How to Get 80s Curls: 13 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

Co-authored byMadeleine Johnson

Last Updated: February 4, 2024

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   Start with clean, wet hair. Wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner. Apply a heat protectant spray to damp hair to shield your locks from heat if you’ll be styling with a blow dryer, curling wand or hot rollers.

   • Freshly washed and dried hair is the main ingredient for lasting 80s-style curls.
   • If your hair is very damaged, tangled or textured, you may want to detangle your hair in the shower using conditioner and your fingers or a wide-tooth comb.
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   Detangle your hair. Comb all of the tangles out of your locks. Start at the bottom and work your way up in small sections. Hold your hair above the tangle as you comb to protect your roots from pulling.

   • Try using a wide-tooth comb.
   • Detangling from the bottom up and holding the hair above the tangle helps prevent breakage.

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   Dry your hair. Attach a diffuser to your blow drier for extra volume at the roots. Switch your hair dryer to a low speed. Run the diffuser through your locks as you dry your hair.

   • If you plan to wear foam rollers or twists in your hair overnight, use the diffuser to completely dry your roots only. Or skip the blowdrying and tease your hair the next day when it’s dried naturally.
   • Always use a heat protectant product before applying heat to your hair.
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   Tease your hair. Make sure the sections of hair you’re going to tease are dry. Use a fine-toothed teasing comb in one- to two-inch sections or smaller. Begin with your hair’s lower layer and work upwards. Hold up each section and backcomb towards your head. Move a little further up and repeat the backcombing. Spray each finished section with hairspray as you go.

   • Clip up the top sections while you’re working on the bottom layer. By clipping the extra hair out of the way, you can more easily focus on each layer.
   • The smaller the sections you tease, the more volume you’ll achieve.
   • Teasing damp locks can be damaging to your hair.
   • Make sure to shield your eyes when you’re using hairspray near your face.

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   Choose a curling method. Choose Velcro rollers or a curling iron for the fastest but not as long-lasting curl. Use heated rollers for more longevity. Opt for foam rollers or twists overnight for the longest-lasting and most defined curls, and to avoid using extra heat on your tresses.^[1]

   • The thinner the wand or roller, the tighter and springier the curls will be. The exception is foam rollers. Foam rollers can give you a variety of curl sizes, depending on how tight you wind your hair around them.
   • If you’re using a curling wand, opt for a tapered barrel, if possible. This will give you the 80s look of more volume in the body of your hair, with the curls tighter at the ends. If you choose a curling wand, be very careful not to burn yourself.
   • Velcro rollers will give you more volume than curl.

   See Also

   How The 1980s Are Influencing 2023 Style TrendsThe '80s Fashion Trends Stylists Can't Get Enough Of13 Ways to Do 80s Makeup and Hair - wikiHowEight '80s Trends You Can Wear Today
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   Mousse and section your hair. If you’ll be using a curling iron, make a part in your hair with a comb where you want your hair part to be. Put a dollop of mousse on the top of your hair. Comb it completely through. Separate your hair into four sections, clipping up the top two.^[2]

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   Curl or twist your hair in one- to two-inch sections. For rollers, start at the ends of your hair and roll the curlers away from your face, making sure your ends wrap around the roller.^[3] For a curling wand, start near your head, roll the curl towards your face, around the barrel of the wand.^[4] If you’re making twists, twist your hair away from your face.

   • If you’re using a curling wand, hold the end of each section while your hair is wrapped around the barrel. Keep your hair around the barrel for 10-15 seconds, counting out each second. This should produce tight, springy curls.
   • Secure twists with pins or fabric elastic ties into four to eight mini buns on each side of your head.
   • Be careful not to touch your hand or face with a hot curling tool.
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   Curl your bangs. Roll your bangs under with a large curler or curling wand for signature 80s bangs. Alternately, you can spit your bangs into two layers, curling one backwards and the other under.

   • If you don’t have bangs, you can create the appearance of bangs for your 80s style hair! Take the front section of your hair where your bangs would be and pin it to the crown of your head so that your ends hang down like bangs.
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   Let the curl set. Keep your rollers in as long as possible, up to a couple of hours for long or thick hair. If you used a curling iron, pin each curl to your head in the shape of the curl you just made. Use the cool setting your hair drier until your locks are cool.^[5] Leave foam rollers or twists to set in your hair while you sleep.

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   Finger-style your locks. Remove any curlers or twists from your hair. Don’t brush your curls! Pull them apart a bit with your fingers and use a curling wand, if desired, for final touches. Smooth just a bit of hair oil with your fingers for glossier curls.^[6]

   • You can use a comb near the front of your scalp to smooth down flyaways.

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   Make a high or side ponytail. Pull your hair up onto the top or side of your head – the higher, the better! Brush the sides only, leaving as much volume and/or bangs on top as possible. You can add extra teasing and hair product to the front once you’ve secured your ponytail.

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   Create a side-swept look. Use a teasing brush at the top front of your hair for an extra boost. Sweep all of your hair to one side of your head. Pin or clip your hair so that your curls hang down on just one side for the 80s sideways updo.^[7]

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   Wear hair accessories. Wear a big, floppy bow as a clip or on a headband. Alternately, pull up all or half of your hair into one or more funky fabric scrunchies. Leave your bangs loose for the ultimate 80s ‘do!

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