When it comes to fashion of all kinds in the '80s, not many people were as influential as the Material Girl herself, Madonna. Everyone wanted to look like the pop superstar, and that's especially true when it comes to mimicking her iconic curly bob hairstyle. While it may be a product of the '80s, it's time for it to make a comeback.
While you might look like you stepped out of a time machine if you go full 1980s with your look from head to toe, incorporating Madonna's curls into a modern look would go great with all sorts of styles these days. This is one blast from the past that can look timeless no matter what year it is.
In the 1985 comedy Desperately Seeking Susan, Madonna plays a bohemian drifter whose personal style reflects her character's free spirit. While the film itself was a big hit at the time, most people have forgotten much about it...except for Madonna's iconic rough-and-tumble hairstyle that she sported in the movie.
While this look might not be the perfect hairstyle for everyone these days, it's about time that some free spirit brought it back into popularity. While you might have to spend a little time and money keeping up with those highlights, this is very much a "wake up and hit the road" sort of hairstyle. Who doesn't love that?
Tina Turner went through several hairstyles throughout the years, but one thing almost always remained the same about all her 'dos—massive volume was a must! We're talking multiple inches of space between the top of her actual head and the top of her hair. Thankfully, gravity-defying hair was just a can of hairspray away in the '80s!
While it seems a little crazy to suggest that blown-out mullets need to make a comeback, we're sticking by this hairstyle. We have a hard time believing that, in all of human history, only Tina Turner could pull off this hairdo—and we're waiting for someone in the modern era to take the challenge and pull it off too!
Curls and volume were big in the hairstyles of the 1980s, and no one could pull them off better than Janet Jackson. She was at the peak of her popularity in the mid-80s, and while a lot of that had to do with her talent on stage, there was no denying that people adored her style, too.
Honestly, curls are one thing that never goes out of style, so we'd love to see some Janet Jackson superfans bring her iconic 'do back in full force! That being said, we'd probably axe the earring with the key on it—some things from the '80s should probably just stay in the '80s!
In the early 1980s, Janet Jackson appeared as Charlene on several seasons of Diff'rent Strokes. While her personal style would go on to become much more flamboyant and audacious as the years passed, she still looked amazing, even when sporting a simple bob. Some people can make any hairstyle look perfect!
Sometimes you just want to look put together without being a spectacle, and that's exactly what this sort of hairstyle gives you. We wouldn't be mad at all to see some lovely but understated hairstyles like this make a comeback in the modern day. If it's good enough for Janet, then it should be good enough for any of us!
When you think about hairstyles of the '80s, you probably imagine a lot of products and tools to achieve the perfect look. However, Carly Simon proved that sometimes all you need to look great is a little space for your hair to do its own thing! She proved that natural is always a trend.
Simon's shaggy locks aren't uncommon these days—we all look like that when we get out of bed! However, not many people have the courage to rock their wild mane out in public as Carly Simon did. Sometimes, the best hairstyle is no hairstyle at all, and that's something we'd like to see more of.
While Goldie Hawn was a fixture in Hollywood since the 1960s, her career really took off near the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s. It was during this era when her signature style of voluminous, golden curls really got popular, but even back then, it was a bit of a retro hairstyle.
Hawn's curls look like they were taken from a 1960s starlet, and we think it's about time for this timeless hairstyle to make another comeback in the modern era. No matter what decade this look originated in, it still looks as glamorous and gorgeous as the day it was debuted.
When it comes to hairstyles in the 1980s, not many people had a better decade than Whitney Houston. She wasn't afraid to try new things when it came to her hair, so we saw her with short looks, long looks, and everything in between. And sometimes, like in this photo, she tried a little bit of everything!
While a massive pile of both curls and waves doesn't sound like it should work, Whitney somehow managed to make it work. We've see some truly eyebrow-raising styles in the modern era, so this mash-up of hairdos would be right at home today. Not everyone could make it work, but we'd love to see someone try!
There aren't many actresses more associated with the 1980s than Molly Ringwald. As part of the iconic "brat pack", Ringwald starred in numerous '80s hits like Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, and The Breakfast Club. And in most of her appearances, Ringwald was sporting some sort of short hairstyle.
This curly, pixie bob might be most associated with Ringwald, but this is yet another style we think needs a second act in the present. Our teenage years may be long behind us at this point, but that's the perfect reason to sport a youthful look like this one!
While Kathleen Turner may have gotten her start on Broadway in the 1970s, she really became a superstar when she turned to film roles in the 1980s, with appearances in hits like Romancing the Stone and Crimes of Passion. Of all the actresses going for a natural, effortless hairstyle, Turner had one of the best!
We know that a "natural" look like this actually probably took a lot of work behind the scenes, but it's still one we would love to see make a comeback. Unlike some hairstyles from the 1980s, this one has a timeless look that keeps you from pinning down exactly when it originated.
