15 Things Teenagers Did Before Leaving for a Friday Night Out in the ’80s

The Friday night ritual in the 1980s usually started several hours before teenagers left the house. It was not just about picking up appropriate clothes and grooming. Teenagers completed their household duties, got approval from their parents, counted money, made transportation arrangements, looked at movie schedules, packed what was necessary, and took into account their curfew times. Music played as rooms turned into preparation spots. If someone had a license, they had to have their keys and fill their gas tank, and everyone else relied on their parents, brothers or sisters, or other licensed teenagers for transportation. Watch and quarters at the pay phone made sure that teenagers stayed on schedule in a time when smartphones were unheard of.

1. Picked the Perfect Outfit

In preparation for their night out, teens would often linger in front of bedroom mirrors trying to decide what was appropriate for the night. In the eighties, fashion made the statement before anyone opened their mouth. The girls would wear acid-washed jeans, sweatshirts, leg warmers, denim jackets, or flashy accessories. On the other hand, the boys would go for stonewashed jeans, polo shirts, leather jackets, or hi-tops. Brands such as Levi’s, Guess, or Members Only had enough teen appeal. The outfits varied according to where they were going: the mall, the movies, skating, parties, or a dance.

2. Spent Serious Time Fixing Their Hair

Hair required thorough consideration before many teens left the house for Friday night. In the 1980’s, volume was the trend; hence preparation meant teasing, spraying, curling, crimping, and styling each part. Girls made use of curling irons, hot rollers, crimpers, mousse, and a lot of Aqua Net spray. Boys took time to style their hair too, particularly where feather cuts, mullets, spikes, and styled haircuts were popular. The bathroom mirror was turned into a hairstyling station with brothers and sisters waiting their turn outside. The hair had to be able to stand the test of dancing, roller-skating, wind, and staying out of the house all night.

3. Called Friends to Confirm the Plan

Before departing, teenagers would call their friends to finalize the last-minute details. No texts or instant messages were waiting in a pocket. The plans were sorted out through home phones, either wall-mounted or resting on a countertop in the kitchen. Phone calls had to be made to verify who would attend, what the meeting point would be, and when the parents would arrive. Being busy at times could ruin everything, as well as complaints from other family members about the phone being occupied. Teenagers could try moving the cord into a hallway to get some privacy. When all was said and done, several calls could have been made.

4. Negotiated the Curfew With Their Parents

Before the night began on Friday evening, most teens needed to seek permission from their parents. This would normally involve asking about the destination, who the friends were, how they were getting there, and when they were expected back. Parents wanted to know these details and more, particularly if there was going to be a party or the place was unknown to the teen. There was often an agreement to add another hour, provided that the teen called in case there was a change in plans. Having a strict curfew could influence the whole night, since coming back late would result in being denied permission the following weekend.

5. Finished Their Chores Before Heading Out

Access to Friday night fun was usually contingent upon getting the chores done first. Teens would clean dishes, haul out the garbage, vacuum one room, give food to the pets, mow the lawn, or clean their own rooms before heading out. At times, parents had a very straightforward policy for teens that read, “no chores done, no going out.” Thus, chores were turned into a challenge. If there was a teen who expected friends by seven but the kitchen remained to be cleaned by six thirty, then he or she definitely had some motivation. Doing those chores ensured that there would not be an argument right at the beginning of the evening. After the last chore was done, the reward was obvious.

6. Counted Their Spending Money

Cash was an important consideration prior to any Friday night out, even if the night out appeared cheap. Teenagers looked through their wallets, handbags, pockets in jackets, and bed drawers to make sure there was enough cash to pay for things like pizza, tickets to the movies, arcade games, skating, or gas. Teenagers got some of their cash from babysitting, lawn-mowing, newspaper delivery services, or even part-time jobs. Others would ask for a few bucks from their parents before heading out for the evening. As debit cards and cell phone payment plans did not exist yet, it became important to have the cash in one’s possession.

7. Checked the Family Car Before Driving

For a teenager who was planning to drive, there was one important thing before they left home: looking at the family car. Depending on how much gasoline there was, the evening could end either at the mall, at the movies, at the party, or nowhere. Teenage drivers looked at the fuel level and even asked their parents if the car needed any gas. They also checked that the keys were around and that the car wasn’t taken by another member of the family. In most families, using the car was a matter of conditions concerning mileage, company, and time of return. Having keys in hand made teenagers feel independent.

