Honestly, if you told someone five years ago that we’d be unironically wearing blue eyeshadow and side-swept perms again, they’d have laughed you out of the room. But here we are. The 80 makeup and hairstyles revival isn't just a TikTok trend or a weird nostalgic blip; it’s a full-on cultural takeover that has redefined how we think about "cool" in 2026.
It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s aggressively colorful.
We spent a decade obsessed with "clean girl" aesthetics and "no-makeup" makeup. It was boring, frankly. Everyone looked like they just stepped out of a beige-colored yoga studio. The return of 80s-inspired looks is the antidote to that perfectionism. We’re seeing a massive shift toward "maximalist beauty," where the goal isn't to look natural—it’s to look like you’re having a blast. Whether it's the resurgence of the "wolf cut" (which is just a shag with a better PR team) or the return of draped blush, the 1980s are currently the most influential decade in the beauty industry.
The Science of the Shag and Why Your Hair Loves It
You’ve probably seen the "butterfly cut" or the "octopus haircut" on your feed. Let’s be real: those are just rebranded 80s shags. The core philosophy of 80 makeup and hairstyles when it came to hair was simple—volume equals power.
Back then, it was achieved with a lot of Aqua Net and questionable perms. Today, we’re using texturizing sprays and "air-dry" creams to get that same lived-in, chaotic energy without the crunchy texture. Stylist Chris Appleton has noted in several interviews that modern clients are moving away from the flat, glass-hair look of the late 2010s in favor of movement. They want layers. They want bangs that actually do something.
The mullet, once the most mocked haircut in history, has undergone a total redemption arc. Rihanna and Miley Cyrus basically paved the way for the "modern mullet" or "shullet." It works because it’s low maintenance. You wake up, shake it out, and you’re done. It’s the ultimate lazy-girl hack that happens to look high-fashion.
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Then there’s the crimping. Yeah, crimping is back. But don't go digging for that old iron that smells like burnt plastic. The 2026 version is "micro-crimping" at the roots for volume or doing soft, organic waves that mimic the texture without looking like a waffle iron attacked your head.
Draped Blush: The 80s Technique That Actually Fixes Your Face
If you haven’t tried "draping" yet, you’re missing out on the easiest facelift of your life. In the mid-80s, makeup artist Way Bandy—who worked with legends like Cher and Elizabeth Taylor—popularized this. Instead of putting blush just on the apples of your cheeks, you take it up.
Way up.
You’re basically sculpting the face with color. You start at the cheekbone and sweep it up toward the temples, sometimes even blending it into the eyeshadow. It creates this lifted, editorial look that makes your bone structure pop. It’s way more flattering than the heavy contouring we saw in 2016. Using a cream blush in a berry or bright peach tone makes this look modern. It shouldn't look like a stripe; it should look like a glow that just happens to be very intense.
The Blue Eyeshadow Myth
People are terrified of blue eyeshadow. They think they’ll look like Mimi from The Drew Carey Show. But the 80 makeup and hairstyles movement taught us that blue is actually a neutral if you use the right shade.
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Check out the 2025/2026 runway shows for brands like Marc Jacobs or even some of the recent Pat McGrath Labs drops. We aren't seeing chalky, pale blue. We’re seeing deep navies, electric cobalt liners, and sheer, shimmery teals. The trick is to keep the rest of the face simple. If you’re doing a bold 80s eye, skip the heavy lip. Or don't. Who cares? The 80s were about breaking rules.
One thing people get wrong about 80s eyes is the shape. It wasn't just a circle of color. It was often winged out or squared off. It was architectural. Using a damp brush with a high-pigment shadow allows you to get that sharp, graphic edge that defines the era’s "power look."
Permanent Waves and Chemical Reality
We have to talk about perms. The "digital perm" is the 2026 version of the 1984 chemical nightmare. It’s a much gentler process that uses heat and different chemicals to create soft, bouncy curls rather than tight, frizzy coils.
Men are actually driving this trend more than women lately. The "broccoli sprout" hair—tight curls on top with a fade—is everywhere in high schools and colleges. It’s a direct descendant of the 80s perm.
However, there’s a limit. Modern hair health is a bigger priority than it was forty years ago. We have Olaplex and K18 now. We can rebuild the bonds in the hair while we’re perm-ing it. If you’re going for that 80s volume, you have to be realistic about your hair’s porosity. Not everyone can handle the lift required for a "lioness" mane.
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The "Power Brow" vs. The "Skinny Brow"
There’s a weird tension in 2026 beauty. On one hand, we have the Brooke Shields-inspired "Power Brow"—thick, brushed up, and slightly unruly. On the other, the 90s thin brow is trying to make a comeback.
The 80s brow is winning because it’s just more youthful. It’s about "spiked" brows. You use a heavy-duty brow gel or even actual hair wax to pull the hairs upward. It opens up the eye area. In the 80s, people didn't over-pluck; they let the brows be the focal point of the face. It’s a look that says you’re too busy being a mogul to bother with tweezers.
Practical Steps to Modernize the 80s Look
You don't want to look like you're going to a costume party. You want to look like a person who knows what’s up. Here is how you actually execute 80 makeup and hairstyles without the cringe factor:
- Switch your blush placement. Start at the high point of your cheekbone and blend toward your ear. It lifts the face instantly.
- Invest in a "shag" or "wolf cut." Ask your stylist for "internal layers." This gives you the volume without the 80s "shelf" look where the top is disconnected from the bottom.
- Use a colored mascara. A deep burgundy or a dark forest green is a subtle nod to 80s color without being overwhelming.
- Embrace the "lived-in" eyeliner. In the 80s, eyeliner was often smudged. Use a kohl pencil, draw a messy line, and use your finger to blur it. It’s sexy, fast, and very "rock star."
- Focus on the finish. The 80s were matte. 2026 is "dewy matte." Use a luminous foundation but set your T-zone with a blurring powder. You want to look like you’ve been dancing, not like you’re made of plastic.
The biggest mistake people make is trying to do every 80s trend at once. Pick one. If you’re doing the big hair, keep the makeup neutral. If you’re doing the electric blue liner, keep your hair sleek.
The beauty of this era was its fearlessness. People used makeup as armor and hair as an expression of status. In an era where everything feels increasingly digital and filtered, there’s something deeply satisfying about the tactile, messy, and loud reality of 80s-inspired beauty. It’s about taking up space. It’s about being seen. And honestly, it’s just a lot more fun than a "clean girl" bun.
To truly master this, start with your hair texture. Use a sea salt spray on damp hair, scrunch it, and let it air dry. See how much natural volume you can get before you reach for the heat tools. Once you have the height, the rest of the look falls into place.