Most Popular Women's Celebrity Hairstyles of the 1980's

Aah, the 1980's - a decade of wild celebrity hairstyles! The introduction of mousse allowed hair to go higher and fluffier than ever before. MTV culture swept the world, with now-classic music videos featuring asymmetrical new wave haircuts in wild colors and mall hair, the bigger the better. The growing cult of the movie star, spurred by blockbusters, cable television, and movie rentals, helped to spur the popularity of celebrity hairstyles.

The People's Princess - Most Influential Hairstyle of the 80's

Lady Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales took celebrity to a whole new level. Her fluffy blonde bob was widely copied not just in England, but around the world. The British tabloids reported every variation in length and every change in highlight. She deserves a place in our hearts as the owner of the most influential celebrity hairstyle of the 80's, copied by women everywhere.

Video Killed the Radio Star

Still a celebrity today, and a woman of many hairstyles, one of Madonna's early popular hairstyles was seen in the 80's movie Desperately Seeking Susan. A fairly basic bleached and waved bob, the key element was the headband or scarf, preferably black lace, tied in a big floppy bow on top of the head.

"She's So Unusual" wild woman Cyndi Lauper was famous for her punk image. An asymmetrical hairstyle with spiky ginger hair, occasionally streaked in colors, Cyndi was a celebrity girl who was having fun.

The Rise of the Supermodel

Cindy Crawford was one of the first great celebrity supermodels of the 80's and became noted for her perfect hair as well as her iconic mole. A rich brunette color, her long, thick, slightly layered hairstyle with side part and Veronica Lake-like waves was coveted by many.

Girls on Film

Molly Ringwald, teen celebrity and star of iconic 1980's movies Sixteen Candles,Pretty in Pink, and The Breakfast Club, popularized a short bob reminiscent of Louise Brooks. Most notable was the distinctive red color which according to Time Magazine made "an entire generation of young girls wish for red hair."

Kelly LeBrock, the perfect woman from 1985's Weird Science, had masses of soft dark curls, movement made possible by the decline of hairspray in favor of mousse. Men wanted her, women wanted to be her, complete with wind machine to blow those ringlets back from the face.

One of the most popular and regrettable haircuts for girls and young women of the 1980s' was the Valley Girl 'do. This hairstyle and its variants, sported by not just celebrities, but mall rats across the country was first seen on Julie (Deborah Foreman) from 1983's Valley Girl. It was, like, omigod, totally tubular mall hair! Crucial to this hairstyle were blonde highlights, the overprocessed and frizzy appearance of a perm gone bad, and gravity-defying bangs pointing up. Labor intensive hours with a curling iron and numerous styling products were essential, while the banana clip was optional.

On the Small Screen

Sitcom princess Lisa Whelchel, Blair Warner from The Facts of Life had great hair, and was unapologetic about it. A sleek blonde with a slightly off center part and natural waves that those "body perms" were supposed to give, she got progressively blonder as the show went on, but never succumbed to full frizziness.

80's celebrity Justine Bateman, Mallory Keaton from Family Ties, played a character that was ditsy but popular. Her brunette hairstyle featured bangs and long gently waved hair, which became wavier as the '80's went by. She also occasionally sported the iconic 80's sideways ponytail.

Alyssa Milano, Samantha from Who's the Boss grew up before our eyes from a tomboy with ponytail and bangs to a sleek and well-groomed young lady. Her hair was long, smooth and shiny, often held back with a barrette, in a rich brunette with hints of red. Alyssa was a teen icon of the 80's who has transformed herself into a celebrity of today - and kept her perfect hair!

Molly Ringwald, Time.com

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