80s Hairstyles for Black Women: Bold, Beautiful, and Timeless

The 80s were a significant period of self-expression for the black community. People didn’t just express themselves using words; they did so with their appearance.

Black women in the 80s expressed themselves through the hairstyles they wore. They made bold statements and showcased their identity with pride. That is why hairstyles in the 80s were characterized as “bold”.

The 80s black hairstyles expressed glamorous cultural pride that you can tap into today. Let’s take you down the “Hip Hop” and “Shoulder Pad” memory lane for some unique hairstyle inspiration that you can adapt today.

Top 11 Gorgeous 80s Hair Styles for Black Women

In the 80s, bold hairstyles became a thing. These hairstyles were mostly voluminous and impressive, so you almost cannot miss their presence. Here are 11 of these hairstyles:

1. The 80s Afro Hairstyle

Afro was one of the statement-making hairstyles that marked the 80s. Afro hairstyles still rock now, but they were a symbol of freedom and self-expression back in the day. These hairstyles allowed both black men and women to express themselves and celebrate their ethnicity by honoring their natural hair texture.

Afro in the 80s was marked by its volume. Think fully rounded, big statement-making afro hair in all its glory. It was often accessorized with glitter, combs, petals, etc. Different people wore their afros in a variety of styles, like afro with side parts, heart-shaped afro, afro with curly ends, etc.

The afro hairstyle was fashionable, and almost every black woman in different nations wore this hairstyle. It was a movement used to mark the era. 

2. 80s Perm Hair

Perm hair was another trending '80s hairstyle. This hairstyle is characterized by large ringlets that frame the whole head in a bold fashion. The 1980s were characterized by bold hairstyles, and the perm was one such hairstyle that ladies in the era wore with pride.

Celebrities like Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson have been spotted wearing this hairstyle. The perm hair looked bold and beautiful, plus it was the hairstyle of the trending woman who loves to look after herself.

Women who wore perm hair were often considered to have a good sense of grooming because it often required clean hair. Hair products like setting lotion, hair mouse, setting spray, perm rods, and perm rollers were used to create the perm curls.

The perms could be done at home or in a salon. The curls can be large or small, depending on the length and thickness of your hair.

3. Jheri Curls

If you think of iconic hairstyles of the 80s, then you must think of Jheri curls. Jheri curls is also a curly hairstyle that was trendy in the 80s, but this hairstyle stood out because of the wet look it had. The curls were tiny, precise, and had a wet, glossy look.

This hairstyle wasn’t only for black women; black men also wore this hairstyle. It was a sensation.

The jheri curls came as an alternative to relaxers; the hairstyle became popular for its wash-and-go effect. Although it did not require the use of a relaxer, it was still chemically processed using its own Jheri curl product. The hairstyle started to gain momentum after it was adapted by black entrepreneurs.

Afterward, celebrities like Michael Jackson popularized the hairstyle with his “Thriller” music. This hairstyle became a sensation and a significant part of the 80s beauty and fashion.

4. 80s Finger Waves

Finger waves were a distinct hairstyle that some people wore in the 80s. Although not as popular as the jheri curls, the finger curls were mostly popular in the 30s. However, the trend began to rise again in the late 1980s and gained popularity in the 1990s.

Artists like Missy Elliot popularized the finger curl hairstyle in the 90s. The finger curl hairstyle features a simple way of wearing curls by setting them in a wave instead of individual curls.

We can also see the rise of finger curls today on the red carpet, and it looks absolutely amazing.

5. The 80s Pompadour

The pompadour was a popular hairstyle in the 1980s that featured a “mohawk-like” style of hair. Most pompadour hairstyles are sleeked on the sides to highlight the protruding base in front.

The pompadour hairstyle wasn’t originally popular in the 80s. It was popular in the 50s and 60s, but more black women started wearing this hairstyle due to chemical treatment, and the trend for voluminous hair became popular.

The funny thing is that we have seen the rise of pompadour hairstyles in recent times. Different fashion influencers have come out to recreate this hairstyle, and some with a modern flair.

