12 Obsolete ’80s Beauty Trends That Feel Strange Now
These beauty trends from the 1980s were once bold statements but now feel like quirky time capsules of a fearless era in self-expression.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
The 1980s were a wild frontier for beauty, defined by color, volume, and a whole lot of sparkle. People weren’t afraid to be seen, and their makeup and hair choices reflected a loud-and-proud aesthetic driven by music videos, pop idols, and experimental spirit. Looking back, it’s both fascinating and hilarious to see what we once considered the peak of glamour.
1. Blue Eyeshadow from Lid to Brow
Vince Mariel Conlu from Unsplash
It wasn’t just a pop of color — it was a full-on wall of shimmering blue, swept from lash line to brow bone like a Crayola experiment. Every teen girl’s makeup bag had a cheap compact of electric blue shadow, no matter her eye color. Today, it feels more costume than couture, but back then, it was the height of glam.
2. Crimped Hair
J Morgan from Unsplash
The zigzag texture of crimped hair looked like something that had just been freed from a waffle iron. Girls would spend hours using those hot metal crimpers to achieve a wild, ridged effect that screamed rebellion. Now, it feels like a relic of a time when the louder the hair, the better.
3. Frosted Lips
Omar Shishani from Unsplash
Pale, icy lipstick shades with a metallic sheen were all the rage, giving lips a ghostly glow that looked more extraterrestrial than elegant. Whether it was baby pink or icy lavender, the goal was to glisten under mall lighting. The frosted lip has since been buried beneath decades of gloss, matte, and nude lip trends.
4. Over-Plucked Eyebrows
Amanda Dalbjörn from Unsplash
In the ’80s, thin brows were the gold standard, often tweezed within an inch of their lives to get that angular, high-arched look. Many women are still waiting for their brows to grow back after this trend. Compared to today’s bushy brow obsession, it’s hard to believe we once thought less was more.
5. Bold Blush Stripes
Wesley Tingey from Unsplash
Rouge wasn’t just applied to the apples of the cheeks — it was swiped dramatically up the cheekbones like war paint. Shades like hot pink and coral were layered on thick to give a “healthy” glow that often looked more like a sunburn. It was as if contouring was done with a single, blinding color.
6. Permed Hair for Everyone
Ian Talmacs from Unsplash
If your hair wasn’t naturally curly, no problem—a chemical perm could fix that. From housewives to businessmen, tight curls and waves became a universal look, thanks to hours in the salon and a strong scent of ammonium thioglycolate. Looking back, it’s amazing how willingly people sacrificed hair health for puffed-up permanence.
7. Hair Feathers and Extensions
Evie S. from Unsplash
Before clip-ins and natural blends, synthetic hair extensions in odd colors were braided in or clipped on for fun. Feathers, beads, and plastic threads would dangle alongside teased bangs and layers. What started as playful self-expression now feels more like a craft project.
8. Heavy Contour with Little Blending
Kelly Sikkema from Unsplash
Contouring wasn’t about subtle shaping but stark definition — cheekbones, jawlines, and noses were slashed with visible brown stripes. Blending tools were nearly nonexistent, so most of it sat on the skin like stage makeup. It gave the illusion of structure but lacked the finesse we expect from modern techniques.
9. Glitter Everywhere
Susan Wilkinson from Unsplash
From body lotion to hair gel, glitter was packed into nearly every product and applied with enthusiasm. You weren’t ready to hit the roller rink without sparkles catching the light as you moved. Today, loose glitter is more associated with festival looks than daily wear.
10. Neon Nail Polish
Bruno Thethe from Unsplash
Fluorescent yellows, greens, and pinks adorned fingers and toes like radioactive candy. The brighter the shade, the more on-trend it was, regardless of outfit or occasion. While pops of color still live on, this level of neon intensity rarely makes it out of nostalgia parties.
11. Dramatic Hair Teasing
Paul Siewert from Unsplash
Backcombing was an art form, and the goal was always to defy gravity. Armed with hairspray and a rat-tail comb, women would tease their bangs sky-high and anchor them in place. The resulting helmet of hair was a labor of love that’s now more Halloween than high fashion.
12. Color-Blocked Eyeshadow
Siora Photography from Unsplash
Stacking multiple bold colors on the eyelids — like hot pink, turquoise, and yellow — was not just accepted, it was encouraged. Blending was optional, and the more contrast, the better. It was a walking palette of paint swatches and pure confidence.