12 Hairstyles That Took Hours and Way Too Much Hairspray
These 12 hairstyles were bold, time-consuming, and held together by layers of hairspray that seemed to last forever.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Hair trends from past decades often demanded serious time, effort, and product. Many styles involved teasing, curling, or shaping hair into elaborate forms that needed heavy hairspray to hold. These looks were high-maintenance but seen as stylish and worth the trouble at the time.
1. The ’80s Mall Bangs
Les Anderson on Wikimedia Commons
This style involved curling the front section of the hair straight up and spraying it into a stiff, towering shape. The higher the bangs, the better, and holding them in place meant using layers of hairspray. Teasing the roots and shaping the curve took several tries to get right. People often touched them up throughout the day to keep them standing tall.
2. The Beehive
Geoff Charles on Wikimedia Commons
Hair was teased, rolled, and stacked to create a tall, rounded shape on top of the head. It took time to build volume and tuck every section into place with pins. Hairspray was used heavily to keep the height from falling throughout the day. The final look was polished, but it was anything but quick.
3. ’90s Prom Curls with Crunch
Iolaire McKinnon on Wikimedia Commons
Girls spent hours getting tight curls, often using small-barrel irons or rollers. Once styled, the curls were set in place with a strong gel or spray, giving them a stiff, crunchy texture. The goal was to make the curls last all night without drooping. It looked shiny and sculpted but didn’t feel soft.
4. Victory Rolls
David Merrett on Wikimedia Commons
Popular in the 1940s, this look involved rolling sections of hair into smooth, cylindrical shapes. It required careful sectioning, setting, and pinning, plus a mirror to get the angles right. Even one loose roll could throw off the whole style. A strong hold spray was used to keep the rolls tight and smooth.
5. Teased Crown with Flat Ironed Ends
Mario Segovia on Wikimedia Commons
The top section of hair was backcombed for volume while the ends were flat-ironed straight. This contrast created a big, full crown with sleek lower layers. Keeping the teased area in shape needed repeated spraying and combing. The style was high-impact but often uncomfortable after a few hours.
6. Pageant Hair
Agbadaola on Wikimedia Commons
Hair was curled in large, soft sections and then layered to build full volume all around. Each curl had to be set and sprayed before moving on to the next. After styling, the hair was brushed out and reshaped without losing the lift. It looked effortless, but getting there took hours.
7. Crimped Everything
Denise Mahoney on Wikimedia Commons
Crimping irons pressed hair into zigzag patterns from root to tip. The process was slow and had to be done in small sections to get full coverage. Once finished, the hair was sprayed to keep the texture from falling flat. The result was bold and stiff, not soft or flowing.
8. Finger Waves
Studio on Wikimedia Commons
This style required molding wet hair into defined “S” shaped waves using a comb and fingers. Each section had to dry completely in place, often with clips holding the curves. Once dry, the waves were sprayed gently to keep the pattern. It was delicate work that took precision and time.
9. Feathered Layers
ABC Television on Wikimedia Commons
Inspired by the ’70s and early ’80s, this look had long layers flipped away from the face. Blow-drying and round-brushing each section took time and practice. Hairspray was used at the end to keep the feathers from falling flat. A lot of movement in the hair meant a lot of effort to keep it in place.
10. Sleek Buns with No Flyaways
Stilfehler on Wikimedia Commons
Every strand had to be pulled tight and smoothed flat before shaping the bun. Gel or mousse was applied first, then the bun was created and locked in with spray. A brush and comb were used repeatedly to get a smooth, even finish. It looked neat but took effort to control every tiny hair.
11. Spiral Perms
Cold Wave on Wikimedia Commons
Getting a spiral perm meant hours in the salon with rods of different sizes. After the chemical process, hair was styled with mousse or spray to define each curl. The curls needed careful drying and separating without frizzing. Once set, the curls held their shape for weeks, but the first styling took a full day.
12. Updos with Cascading Curls
Jonvanv on Wikimedia Commons
Often worn for weddings or formal dances, this look combined pinned-up sections with long curled strands. Each curl had to be made separately and arranged in a specific order. Pins and spray were used to hold both the volume and structure in place. The final result looked elegant, but every piece had to be perfectly placed.