A decade full of personality and fearless expression was characterized by 80s hairstyles for men. As gravity-defying volume, edgy textures, and unapologetic flair took center stage in men’s fashion, hair became an expression of personal style.
This period turned heads both literally and figuratively, leaving a lasting impression on 1980s men’s fashion and inspiring future generations.
Comb overs and mullets became symbols of personal expression in the 1980s. Cultural landmarks like Tom Cruise’s haircuts became synonymous with style thanks to his ever-evolving looks and David Bowie’s ever-evolving looks.
To understand the significance of 80s men’s hair, one must decode a language of fashion that still resonates today. It’s important to acknowledge the historical significance of your own sartorial choices whether you choose to embrace a retro vibe or add a modern twist to them.
Mullets
Mullets were bold hairstyles that spanned conventional and rebellious trends, without compromising on texture, including standout curly hair styles.
The mullet was characterized by short hair framing the face and long, flowing strands cascading down the back. There are variations of this style, like the rat-tail mullet, which has a narrow hairline.
If you want to achieve a modern mullet style, increase the length of your hair evenly first. Consult a stylist after the hair has grown long enough to shorten the front and sides, leaving the back long.
The back can be curled or waved, replicating Patrick Swayze’s iconic look from “Road House.” His late 80s look embodied the fearlessness of the era.
Even though Billy Ray Cyrus’ mullet originated in the early 90s, it taps into the same spirit of boldness. There is a lot you can learn about your style by wearing a daring haircut in both styles.
Punk Look
In the 80s, punk style was a call to rebellion. It was characterized by bold spikes, vibrant hair colors, and iconic styles like the liberty spike. This hairstyle defied the norm and made a dramatic statement with its jutting hair. It was frozen in place with hairspray and gel.
Punk hairstyles emphasize contrast: shorter sides paired with longer tops for an eye-catching look. Create a mohawk with defiant spikes or add defiant spikes with a stronghold gel or wax.
Legendary 80s musicians like Billy Idol and GBH rocked sunlit spikes and razor-sharp mohawks. Defiant styles like these continue to symbolize the spirit of the century.
Feathered Hair
Throughout the 1980s, feathered hair blended soft, flowing layers with volume. The strands moved with the wind, giving the impression of lightness.
For volume and shape, regular trimmings and strategic layers are key. To sculpt feathery edges with a round brush, blow-dry your hair while using a round brush.
Full House featured a version of feathered hair inspired by mullets, showcasing its adaptability.
The Quiff
There was no denying that the quiff was a stylish choice in the 80s. The hair was arranged upward to create a pompadour-like look with longer hair atop the head.
You can achieve this look by applying a volumizing product to damp hair, blow-drying while lifting the roots with a brush, and finishing with a volumizing product. Another brush will help you achieve a gravity-defying look, and a finishing spray will help you maintain this look.
Quiff inspiration comes from icons such as George Michael and Huey Lewis, whose hairstyle combines volume with rock ‘n’ roll.
Pompadour
As rock-and-roll transformed into sophistication in the 80s, the pompadour reflected its roots. Voluminous top hair gradually transitioned into slicked-back sides, which were often styled into defining waves.
While channeling Elvis Presley’s legacy, the pompadour added an element of sophistication in the 80s. A distinctive wave was often styled at the front of the hairstyle, with voluminous top hair blending into slicked-back sides.
The look is achieved by growing the hair on top to a significant length, while keeping the hair on the sides short. For that signature pompadour height, comb through a high-hold styling product.
The voluminous and suave look of the pompadour is epitomized by Antonio Banderas and Morrissey.
Slicked-Back Style
This hairstyle gave men an appearance of refined elegance in the 80s. Defining effortless sophistication with its smooth, cinematic appeal, it defined the decade.
Start with damp hair and apply generous amounts of pomade or gel. Make sure that every strand is perfectly in place by slicking back your hair with a fine-toothed comb.
Patrick Bateman’s style in “American Psycho” or Gordon Gekko’s from “Wall Street” are timeless representations of 80s chic.
There was a challenge to traditional norms within the corporate environment during the 1980s. With the advent of business mullets and textured styles, the style had a touch of rebelliousness while remaining professional.
There was a cultural shift in which companies valued individuality in addition to productivity, symbolized by this subtle defiance.
Pop Culture Icons & Their Hairstyles
David Bowie’s Pompadour Mullet
Music and fashion come together in David Bowie’s legend. The pompadour mullet he wore throughout the 1970s and 1980s embodied both eras.
To get the look, maintain a long top and short sides and back: ask your barber to keep them long. You should dry your hair after you’ve cleaned it and towel dried it, so that you’re ready to style it.
You should begin by warming a dime-sized amount of stronghold styling gel or pomade between your palms, then distributing it through your hair, paying particular attention to your crown and top. You can achieve the signature pompadour volume by lifting and shaping the crown with your fingers or by using a comb.
Make sure the style is locked in place with hairspray.
You can add a splash of color, such as electric blue or vibrant red, to add an extra touch of Bowie flair. Pompadour mullets become more than just hairstyles when you wear them like this.
Michael Jackson’s Jheri Curl
Jheri curls became iconic hairstyles in the 1980s thanks to Michael Jackson. A symbol of the decade due to its glossy, defined curls, it exuded sophistication.
The look is achieved by applying a curl activator or curl-defining cream to damp hair. The product should be distributed throughout the body to ensure complete coverage.
Curls can be enhanced with a diffuser or by letting your hair air dry.
There will always be a place in history for a timeless style, as best exemplified by Michael Jackson’s luscious locks in “Thriller” and Lionel Richie’s suave album cover look.
