80s And 90s Inspired Hairstyles In 50+ Pictures

Whether you lived through these decades or not, you might be longing for them. The looks were varied and unique, the life simple, and the hairstyles rocked! So hop on the nostalgia train and take a look at these 80s and 90s inspired hairstyles!

Subtle 80s Inspired Hairstyles

Incorporate the feel of this chill decade into your everyday life with these hairstyles. They are subtle and modern enough to not scream “80s”, and yet you will know what they mean.

1. Wet curls

This hairstyle seems like it has just retuned from a few days of fun outside in the rain. Get this fun look with hair wax or oil and a hair curler.

2. Puffy bangs

Of all the 80s and 90s inspired hairstyles this is probably the most timeless one. All you need is to curl your bangs and pull your hair in a ponytail.

3. Frizzy 80s inspired hairstyles

This hairstyle, though a staple look of the 80s, can simply be your frilly hair left to its own devices for a bit.

4. Messy straight hair

Straight hair can be tricked into that “wet” look as well with a choppy hairstyle and some hair wax.

5. Undercut 80s inspired hairstyles

Undercuts are one of the easiest 80s and 90s inspired hairstyles to get, style, and adapt to modern times.

6. Shaggy

Get a shaggy haircut for a subtle, slightly retro look that might be hard to place but will surely give you the laid-back look you are aiming for.

7. Layered 80s inspired hairstyles

Long layers and bangs are the ultimate way to showcase 80s and 90s inspired hairstyles without looking like the cover of a magazine!

8. Backcomb

Fluff up your hair with the most popular hair trick from the 80s: the backcomb! This style will give you the vibe you want, but you won’t look like you are going to a themed party.

9. Choppy bangs 80s inspired hairstyles

When anime was just starting to grow, every nerdy kid wanted a hairstyle like this. Get it now and show how edgy became mainstream!

Throwback 80s inspired Hairstyles

If some inspiration isn’t enough and you really want to bring he 80s back in your life, revive these iconic hairstyles!

10. The poof

This is the staple look of the 80s, and the combination of extreme backcomb and tight curls is ready to make a comeback!

11. The mullet

The mullet was a popular hairstyle for young men, but it has been extended to women in recent years. So keep it in mind when looking for 80s and 90s inspired hairstyles.

12. Crimped 80s inspired hairstyles

Who can overlook the crimped look? It’s so rooted in the “just because I can” attitude towards hair popularized in the 80s!

13. The perm

Perms never really went away, they were just adapted to the times. But you can always bring back the original fluffy perm!

14. 80s inspired business hairstyles

If you want a very 80s hairstyle but still have to stick by a dress code, try this professional do!

15. Half up

Tie back the top half of your hair and don’t forget to tease the underlayer for the big 80s look!

16. Curly pixie cut

Even pixie cuts had to be big and curly! Use accessories to pull the bangs out of your face if you decide to go for this rebel look!

17. Messy 80s inspired hairstyles

The bedhead look she is sporting may seem easy but it’s in fact a hair sculpture with a bottle of hairspray in it!

18. Large waves

Who can forget the colorful heatless curlers and the look that they create? Try them for authenticity’s sake!

Subtle 90s Inspired Hairstyles

Time to switch the decade and go to the 90s. Revive styles you saw or wore back then and blend them with modern touches!

19. Extra volume

Though this look is from an advert of the times, thick hair never goes out of fashion so you can subtly style it like this and no one will bat an eye!

20. Highlighted 90s inspired hairstyles

The 90s were the time when your hair lightening in the sun was all the rage, and products that help with that were on the rise. Create the same effect with highlights!

21. Colored long bangs

In the 90s, colorful hair became more popular, especially colored bangs. A style like this will always remind 90s kids of their childhood!

22. Rounded bob 90s inspired hairstyles

As a countermove to the more rebellious 80s and 90s inspired hairstyles, this bob haircut became the style of choice for the “good” girls.

23. Feathered bangs

Feathered bangs were a popular choice in the 90s. See them here combined with a more modern haircut in a great fusion look!

24. Loose and ready to party

With festivals on the rise, the flowy hair, hippie look made comeback, so a wavy, loose, and slightly messy hair is always a good subtly vintage style.

