12 Popular Hairstyles from the ’80s and ’90s That Were a Disaster

Hairstyles were no exception. The '80s and '90s were decades loaded with audacious fashion decisions. Some of these fads, from sky-high volumes to too-gelled looks, did not age well. This article discusses 12 of the most famous but catastrophic haircuts that previously dominated the scene.

Tricia Quitales
March 4, 2025
4 min read

12 Popular Hairstyles from the ’80s and ’90s That Were a Disaster — pedro furtado on Pexels

With larger, brighter, more radical styles, haircuts in the 1980s and 1990s were all about making a statement. Many of these styles have not endured and are sometimes regarded as hair catastrophes. From mullets to spiked bangs, these looks might have been trendy in the past but they didn’t always complement people who wore them. The top 12 worst haircuts that caught the interest of former fashion-forward people are reviewed in this post.

1. The Mullet

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Renowned as “business in the front, party in the back,” the mullet was an unusual blend of professional and rebellious. Even if many celebrities rocked it, it usually appeared messy and embarrassing. It was a controversial decision since the style was a sharp contrast to the accepted criteria of beauty.

2. The Rat Tail

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The rat tail consisted of shaving the remainder of the hair while leaving a little bit at the nape. Though sometimes viewed as eccentric or rebellious, this style simply looked odd and unworkable. It was particularly notorious for its strange and asymmetrical appearance.

3. Crimped Hair

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Many in the 1980s turned to crimped hair since it created a zigzag pattern all over the hair. It was prone to frizz and often challenging to maintain, even if it would have given volume and texture. Rather than being fashionable, the style made hair seem unduly heavy and unkempt.

4. Flat Top

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Popular in the early 1990s, the flat top was distinguished as the hair was trimmed to create a boxy form and straight-up alignment. Though it worked for some, it usually seemed synthetic and inflexible. Every face shape found the extreme form unsatisfactory, and the haircut didn’t age gracefully.

5. Frosted Tips

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During the late 1990s, frosted tips became a popular fashion, often including bleaching the tips of the hair. Although it was fashionable for a period, the synthetic and unnatural appearance soon got out of style. It looked particularly bad when combined with looks that were too spiky or gelled.

6. The Bowl Cut

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The bowl cut looked like a bowl set atop the skull chopped around the edges. Many people considered this ugly, angular haircut as messy and embarrassing. It seemed young and matched few facial forms.

7. Perms

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In the 1980s, permuted hair produced a tightly curled, voluminous appearance. Although it generated a lot of volume, the style was often overly frizzy and difficult to keep. Perms started to be connected throughout time with antiquated ideas of beauty.

8. Liberty Spikes

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Punk rock culture inspired liberty spikes since the hair sprang up with many sharp points. Though it made a strong statement, it sometimes seemed more disorganized than trendy. Usually not aging well, this radical approach was difficult to maintain.

9. Feathered Hair

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Particularly the trend in the 1980s, the hair was kept flowing outward to produce a delicate, layered appearance. Although it worked for some, the abuse of curling irons and hairspray gave it a hard appearance. Eventually, it was more antiquated than appealing.

10. The Mushroom Cut

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Another “90s look that matched a rounded, bowl-like form around the head” was the mushroom cut. Though it was somewhat trendy among younger audiences, it made many people seem to be sporting helmets. This odd cut lost favor fast.

11. The Poodle Perm

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This was a severe kind of perm, giving hair the poodle’s fluffy curls. Although it gave volume, the too-tight curls often looked artificial and frizzy. It was extremely high-maintenance and frequently left hair looking stiff and uncontrollably wild.

12. The Jheri Curl

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Popular in the ’80s, the Jheri curl was a moist, shiny, curled-haired style. Usually seeming oily or synthetic, it employed strong chemicals to achieve a glossy, curled look. However, the care was tiresome, and the look was less appealing than its supporters thought.