1980s sounded like a lot of work - especially for a goth. Not only did these dark and moody people have to make sure their hair was dyed jet back and sticking up at all angles at all times, but they also had to make sure that their black eyeliner was on point every single day. And while we appreciate the volume of this '80s hairstyle, it's the style that has won us over.
After all, this is an extremely practical hairstyle for a goth with limited time on their hands. Instead of making sure both eyes were covered in dark black eyeliner, they only had to focus on one!
Got a Bowl?
It's no secret that bowls come in extremely handy. They're great for holding chips or your breakfast cereal, but we've always thought that they had no place on the head. Moms back in the 1980s obviously didn't get that memo, though, as so many of them used bowls to cut their children's hair. We don't know for sure that this was the case with this boy, but all evidence suggests that was the case.
In fact, this is a perfect bowl cut! Sure, it's way too far up this kid's head, and we hope his mom didn't go on to become a hairdresser, but she still nailed this infamous look.
The Windswept Look
You know that feeling when you spend ages doing your hair, and then you step outside, and the wind ruins it? Well, somehow, this woman from the 1980s managed to create that look herself - without the help of the wind! This 1980s hairstyle is one of the craziest things we've seen, mostly because it looks as though she's been electrocuted on just one side of her body. The left, to be exact.
We have a feeling that this woman probably needed to re-stock her hairspray collection after bringing this look to life. And let's hope she didn't go near any open flames.
The Perfect Hiding Spot
If you ever found yourself getting peckish in school, you probably wished that you could sneak some snacks into the classroom. But how were you supposed to do that? Well, it seems as though this guy found a loophole. By perfecting the ultimate 1980s hairstyle and making his hair as big as humanly possible, he also managed to create the perfect hiding spot for some extra school snacks - and you could say that he was a genius.
You could fit all kinds of snacks in that hair, from candy bars to packets of chips. And judging by that sly look on his face, he definitely made use of his sneaky snack times.
Hair Gel Supreme
The 1980s was certainly different in terms of its economic situation, but we can't help but think that the hair products industry kept the '80s going strong. After all, every big hairstyle requires an equally big amount of hair product to keep it in place - and this guy is a great example of that. This looker is larger-than-life, and we actually love the Sonic the Hedgehog spikes all over the place.
Of course, we don't know what kind of situation led to this guy having to take a mugshot. But at least he can look back on this photo and know for sure that it was taken during the 1980s.
The Look of Doom
Although many of the 1980s hairstyles on this list have been associated with people who look pretty happy to be sporting them, we think it's fair to say that this little kid doesn't look too happy. In fact, that looks like the look of doom! And while that might have something to do with the fact that they were being forced to smile for their school picture, it might also have something to do with their mushroom haircut.
This '80s haircut is certainly a different one and not one that you'd find many people wearing today. But we bet it was great for those who lived in windy cities!
Mr. Long Locks
Anyone who has ever grown their hair long will know the struggle of wanting a change. Of course, it takes months for it to grow to your desired length - but when you get it long, you suddenly feel the urge to cut it short. Many people felt this same struggle back in the 1980s, which is why the mullet was such a practical choice for those people. After all, with a mullet, you can have the best of both worlds.
On the one hand, you have the long locks you spent ages trying to grow. But then, on the other hand, you can cut it short! And this is definitely a fine example of the 1980s hairstyle.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
If you grew up during the 1980s, let's have a show of hands; how many of you had a perm? There's a high chance that quite a few of you are tentatively waving your hands in the air right now because perms are no longer in style. But back in the day, this was the ultimate 1980s hairstyle. Everyone had a perm, and everyone wanted the tightest curls they could possibly get.
This mother-and-daughter duo obviously found a hairdresser that had perfected the perm, as they both went for the exact same look. And who can blame them? This was the height of fashion.
The Highlighter
There were so many hilarious and awkward hairstyles of the 1980s, and the 'highlighter' was one of them. But if you can't quite understand why this one was called that, just imagine the tip of a highlighter. It looks a little bit like this guy's hair, right? He had it shaved on the sides but left a large square box of hair on the top. And, of course, he used a whole load of hair products to keep it in place.
Luckily this hairstyle was all the rage during the 1980s. If he had this hair today, his classmates would probably turn him upside down and attempt to use him as a real-life highlighter.
The Big Bird
Everyone knows Big Bird from The Muppets, right? This guy was an '80s legend, and we can only assume that people took inspiration from this character in all kinds of ways. In fact, it looks as though this person nailed the Big Bird level of volume. Just look at that big bouffant of hair on the top! That's an '80s haircut if we've ever seen one. And they seem to like it, too.
From the giant bouffant of hair on the top to the sleek locks on the bottom, this hairstyle wouldn't exactly fly today. But back in the day, this person was probably the coolest person in school.
Those Bangs, Though
Although many of the 1980s hairstyles on this list were cut by a hairdresser, we can't help but think that maybe this one wasn't. After all, we've all been in a situation where we were bored as kids and decided to get a little scissor-happy. And as we could do a pretty good job of cutting our Barbie's hair, why couldn't we cut our own hair, too? This girl definitely got too scissor-happy with her bangs.
The overall look could have looked stylish if she had done a good job, but unfortunately, she cut a little too short and a little too wobbly. At least it probably didn't take too long to grow out.
Heavy Is the Head
As the saying goes, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown." But back in the '80s, that phrase was a little different. Instead, heavy was the head that had the giant back-combed hairstyle! And if you don't believe us, just look at this girl. It looks as though her neck is breaking underneath all of that hair. And let's not forget the huge amount of hair products needed for this look, too.
We can't even imagine having to brush out this back-combing after a long day of school, but let's just hope that she didn't have too early of a bedtime curfew.
Family Variation
There were so many hairstyles making the rounds in the 1980s that both men and women had a wealth of options to choose from. And while some families decided to stick to the same hairstyle, there were others who decided to embrace the variation. This father and his sons did just that, and all of them rocked something different! But out of these four, which one is your favorite '80s hairstyle?
Whether you love the Queen-inspired bouffant of the father or you're more into the spiky mullet of the guy on the right, there's no doubt about the fact that this household must have used a lot of hair products.
A Skater Boy
The '80s were a decade of punk rock. From the punk rock music that dominated the airwaves to the people in leather jackets that roamed the streets, punk rock reigned supreme. Because of this, people wanted their hair to reflect their punk personalities - and what better way to do that than to go for the extra-long mullet? Sure, this looked like a normal mullet on top, but the bottom section had a surprise.
Just look at that length! This guy really dedicated himself to his mullet hairstyle, and he certainly looked like a punk rocker. His hair, matched with the sunglasses and the skateboard, was perfectly punk.
Reaching the Stars
Sometimes less is more, but more was definitely more back in the 1980s. Hairdressers would do their best to give their clients as much volume as possible, and that was all down to the cut and the hair products used. And we think the hairdresser behind this look definitely hit the brief. This giant mullet is truly what mullet dreams were made of during this decade, as the volume is insane.
We can't imagine how much hairspray was needed to keep this guy's hair sticking up in such a perfectly square shape, but we're going to assume that it was a lot.
Backward Bangs
Bangs were a huge hairstyle trend during the 1980s, and it wasn't uncommon to see people with bangs on the train to work. However, we think this guy might have misinterpreted the trend. Instead of cutting bangs at the front of his head, he decided to opt for the back instead - and we're not sure why. Maybe he wanted to protect the back of his neck from the sun?
If that was the case, he didn't do a very good job of protecting the rest of his head. By the end of this train journey, he probably had a sunburned outline of sunglasses on his skull.