8. Arranged a Ride for the Evening

Teens who did not have their license would always arrange for a ride even before stepping out of the house. In most cases, parents, older siblings, and licensed teens played a crucial role in planning out Friday nights. Somebody had to drive teens to the mall, movies, skating rinks, dances, and parties; somebody even had to drive them back home. Teens made sure that they arranged the pickup time well since making any changes afterwards would be hard. Sometimes, parents agreed to pick up several friends from the same place just to avoid further driving. Some other teenagers found a specific place where they could meet outside the movie or shopping complex.

9. Packed Their Pockets and Purses With Essentials

Before heading out, teenagers frequently stuffed their pockets or bags with necessary items that would otherwise be impossible to replace once out of the house. First on the list was the house key, especially when the parents intended to sleep before the teenager arrived home. Other items like a comb, lip balm, tissue paper, money, ID card, or even a compact mirror would be included. If there were girls, makeup to refresh themselves at the restaurant or shopping malls’ washrooms was another thing to carry. For drivers, they would carry a driver’s license and car keys, but other teenagers carried money for the pay phone.

10. Played Music While Getting Ready

Music played a significant role in setting the atmosphere before the teenagers had arrived at their Friday night destination. Most listened to music on vinyl, tape or the radio as they prepared in their bedrooms and living rooms. Various artists like Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, and Cyndi Lauper, among others, provided music that was appropriate based on preference and period. Some teenagers would increase the music volume while they dressed, while others would wait until a particular song played on the FM station. Music changed the entire process of preparing to the commencement of the evening itself. By the time a ride was waiting outside, all were energized.

11. Checked Movie Times in the Newspaper

Occasionally, teens would look at the entertainment schedule of the day before leaving, particularly when a film was involved. The newspaper would publish advertisements for movies including their names, locations, ratings, and times in the entertainment column, thus becoming an essential aid in planning. In some cases, a family would leave the newspaper by the phone while friends talked about how to catch a film. Using the recorded announcement service in theaters was a common practice too. Failure to catch the movie on time meant that either one had to wait for the next session or change the plans entirely. In the absence of any application for instant updates, teens had to familiarize themselves with the schedule before going out.

12. Packed an Overnight Bag for a Sleepover

Teenagers who had plans to spend the night at their friends’ homes made preparations for that prior to going out. An overnight bag could include pajamas, a toothbrush, a change of clothes, deodorant, and anything else that would be needed in the morning. The sleepover often went well past the movie, dancing, or party into Friday night. Talking, listening to music, watching television, playing games, and staying up much longer than planned were common activities for the evening. Parents typically preferred to know about the sleeping arrangement before midnight arrived. Making the preparation also prevented an unnecessary journey home.

13. Made Sure Their Watch Showed the Right Time

Teenagers even used to change the watch before they went out, or else check the time very carefully compared to that on the house clocks. Curfew times, movie times, transportation arrangements, and parties were based on knowledge of the time without having to use the cell phone. The digital watches became very common in the 1980s era, while the normal wristwatches were common too. Having a watch gave teenagers power over the night and prevented them from being late when coming back home. Teenagers were usually asked by their friends who had the watch about the time during the night. Before they left, they had to take a look just to see if they were all late.

14. Added Makeup, Cologne, or Perfume

Before going out dancing or partying, or even on a date, many teenagers finished up their grooming routine with makeup, perfumes, colognes, and even aftershave. Eye shadow, blush, eyeliner, and lip gloss were part of the popular 80s fashion in beauty, while perfumes gave it an additional touch. Boys put on aftershave and cologne after shaving and dressing. The counter of the bathroom became cluttered with bottles, brushes, compacts, and cosmetics. Teenagers tried different looks influenced by musicians, actors, magazines, and fellow students, but in most cases, it was about feeling presentable enough. There was always one last mirror look-up ahead, and then the cosmetics were put away, and perfume was left behind.

15. Ate Something Before Heading Out

Most teens would consume some food before going anywhere, especially since the plans for the evening revolved around movies, dancing, music concerts, or even cruising with friends. A homemade dinner meant money saved from being spent on quick meals. Other teens would have their own bag of chips or sandwiches, or leftover food to eat before the transportation came. The parents’ preference would be that the teens should eat before leaving, especially in situations where there was no plan for the evening’s schedule. Hunger became one less issue to worry about on a Friday night. With the cleaning of plates and drinking of beverages done, focus was put on the door.