The 1980s was a decade of daring trend decisions, vibrant colours, and unforgettable hairstyles. From the rebellious punk look to the modern and complex slick again, males’s hairstyles within the ’80s had been as numerous as they had been iconic.

As an expert hairstylist with over 12 years of expertise, I’ve had the pleasure of recreating and modernizing many of those traditional kinds. On this article, we’ll take a nostalgic journey by way of the most well-liked males’s hairstyles of the 1980s, exploring their origins, cultural significance, and enduring affect on up to date trend.

In style 1980s Males’s Hairstyles

The Mullet

The mullet, characterised by its brief entrance and sides contrasting with longer hair on the again, was some of the recognizable hairstyles of the 1980s. Celebrities like Billy Ray Cyrus and Patrick Swayze popularized the look, which grew to become synonymous with a laid-back, rebellious angle.

The mullet’s versatility allowed for varied interpretations, from the traditional “enterprise within the entrance, celebration within the again” to extra excessive variations with shaved sides and longer, flowing locks.

Lately, the mullet has skilled a resurgence, with fashionable variations that includes extra blended and textured kinds. Celebrities like Zendaya and Miley Cyrus have sported up to date mullets, proving that this ’80s traditional can nonetheless make a daring assertion within the 21st century.

The Jheri Curl

The Jheri curl, a shiny and closely styled look, was notably in style amongst African American males within the 1980s. This fashion was achieved utilizing a two-step chemical course of that softened the hair and created a loosely curled, wet-looking end.

Music icons Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie had been well-known proponents of the Jheri curl, serving to to popularize the fashion throughout the African American group and past.

The Jheri curl held cultural significance as a logo of black satisfaction and self-expression throughout a time when pure hairstyles had been typically discouraged or marginalized. Though the fashion has since fallen out of favor as a result of its excessive upkeep necessities and potential for damaging the hair, its affect on ’80s trend and African American tradition can’t be overstated.

Large, Voluminous Hair

The 1980s noticed a development in massive, voluminous hairstyles, typically achieved by way of teasing, blow-drying, and liberal use of hairspray. This look was notably related to the glam metallic and exhausting rock music scenes, with bands like Mötley Crüe and Bon Jovi sporting gravity-defying manes.

To obtain this fashion, hair was usually layered and reduce to medium or lengthy lengths. Styling concerned making use of volumizing merchandise, similar to mousses or root lifters, earlier than blow-drying the hair whereas utilizing a spherical brush to create carry and physique.

The hair was then teased on the roots and smoothed over to create a fuller, extra dramatic silhouette. Lastly, a beneficiant quantity of hairspray was utilized to carry the fashion in place.

The Flattop

The flattop, a brief and angular haircut, was a well-liked selection amongst males within the 1980s, notably throughout the hip-hop and athletic communities.

This fashion featured hair that was reduce brief on the perimeters and again, whereas the highest was left barely longer and reduce to face upright, making a flat floor.

Variations of the flattop included the hi-top fade, which featured a extra gradual taper and longer hair on prime, and the field reduce, which had a sharply outlined sq. form. These kinds had been typically related to a clean-cut, masculine aesthetic and had been favored by celebrities like Will Smith and Mike Tyson.

The Punk Look

Punk rock’s anti-establishment ethos closely influenced males’s hairstyles within the 1980s, giving rise to edgy, unconventional appears to be like. The mohawk, characterised by shaved sides and a strip of longer hair operating down the middle of the pinnacle, grew to become an iconic punk fashion.

Different variations included liberty spikes, the place hair was gelled and spiked upwards, and dyed in daring, unnatural colours.

The DIY nature of punk trend inspired experimentation and self-expression, with many people opting to chop and elegance their very own hair. The usage of cheap merchandise like Elmer’s glue and Vaseline to create spikes and maintain kinds in place was frequent throughout the punk group.

The Slick Again

The slick again was a traditional and polished coiffure favored by businessmen and professionals within the 1980s. This look concerned combing the hair again from the brow and securing it in place with a strong-hold product, similar to pomade or gel. The end result was a modern, subtle look that exuded confidence and energy.

