These 80's Hairstyles Are Back and Better Than Ever

Even the perm gets a modern update.

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updated Nov 11, 2019

As the saying goes, what goes up, must come down. And when it comes to fashion and beauty, what goes out of style, must come back. While there was once a time when you laughed at old pictures of your mom, we bet you kind of wish she had saved some pieces for you to put a vintage twist on your modern ensembles. And while some fads are better left in the 80's, others have become mainstream once more.

Ahead, 15 hairstyles from the 1980's that are back and better than ever.

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The Perm

Even Cher temporarily ditched her famous pin-straight mane for chemically treated curls. The trend was without a doubt one of the most popular fads back in the 80's, and it's finding new life in the 21st century. Instead of the tightly coiled strands you remember from music videos, people are headed into the salon for beach wave perms and more relaxed iterations of the those bouncy coils.

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Crimped Hair

If you watched Lizzie Mcguire, chances are you've put your strands through a crimper at least once. This trend might have gained traction among millenials for being spotted on Hilary Duff, but it actually originated in the 1980's. For a modern spin, crimp hair throughout and brush through for brilliant texture, as seen on the 3.1 Phillip Lim runway.

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Statement Headbands

The 80's wouldn't be complete without a statement headband, and while they went under the radar for a while there, they're officially back (and bigger than ever). Modern spins include maxed out sizes with accessories like velvet knots, chains, pearls, and even buckles.

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Banana Clips

Much like the claw clips you might be more familiar with, banana clips served as a replacement for hair ties in the 80's (since ties and scrunchies could create kinks in the volume you worked so hard to create). Your basic version is usually just a monochromatic piece of plastic, but this modern iteration features pearl details for zero-effort style.

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Curly Bangs

The 80's were full of iterations of bangs, but it was the permed fringe that reigned supreme. Taking on a shape all their own, they were worn curly, teased as high as possible, and set in a way that blended flawlessly with the rest of the hair.

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Asymmetrical Cut

Asymmetrical styles are a staple of the 80's, and we've slowly seen them start to trickle back onto mainstream runways. Ask your stylist for an asymmetrical cut, or create the illusion by flipping your hair over at a deep part.

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The Boss-Lady Blowout

Power suits and windblown blowouts were a staple of the 80's, just as they are now. The secret to this look is achieving a cotton-candy airiness that sits directly at the top of your head. To create the look, flip your head forward and blow dry— lifting up at the roots. For added height, work a volumizer into your scalp before flipping your head upright. For a take on the throwback style à la Prabal Gurung, run a pomade through your strands beginning at your hairline and moving back to the crown of your head.

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Bow Barrettes

Hair barrettes have been back for the better part of 2019, and we're so glad to see that clip-in bows got the memo. Style these any way you so please (at the nape of your ponytail, pinned into a top-knot, etc.), but we love how this side-part detail gives a definitive nod to the 1980's.

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The Shag Haircut

We can't think of a better way to reference the popular '80s haircut than to shoutout Debbie Harry's effortless punk-rock shag. Paired with a set of dark roots contrasting her pale blonde ends, Harry was clearly ahead of her time with this trendy look. Since then, the shag hasn't changed much at all. It was cool then, and it's even cooler now. Spotted on almost every runway this year, the new shag incorporates soft layers, long bangs, and tons of body (and sometimes contrasting roots, if you so please). To recreate, ask your stylist for a layered cut, then add plenty of texturizing spray and give your hair a good shake.

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The Farrah Fawcett

Arguably one of the most famous styles from the decade, the 1980's ushered in the era of feathery Farrah Fawcett hair. To recreate on your own, you'll need two barrel brushes (one large one to create volume and looser curls in the back, plus one smaller one to create the feathery face-framing pieces), then hairspray to hold everything together.

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The Side Pony

As seen in every 80's workout video ever, the side ponytail is one of the most defining hairstyles of the decade. In 2019, it gets a modern twist with bangs that lay in the opposite direction (instead of pulling all of the hair diagonally into one focal point).

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The Whale Spout

Named for the "water spout" effect created by this super-high ponytail, the whale spout is definitely back in 2019. Style half-up or all-up, positioning your ponytail as high as you can get it so it splits into the desired whale spout shape. Wrap a section of your hair around your hair tie for an elevated, modern touch.

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Knit Scrunchies

Neon scrunchies ruled aerobics classes during the 80's, but in 2019 they've been given the neutral treatment. Nude, grey, black, and white scrunchies elevate any hairstyle, and are no longer restricted to workouts.

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The Mullet

Zendaya can pull off literally any style, but here she shows us that the mullet isn't dead after all. Warm highlights, longer bangs, and chic suiting breathe life back into this style.

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Bow Headbands

You can thank Madonna for this classic 1980's hair trend. While we love the subtlety of a bow barrette, it just doesn't add the same wow-factor as, well, a massive bow headband.