80s hairstyles for men defined a decade bursting with personality and fearless self-expression. Hair became a statement, a bold exclamation in the ongoing story of men’s style, where gravity-defying volume, edgy textures, and unapologetic flair held the spotlight.
The era turned heads—literally and figuratively—cementing its influence on 1980s men’s fashion and leaving a lasting impact that continues to inspire today.
80s Hairstyles for Men: Popular Styles
Hairstyles like the comb over and mullet became badges of personal expression in the 80s. Icons like David Bowie, with his ever-evolving looks, and Tom Cruise, whose haircuts became synonymous with style, turned the decade’s hairdos into cultural landmarks.
Understanding the impact of 80s men’s hair means decoding a language of fashion that still resonates today. Whether embracing a retro vibe or giving these styles a modern spin, acknowledging their historical significance adds depth to your own sartorial choices.
Mullets
The mullet was a bold hairstyle that carved out its niche between the conventional and the rebellious, adapting to different textures, including standout styles for curly hair.
The mullet, with shorter hair framing the face and longer strands cascading down the back, captured the rebellious spirit of the 80s. It evolved into variations like the rat-tail mullet, defined by a narrow strip of hair trailing down the back.
How to Get the Look: To achieve a modern mullet style, start by growing your hair evenly. Once it’s long enough, consult with a stylist to shorten the front and sides, leaving the back long.
Curls or waves at the back can add flair, mirroring Patrick Swayze’s iconic style in “Road House.” His late 80s look embodies the fearless spirit of the era.
Billy Ray Cyrus’ mullet, although a product of the early 90s, taps into the same boldness. Both styles prove that a daring haircut can reveal a lot about your style.
Punk Look
The punk look of the 80s was a siren call to rebel. Bold spikes, vivid hair colors, and iconic styles like the liberty spike defined the era. Hair jutted toward the sky, frozen in place with gel and hairspray, defying the norm and making an unforgettable statement.
How to Get the Look: To make a statement with a punk look, choose a haircut that emphasizes contrast: shorter sides paired with a longer top. Use a stronghold gel or wax to sculpt defiant spikes or an exaggerated mohawk that commands attention.
80s legends like Billy Idol inspired with sunlit spikes, while GBH made waves with razor-sharp mohawks. These iconic styles remain symbols of the era’s defiant spirit.
Feathered Hair
Feathered hair swayed through the 80s, blending volume with soft, flowing layers. It evoked a sense of lightness, as if every strand danced with the wind.
How to Get the Look: Regular trims and strategic layers are essential for maintaining volume and shape. Use a round brush while blow-drying to sculpt feathery edges.
John Stamos showcased a mullet-inspired version of feathered hair in Full House, highlighting the style’s adaptability.
The Quiff
The quiff held its ground in the 80s as a stylish choice. Longer hair sat atop the head, styled upward to create a voluminous look reminiscent of a pompadour.
How to Get the Look: Begin with a volumizing product applied to damp hair, then blow-dry while lifting the roots using a brush. Sweep your hair upward and backward with another brush, and lock in the gravity-defying look with a finishing spray.
Icons like George Michael and Huey Lewis provide perfect quiff inspiration, each showcasing the hairstyle’s blend of volume and rock ‘n’ roll attitude.
Pompadour
In the 80s, the pompadour reflected its rock-and-roll roots while adding a touch of sophistication. This hairstyle featured voluminous top hair, smoothly transitioning into slicked-back sides, often styled into a defining wave at the front.
In the 80s, the pompadour paid homage to its rock ‘n’ roll roots, channeling the legacy of Elvis Presley while adding a touch of sophistication. This hairstyle featured voluminous top hair, transitioning into slicked-back sides, often styled into a defining wave at the front.
How to Get the Look: Grow the hair on top to a significant length while keeping the sides short. Apply a high-hold styling product and comb it through, lifting the front to achieve that signature pompadour height.
Antonio Banderas and Morrissey offer prime 80s pompadour motivation, embodying the style’s suave and voluminous charm.
Slicked-Back Style
The slicked-back hairstyle epitomized 80s suave, giving men a refined appearance. Its smooth, cinematic allure defined the decade’s approach to effortless sophistication.