To obtain the right slick again, hair was first combed again whereas damp, then dried utilizing a blow dryer directed from the entrance to the again of the pinnacle. A small quantity of pomade was then utilized to the palms and labored by way of the hair, guaranteeing a good distribution.

The hair was then combed again once more and styled into place, with the perimeters and again brushed to put flat towards the pinnacle.

Iconic 1980s Male Celebrities and Their Hairstyles

Many male celebrities within the 1980s grew to become fashion icons, their hairstyles influencing tendencies and galvanizing numerous imitators. Some notable examples embrace:

• Tom Cruise: Identified for his boyish allure and daring movie roles, Tom Cruise typically sported a voluminous, layered coiffure that completely encapsulated the last decade’s love for giant hair.
• Rob Lowe: Together with his traditional attractiveness and heartthrob standing, Rob Lowe’s feathered, medium-length hair was a quintessential ’80s fashion that is still in style amongst males in the present day.
• George Michael: Because the lead singer of Wham! and a profitable solo artist, George Michael’s completely coiffed, highlighted hair grew to become a trademark of his picture and a sought-after search for males within the ’80s.
• Prince: A real fashion icon, Prince’s distinctive trend sense prolonged to his hairstyles, which ranged from a modern, brief reduce to a wild, curly mane, typically complemented by his signature purple hue.
• David Bowie: Identified for his chameleon-like potential to reinvent himself, David Bowie sported a wide range of hairstyles all through the 1980s, from his iconic orange mullet to a bleached-blonde, slicked-back look.

The Evolution of 1980s Hairstyles

All through the 1980s, males’s hairstyles underwent a major evolution, influenced by a wide range of components, together with music, films, and tv. Within the early ’80s, the remnants of the earlier decade’s disco tradition might nonetheless be seen within the type of longer, feathered kinds and the recognition of the perm.

As the last decade progressed, the affect of MTV and the rise of music movies started to form hair tendencies. Glam metallic bands popularized massive, teased hairstyles, whereas the rising hip-hop scene launched the hi-top fade and the flattop. Motion pictures like “Prime Gun” and “Wall Road” additionally performed a task in defining the period’s aesthetic, with slick, conservative kinds gaining prominence.

Regional variations and subcultures additionally contributed to the range of 1980s hairstyles. In the UK, the New Romantic motion, led by bands like Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet, favored androgynous, avant-garde appears to be like with loads of hairspray and make-up. In the meantime, in the USA, the thriving punk and hardcore scenes embraced extra excessive, DIY kinds.

Trendy Interpretations of 1980s Males’s Hairstyles

Today, many 1980s hairstyles are experiencing a revival, with fashionable variations that pay homage to the unique appears to be like whereas incorporating up to date parts. The resurgence of classic trend has led to a renewed curiosity in ’80s aesthetics, with celebrities and influencers embracing up to date variations of traditional kinds.

Some examples of contemporary interpretations embrace:

• The undercut mullet: A extra delicate tackle the traditional mullet, that includes shorter, buzzed sides and an extended, textured prime.
• The textured quiff: Impressed by the voluminous kinds of the ’80s, this look combines a traditional quiff with fashionable texturizing merchandise for a extra pure, tousled look.
• The up to date Jheri curl: Whereas the unique Jheri curl has fallen out of favor, fashionable variations incorporate a extra pure, much less processed look, typically achieved by way of the usage of curl-enhancing merchandise and diffusers.
• The brief, textured crop: A nod to the punk and new wave kinds of the ’80s, this look options brief, uneven layers and a matte, piecey texture.

Conclusion

The 1980s left an indelible mark on males’s hairstyles, with its daring, unapologetic appears to be like persevering with to encourage and affect trend many years later. From the rebellious mullet to the delicate slick again, the hairstyles of the ’80s mirrored the period’s numerous cultural panorama and the spirit of self-expression that outlined the last decade.

As a hairstylist, I’ve witnessed firsthand the enduring attraction of those iconic kinds and the methods during which they’ve been tailored and modernized for a brand new era.

The cyclical nature of trend ensures that essentially the most memorable appears to be like from the previous will proceed to resurface, reminding us of the ability of hair as a type of private expression and a mirrored image of the instances during which we stay.

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