Michelle Pfeiffer had her fair share of ups and downs in the 1980s. She boomeranged wildly from flop movies like Grease 2 to iconic classics like Scarface, but one thing stayed consistent through her roles during the decade—her hair was always on point! Who needs an Oscar when you look like that?
This curly, mid-length bob perfectly encapsulates her beauty at the time, and we have a sneaking suspicion that it would look just as stunning today. This is another classic hairstyle from the decade that doesn't scream "dated", and we'd love to see some new starlet give it a try.
The Russia House might not be Michelle Pfeiffer's most well-remembered hit (although it did incredibly well at the time), but we can't get enough of the hairstyle she sported in this shot taken during filming. This 'do means business, and she manages to pull it off gorgeously and effortlessly.
Not everyone is cut out for a strong, prominent hairstyle like this, but we have a sneaking suspicion that there are at least a few people out there who could pull it off as flawlessly as this. It's time for the 1980s to make a comeback...or at least this particular hairstyle!
Most people have to supress a giggle when they think about mullets, but Pat Benatar's style in the 1980s was nothing to laugh about! While it might be subject to all sorts of stereotypes, Benatar proved that a mullet could be fashionable and rock and roll. It helped complete her signature look.
Even though it might be terrifying to go to the stylist and ask for a mullet, it's time that people started giving this underappreciated look a little more love. It's definitely not the hairstyle for everyone, but if you've got the right attitude, we're sure you could pull it off just as well as Benatar herself.
Is there another free spirit in the world quite like Stevie Nicks? Probably not! The enchanting frontwoman of Fleetwood Mac was well-known during the decade for her hippie, boho style, and this photo perfectly encapsulates who she was at the time—including her iconic wavy hair. Who could forget that?
There's never a bad time to sport a natural, wavy look, and we think it's time that people started channeling their inner Stevie once again. This is another low-maintenance look that doesn't explicitly feel like it's from the 1980s, and it's time for this timeless look to make a comeback.
Joan Jett was a rock and roll icon for the entire decade of the 1980s...and beyond! She oozed style from head to toe—including an eye-catching, spiky hairstyle that continues to define her look to this day. We don't want to think about how many cans of hairspray she must have gone through!
Most people these days wouldn't be brave enough to try a daring hairstyle like this one, but that doesn't mean we're not holding out hope for someone else to give it a try! It's about time for a rock and roll revival, and this crazy 'do would be the perfect thing to accompany it.
There were no shortage of singing superstars in the 1980s, but Bonnie Tyler still managed to rise to the top of the pack. Her mega-hits in the 1980s included "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero." When it came to embracing the hair of the '80s, Bonnie wasn't afraid to go all in!
Unlike some of the other styles on this list that have a timeless quality to them, there's no question that this hairstyle came straight out of the 1980s. However, retro is always in, so we'd like to see people give this one a try again! Those feathered bangs are probably a pain to get right, but the finished result looks great!
Debbie Gibson didn't really hit the music scene until the mid-1980s, but she made up for lost time (and then some) with a string of hits including "Only in my Dreams", "Foolish Beat", and "Lost in Your Eyes." And, as this photo shows, she wasn't afraid to embrace the styles of the time!
Spikes and volume might not be for everyone, but if you're a fan of big hair (and don't mind the time and effort it takes), this would be a great hairstyle to bring back into the modern day. This is definitely not a look that will let you blend in with the crowd, but it's one that will definitely keep people talking!
Kate Bush, with her eccentricities and unusual lyrics, might not be everyone's cup of tea, but this British pop star still managed to rise to the top of the charts during the 1970s and '80s with multiple hits including "Wuthering Heights", "Running Up That Hill", and "The Man with the Child in His Eyes."
When it comes to 1980s style, not many could do it better than Bush. Her fringe bangs and mullet are definitely relics of a bygone era, but we think it's time for a new era of feathery, mullet goodness. This hairstyle definitely makes a statement, but with the right styling, it's possible to pull it off.
Princess Diana wasn't a celebrity in the traditional sense of the word, but she still captivated the world's attention as a royal after her marriage to Prince Charles. While most known for her humanitarian work, Diana's style and fashion were also a hot topic of conversation. She managed to look graceful almost effortlessly.
These days, people might call Diana's 'do more of a "hair helmet" than a hairstyle, but honestly, the more we look at it, the more it grows on us. We can't imagine how much time and product it takes to get it perfectly coiffed like that, but if you don't mind going a little retro, it's one that could still work today.
Like for most of her career, Cher managed to do a little of everything during the 1980s. For the first part of the decade, she focused on her musical career, but by the mid-1980s, she wanted a career in acting, and she managed to make it happen! Through it all, her iconic sense of style and fashion managed to shine through.
Not everyone is graced with wild, gorgeous hair like Cher is, but if you're lucky enough to have the goods, this is one hairstyle we'd love to see make a comeback. The untamed look was big in the '80s, but there's never a bad time to let your hair just do what it wants to!