How to Get the Look: Begin with damp hair and apply a generous amount of pomade or gel. Use a fine-toothed comb to slick your hair back, creating a sleek finish with every strand perfectly in place.
If 80s chic is your vibe, look to the timeless styles of Patrick Bateman in “American Psycho” or Gordon Gekko from “Wall Street.” These characters embodied the era’s sleek, power-driven aesthetic.
Hair in the Workplace
The 1980s challenged traditional norms, even within the corporate environment. The era saw a departure from the rigid short back-and-sides, ushering in business mullets and textured styles that balanced professionalism with a touch of rebellion.
This subtle defiance reflected a cultural shift, where companies saw individuality as valuable, alongside productivity.
Pop Culture Icons & Their Hairstyles
David Bowie’s Pompadour Mullet
David Bowie stands as a legend at the intersection of music and fashion. His iconic pompadour mullet captured the essence of both the 70s and 80s.
How to Get the Look: Start with the right haircut: ask your barber to keep the top long while trimming the sides and back shorter. Once you’re ready to style, make sure your hair is clean and towel-dried.
Warm a dime-sized amount of stronghold styling gel or pomade between your palms, then distribute it through your hair, focusing on the top and crown. Use your fingers or a comb to lift and shape the crown, pushing it upward to achieve the signature pompadour volume.
Finish with hairspray to lock the style in place.
Pro Tip: For an extra touch of Bowie flair, add a bold streak of color, like electric blue or vibrant red. This transforms your pompadour mullet from just a hairstyle into a striking statement.
Michael Jackson’s Jheri Curl
The Jheri curl, immortalized by Michael Jackson, became an iconic hairstyle in the 80s. Its glossy, defined curls exuded a sense of sophistication, making it a symbol of the decade.
How to Get the Look: Start with somewhat damp hair and apply a curl activator or curl-defining cream. Distribute the product throughout, achieving complete coverage.
Let your hair air dry or use a diffuser to enhance the curls.
Michael Jackson’s luscious locks in “Thriller” and Lionel Richie’s suave album cover look remain quintessential examples of this timeless style.
Billy Idol’s Punk Spikes
Billy Idol, the punk rock icon of the 80s, rocked a signature spiked hairstyle that captured the rebellious essence of the era. His daring, edgy spikes stood as a statement against conventional styles, embodying the spirit of punk.
How to Get the Look: Achieve this look with short, textured hair. Apply a generous amount of styling gel or mousse, working it through the top and front sections.
Use your fingers or a comb to shape the spikes, pulling the hair upward for a bold finish. For an extra touch of authenticity, use temporary hair color spray to add bold streaks to your spikes, enhancing the punk rock vibe that Billy Idol made legendary.
Influence of Fashion Trends on Hair
The 1980s were a kaleidoscope of bold fashion, and men’s hairstyles kept pace. Neon, leather, and band logo-clad outfits inspired a wave of daring hair trends. Fueled by a culture of excess, gravity-defying styles emerged, echoing the era’s unapologetic “go big or go home” mantra.
Acid-washed jeans introduced a rock-inspired vibe, often paired with long, rebellious tresses. Leather jackets ushered in edgier styles, like shaved sides and spiky tops, where every strand was a rebellion against the polished leather aesthetic.
Vivid neon clothing found a perfect match in kaleidoscopic hair streaks. Men turned their heads into vibrant palettes, transforming hair into a bold extension of their colorful ensembles.
Hair Culture
Music genres spoke through hair, weaving a complex tapestry of cultural identity. Hair, a visible sign of individuality, mirrored musical preferences in the 80s, from heavy metal’s untamed styles to new wave’s sleek cuts.
In the grand tapestry of the 1980s, hair reflected broader cultural shifts. MTV’s arrival changed the landscape, turning music stars into both auditory and visual icons, amplifying the influence of their hairstyles.
Skateboarding culture, now dominant in suburban streets, popularized unkempt, longer hair as a tribute to the freedom of the pavement. As grunge music signaled the raw and the undone, hairstyles became relaxed and unpretentious, mirroring the shift.
