Eighties wedding hair was built on one idea: more. Perms, teased crowns, crimped lengths and veils that trailed down the aisle, all held in place by a cloud of Aqua Net. These retro looks are back on mood boards now, and the brides who bring them to me usually want the drama without the crunch. That’s very doable with modern products and a bit of restraint in one place. Here are 20 ideas from the decade, with notes from the styling chair on how each one actually holds up.
Eighties Height Without the Hairspray Helmet
The original looks were held with lacquer that set like glass. That works for one photo and fails for a ten-hour day, because stiff hair cracks when you hug people and can’t be reshaped. My approach builds the volume in layers so less spray is needed at the end:
- Volumizing mousse or root spray on damp hair, then a rough blow-dry with the head upside down.
- Hot rollers or curls pinned to cool, so the shape sets as the hair cools.
- Backcombing in thin slices at the root only, never through the length.
- A flexible, brushable spray in light passes, with a strong-hold spray only on the base of updos and teased crowns.
Done that way, the hair still moves and can be touched up with fingers. If you love the crunchy authenticity, that’s a choice, but I’d save it for a styled reception change rather than the ceremony.
1. Big Voluminous Curls With a Cathedral Veil
Cascading curls under a cathedral veil is the look Princess Diana made famous. Loose, bouncy curls fall past the shoulders, with the crown gently teased for that eighties lift. The veil is the part people underestimate. A cathedral length is heavy, and if the comb sits on top of the teased section it slowly flattens it, so I pin the comb just beneath the volume into a hidden anchor of crossed pins. Grand venues and church aisles give it room. A few soft pieces at the face keep it from feeling severe.
2. Teased High Updo With Curly Bangs
Height at the crown, a big bun or twist, and a fringe of soft curly bangs: this updo was everywhere at eighties weddings. Today I backcomb with a fine-tooth comb in thin slices and smooth only the very top layer, which gives height that holds without looking like a helmet. Curly bangs are fussy, though. They react to every bit of humidity and face oil, so I set them last with small velcro rollers and pack a mini spray. A sparkly comb or pearl pins finishes it.
3. Crimped Half-Up Half-Down Style
Crimping is the most instantly recognizable eighties texture, and a half-up half-down crimped style lets you show it off while keeping hair off your face. I crimp only the lengths, leaving the top section smooth so it pulls back cleanly into a clip or floral pin. The crimper is a flat plate tool and it gets very hot, so heat protectant and dry hair are non-negotiable, and I skip already damaged ends. It looks playful and young, and suits garden or boho weddings more than black tie.
4. Soft Permed Curls With a Birdcage Veil
Soft permed curls under a short birdcage veil mix eighties texture with a vintage, slightly mysterious finish. The birdcage sits just over the eyes and pins at the side, so it needs a firm hold point in curly hair. I pin it into a small hidden section I’ve smoothed flat, because pins slide straight out of loose curls. A real perm gives volume with very little styling on the day, but it has to be done weeks ahead (more on that further down). Red lips and statement earrings finish the look; it suits smaller ceremonies well.
5. Feathered Layers With Side-Swept Bangs
Feathered layers with side-swept bangs are the lighter, airy side of the decade. The layers are blow-dried outward to create that winged movement around the face, and the bangs sweep across to soften the forehead. Medium-length hair carries this best. My honest caveat: blowouts are the first style to go limp in outdoor heat, so for a summer garden ceremony I’d set the bangs and front layers in rollers right up until you dress. A pearl headband or small floral clip makes it wedding-ready.
6. Sky-High Bouffant With Pearl Pins
The sky-high bouffant is the eighties at full confidence. I tease the crown generously in layers, smooth a thin top layer over it, and scatter pearl pins to catch the light. Under all that height you can leave curls down or sweep everything up. Proportion matters more than people expect: a very tall bouffant can overwhelm a petite frame or a delicate gown, so I build it gradually at the trial and stop when it still looks like you. Structured gowns and statement veils are its natural partners.
7. Voluminous Ponytail With Crimped Texture
A high ponytail with crimped length is fun and surprisingly polished. I crimp the length first, then gather everything high with volume kept at the crown, and wrap a small piece around the base to hide the elastic. Heavy hair pulls a high pony down and can cause a headache by evening, so I secure it with two elastics and a pair of crossed pins under the base. It keeps your neck cool for warm-weather weddings. A sparkly clip or ribbon at the base adds the celebratory note.
8. Romantic Loose Waves With a Floral Crown
This one softens the decade’s volume into big, relaxed waves with gentle lift at the crown and a floral crown resting on top. I use a large-barrel iron and brush the waves out loosely. A fresh crown should be anchored with pins into the teased crown section rather than resting on smooth waves, or it creeps backward through the day. Faux flowers avoid wilting and are lighter, which is worth considering for a long outdoor day. It’s the gentlest look here, with no heavy teasing involved.
9. Slicked-Back Volume With a Headband
Slicked-back volume with a wide headband pairs clean lines at the front with plenty of body through the crown and length. The front and sides are smoothed back, and an embellished headband holds them in place. I use a smoothing cream at the hairline rather than gel, because gel can flake or look wet in close-up photos. Test the headband for pressure behind the ears; a wide band that feels fine for ten minutes can ache by the speeches. City weddings and statement earrings suit it well.
10. Curly Updo With a Two-Tiered Veil
A curly updo with a two-tiered veil is full eighties wedding glamour. The curls are pinned up into a soft, voluminous bun with tendrils left around the face, and the crown is teased for height. A two-tiered veil adds a lot of weight, so I build the bun around a firm base and pin the veil comb into that base, never into the loose curls on top. Crystals or tiny blossoms scattered on the tulle add sparkle. Pair it with layered tulle and a formal ceremony and it all makes sense together.