Cyndi Lauper taught us that girls just wanna have fun, but she also showed us that they can look fantastic while doing it, too! Lauper has never been one to shy away from striking fashion choices, and some of her best looks and hairstyles came straight from the 1980s.
Her bright red undercut is definitely not something you'd want to wear into the office, but we firmly believe it could still look great today. Punk might be a retro trend by this point, but crazy styles like this somehow manage to look timeless, thanks to just how over the top they are. What decade could have possibly produced something as wild as this?
Brooke Shields started her career early as a child in the 1960s, and by the 1980s, she had hit a bit of a rough patch in her career. This was the decade she was nominated for two Razzies (and "won" one)...ouch! However, no matter how badly her career was going, she still managed to look great.
This photo from the early '80s proves that there was more to hair than just hairspray and massive volume during the decade. A natural style like this is one that never goes out of style, and we wouldn't be upset to see something like this make a comeback in the present.
Grace Jones was already a big name in the world of modeling and music by the 1970s, but her star kept on rising right through the 1980s as well. During the decade, she was well known for her striking, unique sense of style, and that included her iconic close-crop hairstyle.
Her signature hairstyle is most definitely not something that just everyone can pull off, but that doesn't mean we don't want to see them try! When it comes to attention-grabbing hairstyles, it doesn't get better than this, and the modern world runs on attention, so why not give it a try?
At the turn of the '80s, Debbie Harry was at the top of her game, fronting the rock band Blondie. When it comes to hairstyles, Harry smartly realized that less is more and somehow managed to make a perfectly normal blonde style her signature look. And we're sure glad that she did!
"Back to basics" is a hairstyle trend that we can still get behind in the modern day. Debbie proved that you don't have to go over-the-top to look gorgeous, and we should all follow her example. This is one hairdo that's never going out of style, no matter what year it might be.
What would the 1980s have been without Dynasty? And what would have that show been without the iconic and unforgettable Joan Collins? She wowed audiences week after week at the devious, scheming Alexis Colby—and she always managed to look amazing while doing it! Nothing was ever too over-the-top for her.
While this hairstyle is definitely not an everyday look, we would love to see this one make a comeback. Not many hairstyles can walk the line between gorgeous and ridiculous quite like this one, and it's about time that people started channeling their own inner Alexis Colby!
Olivia Newton John made a name for herself in the 1970s as a singer, and it didn't hurt any that she was cast as Sandy in Grease as well! By the 1980s, she was one of the biggest names on the planet, and everyone was wowed by her effortless grace and beauty.
She sported several iconic hairstyles throughout the 1980s, and her naturally curly mid-length style is one of our favorites. This is one 'do that would feel right at home in the present day, and we wish that more people decided to opt for something with a beautiful simplicity like this.
By the 1980s, Olivia Newton John could do no wrong in the eyes of the public, and that includes her fashion choices as well. While most celebrities are well dressed, John took it to a whole new level and always managed to look impeccable every time she was captured in a photo.
This particular hairstyle of hers is VERY '80s. She's giving a nod to the classic side ponytail while also sporting some amazingly big bangs. While this would definitely read retro these days, we don't think there's anything wrong with that! It's a sporty look that's worth taking a chance on again.
While the 1990s would bring bad news in the form of a cancer diagnosis her way, the 1980s were some of Olivia Newton John's most successful years in her career. And as someone constantly in the public eye, she had to find ways to keep her look fresh. We think she succeeded in this photo!
These side-swept waves create the perfect asymmetrical look if you're going for youthful and sporty. It's definitely an eye-catching approach, but we think it would still look great to this day. This is one look from the '80s we wish more people would incorporate into their own personal style.
Supermodels come and go, but Cindy Crawford is forever! While she was just getting her start in the world of modeling by the late 1980s, she hit the ground running and quickly became one of the most well-known models of all time. Was there any style she couldn't make work? We don't think so!
This classic blow-out hairstyle is one that we never get tired of seeing. There's plenty of room for this '80s hairstyle in the modern era! Sometimes, you want to look great but need to keep it simple, and that's exactly what this fantastic hairstyle excels at!
Naomi Campbell's modelling career took off in a big way in the 1980s, all starting with a cover appearance for British Elle while she was still 15 years old! This style icon has never been afraid to push the boundaries of fashion, and this wild hairstyle proves just that!
While many people would be too scared to try something as attention-grabbing as an asymmetrical bob, that was never Naomi Campbell's style. We would love to see people show a little gumption and try something daring like this classic '80s hairstyle. It's not for everyone, but you'll definitely have the spotlight on you!
Julia Roberts didn't really become a household name until the 1990s, but she was well on her way to stardom in the 1980s with appearances in classic films like Steel Magnolias and Mystic Pizza near the end of the decade. Aside from her acting, if there's one thing she's known for, it's her natural curls.
She really went for the volume in the 1980s, and it's a fantastic look for her. We're assuming that people still have naturally curly hair in the present day, and we'd love to see more folks channeling their inner Julia Roberts. She makes it look so effortless, and we need more of that!