Billy Idol’s Punk Spikes
The 80s punk rock icon Billy Idol was known for his spiked hairstyles that embodied the rebellion of the era. The edgy spikes he wore conveyed the spirit of punk’s daring, edgy style.
The Look: Keep your hair short and textured to achieve this look. The top and front sections should be styled with a generous amount of styling gel or mousse.
The spikes can be shaped with your fingers or a comb by pulling the hair upward. Adding bold streaks to your spikes is a great way to enhance the punk rock vibe that Billy Idol made famous.
Hairstyles influenced by fashion trends
As fashion was a kaleidoscope of bold styles in the 1980s, so were men’s hairstyles. An influx of daring hair styles was inspired by neon outfits, leathers, and band logos. Excess fuelled gravity-defying styles, echoing the era’s “go big or go home” attitude.
In addition to acid-washed jeans, long, rebellious tresses contributed to the rock-inspired vibe of the period. A rebellion against polished leather aesthetics was initiated with leather jackets with shaved sides and spiked tops.
It was the kaleidoscopic hair streaks that matched the vivid neon clothing. In bold extensions of their colorful ensembles, men transformed their hair into a vibrant palette.
Hair Culture
It is through hair that music genres express their cultural identity in a complex tapestry. It is no secret that the hair of the 1980s reflected the musical preferences of the era, from the untamed styles of heavy metal to the sleek cuts of new wave.
As part of a broader cultural shift during the 1980s, hair played a significant role. Music stars’ hairstyles became more influential thanks to MTV’s arrival, making them both auditory and visual icons.
Skateboarding culture, which now dominates suburban streets, popularized long, unkempt hair in tribute to the pavement’s freedom. Likewise, hairstyles became loose and unpretentious as grunge music signaled rawness and undoing.
In the meanwhile, Japanese pop culture and anime started influencing Western aesthetics by introducing vivid colors and exaggerated forms.
The Rise of Hip-Hop
As hip-hop culture took hold in the 1980s, men’s hair underwent a significant transformation. A cultural force that redefined style, hip-hop originated in the streets of New York City and reshaped fashion and personal expression.
In this urban movement, the high-top fade emerged as a visual anthem. Music icons as well as everyday trend setters alike wore the high-top fade, characterized by its short sides and towering crown.
Hair became more than a high-top fade during the decade. Intricate designs were etched into shaves to transform them into works of art. No matter how elaborate or minimal these patterns were, they embodied the era’s celebration of creativity.
Magazines, TV shows, and movies about fashion
GQ and Esquire functioned as sartorial compasses in the ’80s, guiding men from mundane to iconic looks. As a result of editorials in these publications, men were not only inspired but also provided with actionable style tips.
Print media had a far-reaching impact. A new visual language of confidence and sophistication was introduced into American living rooms by TV shows such as “Miami Vice” and “The A-Team.”.
TV’s on-screen style became a blueprint for trends outside of the medium.
An addition to the mix is cinematic culture. In films like “Top Gun” and “Back to the Future,” characters’ hairstyles became as iconic as their iconic one-liners. Many looked up to their appearances as benchmarks.
Stylists found men clutching magazines and blockbuster clippings as they sat in their chairs. They shared a common ambition: to reinterpret pop culture into their own personal style, using hair as a statement-making tool.
Nostalgia & Retro Trends
New generations and nostalgia seekers are drawn to the sartorial ripples of the ’80s, which resurface today. Despite the return of bold patterns and electric colors, it’s the men’s hairstyles that reflect the era most dramatically.
There’s more to the renewed fascination with mullets, pompadours, and permed tresses than a tribute – it’s an evolution. In recent years, influences such as K-pop have revived ’80s staples such as perms, proving the enduring impact of the decade.
Technology & Products
Men’s hair grew renaissance in the 1980s thanks to an arsenal of hair care products which defined that decade’s audacious styling. Once-unimaginable styles became possible thanks to the boom in haircare technology.
In addition to Aqua Net becoming household staples, the diffuser attachment revolutionized curly styles by minimizing frizz and maximizing volume. Hair was both medium and message in the decade’s towering hair sculptures, where these products served as the invisible artists.
There is no doubt that mousse and gel continue to be the architects of textured, voluminous coiffures. Today’s influencers use classic tools such as Instagram and TikTok to recreate iconic ’80s looks with a modern twist, demonstrating the era’s lasting influence.
Entertainment & Social Media
Adding to the enthusiasm is the presence of this vintage aesthetic on screen. By blending past and present, shows like “Stranger Things” have introduced younger audiences to mullets.
There is a two-way dialogue between the two eras, marked by neon hues and bold, unconventional palettes that made men’s hair in the 1980s such an expressive canvas.
Men’s hair revival in the ’80s reflects the decade’s celebration of individuality and artistic flair reimagined for a new generation in a cyclical fashion journey.
80s Hairstyle Revival
Today’s shows and music have reignited the ’80s hair ethos thanks to social media platforms. Rather than simply replicating these styles, we’re reimagining them.
Today, the audacity of the 1980s combines with the endless possibilities of today. Fashions from the 1980s have been reimagined for today’s vintage-obsessed generation.
There is a softer, more ironic side to this comeback, which combines nostalgia with modern audacity.
I am Jayden Ward, the owner and creator of Taperfadee.com, a dedicated platform focused on providing comprehensive guides and insights into taper fade haircuts. With a passion for hairstyling and a keen eye for detail, I aim to empower individuals to achieve the perfect taper fade, whether for personal styling or professional grooming.