Meanwhile, Japanese pop culture and anime began infiltrating Western aesthetics, introducing vibrant colors and exaggerated forms that influenced emerging style narratives.
The Rise of Hip-Hop
The 1980s marked a transformative chapter in men’s hair, fueled by the rise of hip-hop culture. Emerging from the streets of New York City, hip-hop reshaped fashion and personal expression, becoming a cultural force that redefined style.
This urban movement found a visual anthem in bold hairstyles, with the high-top fade at the forefront. Characterized by short sides and a towering crown, the high-top fade became a powerful symbol of individuality, sported by music icons and everyday trendsetters alike.
Beyond the high-top fade, the decade turned hair into a canvas for self-expression. People transformed shaves into works of art by etching intricate designs into them. Whether minimal or elaborate, these patterns honored the era’s celebration of creativity and personal flair.
Fashion Magazines, TV Shows & Movies
In the ’80s, fashion magazines like GQ and Esquire served as sartorial compasses, guiding men from the mundane to the iconic. The editorials in these magazines not only provided inspiration but also offered actionable style tips, changing the way men perceived and styled their hair.
The impact extended beyond the printed page. TV shows like “Miami Vice” and “The A-Team” brought a new visual language into American living rooms, with protagonists whose coiffed hair set the gold standard for confidence and sophistication.
These on-screen styles became blueprints for trends that transcended television.
Cinematic culture added to the mix. Films like “Top Gun” and “Back to the Future” made their characters’ hairstyles as memorable as their iconic one-liners, elevating these screen heroes to paragons of cool. Their looks became benchmarks that many aspired to emulate.
Men found themselves in the stylist’s chair, clutching clippings from magazines or inspired by the latest blockbuster. Whether influenced by print or screen, they shared a collective ambition: to translate pop culture into personal style, with hair as their statement-making medium.
Nostalgia & Retro Trends
Today, the sartorial ripples of the ’80s resurface, captivating a new generation and those drawn to nostalgia. While bold patterns and electric colors from the past have made a comeback, it’s men’s hairstyles that offer the most dramatic reflections of the era.
The renewed infatuation with mullets, pompadours, and permed tresses isn’t just a tribute—it’s an evolution. Contemporary influences like K-pop have revitalized ‘80s staples such as perms, showcasing the decade’s enduring and global impact.
Technology & Products
The renaissance of ‘80s men’s hair thrives on an arsenal of hair care products that defined the audacious stylization of that decade. The boom in haircare technology—fueled by innovative mousses, gels, and hair sprays—made once-unimaginable styles possible.
Brands like Aqua Net became household staples, while the invention of the diffuser attachment revolutionized curly styles, minimizing frizz and maximizing volume. These products acted as the invisible artists behind the decade’s towering hair sculptures, where the hair was both the medium and the message.
Far from being relics, mousse and gel remain the architects of textured, voluminous coiffures. On platforms like Instagram and TikTok, today’s influencers wield these classic tools to craft modern takes on iconic ‘80s looks, proving the era’s enduring influence.
Entertainment & Social Media
Adding to the enthusiasm, the on-screen universe has opened portals to this vintage aesthetic. Shows like “Stranger Things” have introduced younger audiences to styles like the mullet, blending past and present.
This interplay between eras is a two-way dialogue, marked by neon hues and bold, unconventional palettes—the elements that once made ‘80s men’s hair a vibrant canvas of self-expression.
In this cyclical fashion journey, the revival of ‘80s men’s hair mirrors the original decade’s celebration of individuality and artistic flair, reimagined for a new generation.
80s Hairstyle Revival
With platforms like social media acting as the new word-of-mouth, current shows and music have reignited the ‘80s hair ethos. Today, these styles aren’t just recreated—they’re reimagined.
We are in a hybrid era where the audacity of the ’80s fuses with today’s limitless possibilities. The bold fashion of the ’80s is back, reimagined for a generation obsessed with vintage style.
This comeback features softer, more ironic takes that blend nostalgia with modern audacity, offering a fresh yet familiar celebration of self-expression.