11. Crimped Long Hair Worn Down
Crimped long hair worn completely down is the simplest look here and one of the boldest. Crimping the full length adds a huge amount of body, so a center or slightly off-center part keeps it from looking wild. I crimp in even, narrow sections and avoid the first inch at the root, which stops the hair from standing straight out at the scalp. It suits free-spirited brides who want low upkeep through the day. A small pin or flower behind one ear is all the decoration it needs.
12. Half-Up Bouffant With Cascading Curls
A half-up bouffant with cascading curls gives you height and length at once. The crown is teased and pinned back into a lifted shape, and the rest falls in big, bouncy curls. For brides torn between up and down, this is usually where we land. I set the half-up section with pins pointing inward toward the center, which locks the lift better than pins laid flat. Pearl pins or a sparkly clip can cover the join.
13. Voluminous Side-Swept Curls
Side-swept curls give a red-carpet drape. I curl generously, gather everything over one shoulder, and pin the opposite side into place with a hidden row of crossed pins so the weight doesn’t drag it back to center. Gentle teasing at the crown adds height. Off-the-shoulder gowns show it off well. Before choosing a side, think about the ceremony: the side facing the guests is the one the photographer captures most.
14. Teased Crown With a Long Braid
A teased crown with a long braid blends eighties volume with something softer. The crown is backcombed for lift, then the length is gathered into a loose braid down the back and pulled apart gently for fullness. If your hair is layered, short pieces will escape a pulled-out braid; a little paste before braiding keeps them in. Small flowers or pearl pins tucked into the braid look pretty, and it sits comfortably at a rustic or boho wedding.
15. Permed Curls With a Lace Headband
Soft permed curls with a lace headband make one of the sweetest looks on this list. The perm provides natural-looking body throughout, and the lace band across the crown adds a bit of antique texture. Curls can be worn down or in a loose half-up. I like lace bands with a narrow elastic or comb ends because they grip curly hair without slipping. Vintage-themed and intimate weddings suit it, and the headband gives simple curls a finished, bridal look.
16. Big Curly Bob With Volume
Short hair can absolutely carry the decade. A big curly bob has bouncy curls throughout, with the roots teased gently for a full, lifted shape. On a bob I use a smaller barrel than on long hair, because short curls need tighter structure to read as curls rather than flicks. It frames the face and leaves room for statement earrings and a bold lip. A small sparkly clip or floral pin is the right scale of accessory.
17. High Bun With Curly Tendrils
A high bun with curly tendrils is the more refined eighties updo. The bun sits toward the crown with a teased base for height, and a few curly tendrils fall around the face and neck. Tendrils are the detail I’m strictest about: curl them separately with a small wand and keep them to three or four, since too many turn it messy. Statement veils and formal gowns pair well. A jeweled comb or pearl pins adds a little sparkle.
18. Crimped Updo With a Beaded Headpiece
A crimped updo under a beaded headpiece stacks texture and sparkle. Crimping first gives the hair huge grip and volume, which makes the updo easier to build and very secure. Because crimped hair is so full, I section it into smaller pieces when pinning so the updo doesn’t end up twice the size you expected. The beaded or crystal headpiece rests across the crown. It’s a look for a formal evening wedding and a bride who likes to shine.
19. Soft Curls With Side Bangs and a Veil
Soft curls with side bangs and a flowing veil are the gentlest way into the decade. Loose, bouncy curls with body throughout, bangs swept to one side, and a soft veil pinned beneath the volume at the crown. Side bangs need to be cut so they rest past the brow; too short and they won’t sweep. I’d keep this one in mind for traditional or semi-formal weddings.
20. Voluminous Curls With a Rhinestone Comb
Voluminous curls with a sparkling rhinestone comb are the last look. Full, bouncy waves, a teased crown, and one side swept back under the comb. Rhinestone combs are heavy for their size, so I build a small pinned base behind the ear for the teeth to bite into; slid into loose curls, a comb slips by the first dance. Evening weddings are where the sparkle really pays off.
Thinking About a Real Perm for the Wedding?
Several of these looks started as perms, and a modern perm can give lasting body that saves a lot of styling on the morning. It is also a chemical process that can’t be undone, so timing and testing matter.
- Have it done about three to four weeks before the wedding. Curls are tight for the first week or so and relax into their best shape after a few washes.
- Ask for a strand test first if your hair is bleached, highlighted or recently colored; processed hair can break under perm solution.
- Color and perm should not happen on the same day. Most stylists want a gap of around two weeks between them.
- Plan your trial after the perm, not before, so we’re styling the hair you’ll actually have.
If you’re unsure, curls set with hot rollers on the morning give much the same look for one day with no commitment.
A note on crimping damaged or fine hair
Crimpers hold the hair between hot plates longer than a curling iron does. On bleached or very fine hair I keep the temperature lower and crimp fewer, wider sections. If ends are already dry, crimping just the mid-lengths and keeping the ends curled is a kinder compromise.
Go Big, Then Edit One Thing Back
Eighties bridal hair is about going big with confidence, but the versions that work today usually pull back on one element. Keep the volume and lose the crunch, or keep the crimp and lose the height. Pick the look that fits your venue and your dress, then let pearl pins, a sparkly comb or a long veil do the period detail. Do a proper trial with your accessories, and you’ll have hair that’s bold and still yours.
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