Trash or Tubular: A Hindsight Review of 80s Beauty Trends
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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. New Order was blasting in the clubs, roller rinks were buzzing with teenagers, and aerobics classes were selling out amidst the new fitness dance craze. For many reasons, the 80s have garnered a reputation over time as one of the most fun but also most infamous decades in history. Not excluded from these reasons are the beauty trends that prevailed during this time. From intensely colorful makeup to chemically-induced curls, there is a lot to dissect within this decade’s maquillage, and as a certifiably authoritative voice in the world of cosmetics (a 20-year-old college student), I’m here to review it all: the good, the bad, and the gnarly.
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First, we must tackle the makeup scene of the 80s. One of the first things that comes to mind in this realm is the image of eyelids: not neutral colored eyelids, but eye-catching ones coated in bright washes of color. Intense, colorful eyeshadow is one of the most memorable makeup fads of this decade. Between hot pinks and electric blues, any eyelid color that wouldn’t fit seamlessly into a strand of Christmas lights was out of fashion. I’m happy to say that this particular trend stands the test of time for me. Sure, it may be a little bold to rock royal purple eyelids to the grocery store, but makeup is all about having fun, so who are we to look down on the people of the 80s for having a good time?
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One of the biggest (and I mean that literally) beauty features of the 1980s was hair. By the time this decade came around, it was no longer something that naturally grew out of our heads and had to be dealt with accordingly; it was an accessory in and of itself. A statement. A challenge, even.
The 80s saw hair getting bigger and bouncier than it had ever been before. Think of Whitney Houston’s luscious curls, Madonna’s teased-up tresses, and even Jon Bon Jovi’s wild mane. Straight, smooth hair was out, and messy, voluminous curls were in. But of course, not everyone can be born with beautiful natural curls, so women and men alike sought out one big solution: the perm. A hair trend that has truly become infamous, the perm provided anyone who underwent one with long-lasting, tight, bouncy curls. While curly hair is a gorgeous feature to have, and when it’s natural, it practically never looks bad, there is something slightly off-putting about the look of chemically-reshaped curls the size of a fridge on someone with naturally straight hair. The perm look just isn’t for everyone, and I ultimately think it’s for the best that this particular trend mostly died in the 80s.
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In a similar vein, when you’re manipulating your hair into a large, poofy state that it doesn’t naturally grow in every day, a certain level of maintenance is required. This maintenance mainly took place through the application of hairspray. Not just a quick spritz of hairspray, however, we’re talking so much product that hair became a stiff, unmovable mass on top of people’s heads. Just like the perm, the look of hair that has been contorted and frozen into place just doesn’t work on most people, and I think it’s safe to say that, for the sake of our appearances (and our nostrils and lungs), daily usage of copious amounts of hairspray is a trend that can be safely left behind.
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Last but not least, we’ll look at a different kind of hair that got significant attention in the 80s. Not that which grew out of scalps, but that which grew on faces. Eyebrows were all the rage at this time, and it was generally considered that the bigger and bushier, the better. Sharply contrasting the thin, sharp, finely plucked look that came in style the following decade, the 80s embraced a natural, untamed look for eyebrows. Several beauty icons of the time, such as Brooke Shields, Madonna, and Debbie Harry, sported thick, dark brows that drew almost as much attention as their neon eyeshadow and permed hair. Thankfully, this is a look I can gladly get behind. While I love the look of a cleanly shaped eyebrow, there is a truly timeless beauty to letting your eyebrows grow and take their natural, God-given form. To pluck or not to pluck, that is entirely up to each individual, and it tends to look good either way.
At the end of the day, every decade has had its hits and misses when it comes to beauty trends. While those seen in the 1980s may have cultivated a more controversial reputation than those of other decades, it really all comes down to personal preference. The beauties of this time were clearly having fun with their makeup and hair, which is really the most tubular trend of all.
Strike Out,
Writer: Annaliese Long
Editor: Daniela Mendoza
Graphic Designer: Daniela Mendoza
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