6. 80’s Sleek Side Fold Hairstyle

@copa.brianna My second attempt at 1980s inspired hair, I don’t think its quite high enough but I still like it #vintage #vintageinspired #grwm #vintagestyle #80s #1980s #hair #hairtok #hairstyles #vintagehair ♬ Pop Muzik - M / Robin Scott & Robin Scott

Chemical treatment became popular in the 80s. The more black women relaxed their natural hair, the came a need for more styling options. “Relaxed hair” hairstyles like the bob and the side-swept fold became popular in this era.

This hairstyle was also popular in the 90s.

7. Flipped Bobs with Light Bangs

The flipped-up bob hairstyle was originally a 60s hairstyle trend for Jackie Kennedy and Mary Tyler Moore. This hairstyle trend featured a shoulder-length bob that is flipped up instead of curved in.

Although popularized in the 60s, this hairstyle saw a wave in the 80s. It resurfaced in the 80s when black women started getting perms and styling their hair to retain some curl patterns.

8. Half-Up, Half-Down

The half-up, half-down hairstyle that you love and wear today has existed for a long time. This hairstyle also became popular in the 80s and 90s when black women started styling their hair freely with the use of chemical treatments.

In the 80s, curly hair was a thing. Even if black women started treating their hair chemically, there was still the need to enjoy the volume of their natural kinky hair. Wearing their hair in a half-up, half-down style often gave the illusion of volume (which shaped the era’s hairstyle trend).

The half-up, half-down hairstyle was styled differently in the 80s. That is because there was an emphasis on volume rather than the trend in sleek hairstyles that we see today.

9. Salt N’ Pepa (80s Asymmetrical Bob Hairstyle)

The Salt N’ Pepa hairstyle is simply the asymmetrical bob hairstyle that features short bobs with shaved sides. This hairstyle was called the Salt N’ Pepa hairstyle because they were popularized by the hip-hop group called Salt N’ Pepa.

The hip-hop group became popular in the 80s, so they influenced and promoted this hairstyle. This hairstyle was a bit away from the “big afro” norm in the '80s. This hairstyle was part of the shaved hair trends that started in the mid/late 80s.

The Salt ‘n Pepa hairstyle is characterized by having asymmetrical hair. In this case, one side of the hair is significantly shorter than the other. This contrast gave rise to a distinctive new style that characterized the era.

Lovers of hip-hop mimicked and spread the trend further. Also, think of this hairstyle as the “Shut Up N’ Drive” of the 2000s.

10. Braids in the 80s

Braids were popular hairstyles in the 80s. Braids are part of the '80s bold and expressive movement. Braids also served as protective hairstyles that helped black women in the 80s manage their kinky curls better without frequent manipulation.

The trendy braids hairstyles in the 80s were braids with beads. The beads accessorized the hairstyle and gave it some sort of presence.

Popular musicians like Patrice Rushen and Rick James popularized the hairstyle. Braids were worn in different styles in the 80s (half-up, half-down, ponytail, bobs, etc.)

11. 80s Heatless Blowout Curls

@naomiii.nb

Attempting a 80s blowout look 📻📺✨ Hair details in my showcase!!

♬ I Wonder If I Take You Home (with Full Force) - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

Big, bouncy volume—that's all the words we can use to describe these 80s blowout curls. Even today, we can always see this hairstyle show up on red carpets, slayed by celebrities.

How to Get the Big 80s Hair?

You can get the big 80s hair by wearing big curly hair extensions or curling your natural hair. If you have full and thick natural hair, then you can get the big 80s hair by:

a. Wear out your natural kinky hair

b. Curling your hair with a curling iron if you have relaxed hair

c. Using perms rods or rollers to put your hair in curls (adding volumizers will help with adding more volume)

Alternatively, you can buy a kinky curly wig. Kinky human hair wigs will help you achieve the big 80s hairstyle without putting your natural hair through manipulations.

Kinky hair is naturally voluminous, so curling it will give you the extra volume that characterized the 80s hairstyle. Buying a high-quality human hair kinky hair extension will determine the style flexibility option that you have.

High-quality hair extensions are easier to manipulate.

That’s It!

The 80s hairstyles weren’t just a trend; they marked a movement in black history, especially in America. This era showed the boldness and expressiveness of blacks.

These hairstyles didn’t exist in isolation; they evolved from other hairstyles. Which 80s hairstyle was your favorite? Let us know in the comments section.