25. Skater 90s inspired hairstyles

Skater girls started developing their style in the 90s, so high, practical ponytails and negligent, just hanging loose hair make good subtle styles to bring back.

26. Pink vibe

Having a full head of pink hair in the 90s was a brave move. Nowadays it’s just Tuesday, but that doesn’t stop you from living your dream style at last!

27. Clipped 90s inspired hairstyles

Blend vintage and practical in this clipped back style. The big strands of hair and neutral clips make this style perfect for flying just under the radar.

28. A little mess

The messy 80s look made room for a more tame version in the 90s, but the appeal of imperfect hair is still there!

29. Double half buns

Inspired by anime and edge culture in the 90s, these top knots are now just mainstream enough to have some vintage value without being too obviously a throwback style.

Throwback 90s Inspired Hairstyles

It’s been twenty years, it’s about time the 90s made a strong comeback! So dig out your sharp eyeliner and body glitter and rock these hairstyles lifted right from old pictures!

30. Feathered layers

Feathered hair was once the ultimate rebellion. Now it’s nothing extraordinary, but some styles, like this one, keep their angsty teen vibe.

31. Alt skater girl

Add a bright and unnatural color on top of the skater girl look for this rebellious hairstyle!

32. TV featured 90s inspired hairstyles

This hairstyle was featured in a Japanese movie, and all girls wanted it. It might be time it made a comeback!

33. First bantu knots

Appropriating protective hairstyles wasn’t that frowned upon in the 90s, and white girls went around sporting box braids and bantu knots. With the exception of a theme party, this look is better left in the past.

34. The full look

The double knots, the waves, and the long bangs create this staple 90s hairstyle, of course complimented by accessories.

35. Bedazzled 90s inspired hairstyles

The preteen and early teen kids in the 90s knew the value of decorating your hair with ALL the accessories, so live the dream and braid beads in your hair!

36. Return of the poof

The fluffy top knot declined after the 80s but made a comeback in the 90s for people with naturally curly hair this time.

37. Curly bob

There is something about 80s and 90s inspired hairstyles and being mandatorily big. And bobs are no exception.

38. The half up pigtails

Another staple look of the 90s kids, this style can make a comeback on teachers and people who deal with children.

39. Crimped to the max

The 80s crimp didn’t go away in the 90s, it was perfected. And you can always use it for the sake of nostalgia!

40. Butterfly clips

If earlier I gave you an example of subtle and practical butterfly clips, here they are making an appearance as an accessory.

41. Rebel hairstyle

This was the style that all the rebel kids wanted back in the day, and having this haircut made you instantly cool!

80s And 90s Inspired Goth Hairstyles

The Goth movement started to spread during these decades, so a list of 80s and 90s inspired hairstyles wouldn’t be complete with a few dark looks.

42. A drop of color

Let’s start easy, with colored dark hair, a look you can see on many platforms as goth.

43. Side shave

While this shaved style is closer to goth punk than anything else, but it still has its origin in he 90s.

44. Time too go blue

Another take on the goth style wit blue hair and choppy layers. This style works great for when you want to be able to go under the radar, because it doesn’t stand out on its own.

45. Such a tease

Put the 80s tease to good work with this extreme backcombed hairstyle! Still out there, but also a nostalgia trip!

46. Face framing

These face framing strands are the dark version of the anime hairstyle earlier on this list, rooted in visual kei, a style originating in the 1980s Japan.

47. Goth dreadlocks

Thin dreadlocks can still be a valid fashion choice, if worn with a goth look, even if they are a throwback to the 90s.

48. Soft look

This hairstyle is the balance between what is socially accepted and the inner goth trying to reach out!

49. Rock concert

Be always ready for a concert! This hairstyle will always stand out, due to its colors and frizzy cut.

50. Princess of darkness

No 80s and 90s inspired hairstyles list would be complete without mentioning the lady who blended goth and mainstream in her look, Wynona Ryder!

Bonus

51. Popular Perm

Julia Roberts was a hairdo pro back in the day, so you could try to model your 80s and 90s inspired hairstyles after hers!

Final Thoughts

Have these 80s and 90s inspired hairstyles sent you down memory lane? Or are you nostalgic for a time you didn’t even live? Let me know in the comments below which of these gave you nostalgia whiplash and which ones you would totally wear!