‘More hairspray, please’: 22 Outrageous 80s Hairstyles That Were Bigger Than the Decade Itself

Cata Holmes • Writer

Sep 8, 2026 10:00 AM EDT

Hairspray, teasing, and no fear of heights defined the wildest hair era of them all…

"Go big… or go home" was the statement that defined the 80s. For some reason, people thought they had to give their all if they wanted to be trendy, and that was no excuse when it came to hair. Not only women, but men also decided to cut their hair in a very unique and specific way to have as much volume as possible… and because of that, we now have these vintage and amazing photos to look at and see how crazy and different the trends were.

Something that really strikes me is seeing how everyone did the same thing. Of course, people adapted what was considered fashion to their own style and taste, but still, if the trend was to have the biggest hair possible, then everyone was going to have it! I can imagine people walking in the street with those hairstyles, and I find it fascinating! No one wanted to be left behind, and everyone found ways to be on top of the game; if that included spending thousands on hairspray, then so be it!

I really like watching these old pictures to understand the way people lived and thought. By watching different fashion trends, we can learn a lot about a certain time in our history and our society. What were their worries? Which hobby was the most popular? All of those questions really help us see how prior generations worked and lived, and that can teach us a lot about our present moment, as well. For instance, I don't think anyone could spend the amount of time people did only doing their hair… Now, we want to look our best in the shortest time possible. And those two things aren't compatible.

In the 80s, it didn't matter if you had to be combing your hair for three hours straight: if you had to, you'd do it. Period. Time ran slower, and people had the space to do the things they wanted with no rush… that's a good trend we should bring back.