A bad haircut is unfortunate, but what's worse is looking back at an old style you rocked for years that's now the definition of cringe-worthy. From perms to frosted tips, we've tracked down the trendiest hair through the years. So sit back and try not to judge, because who knows what we'll think of hair from 2019 a few years from now.
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1
1980: Permed Hair
Whether you were male or female, the '80s was all about perms, a treatment process that would make your curly and full. Singer Jon Bon Jovi was clearly sold on this trend back in the day.
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2
1981: Volume, Volume, Volume
When it came to hair in 1981, bigger was definitely better. And if you won't take our word for it, just look at David Hasselhoff, who sported a thick mane throughout the '80s.
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3
1982: Jheri Curls
Michael Jackson brought Jheri curls into the spotlight during the '80s, debuting them at the beginning of the decade and inspiring other artists like Lionel Richie and teenagers everywhere to do the same.
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4
1983: The Mohawk
"I pity the fool" who attempted to rock a mohawk like pro wrestler Mr. T. He entered the scene sporting this hairdo, which lead to an entire generation's worth of embarrassing throwback photos.
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5
1984: Slicked Back
This slicked-back style was a go-to during the mid to late '80s, but we're still not sure if anyone can pull it off quite like John Cusack.
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6
1985: The Mullet
The business in the front, party in the back style was super popular in the '80s, and celebrities like Rob Lowe and Billy Ray Cyrus lead the charge on making it mainstream.
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7
1986: "Pretty Boy" Hair
By the mid-eighties, some men were looking for tamer, preppy cuts. Father-son duo Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez were just two of Hollywood's biggest stars to go this route.
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8
1987: Dyed and Spiked
Interestingly enough, punk was also popular in the late '80s. As a result, seeing dyed and spiky hair on the street (perhaps next to someone rocking a "pretty boy" cut) became common. Billy Idol was an icon amongst punk fans.
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9
1988: Hi-Top Fades
Tall and perfectly trimmed, the Hi-top fade was a look that defined the era thanks to icons like Scottie Pippin and Christopher Reid from Kid 'n Play (left).
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10
1989: Super Short
By the end of the '80s, some stars like Tom Cruise were chopping of their hair for something short and simple. It was often longer than a buzz, but shorter than a clean cut.
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11
1990: Hammer Hair
Around the time his biggest hit, "U Can't Touch This," was blowing up, MC Hammer sported multiple shaved lines in the side of his hair. He ignited a fad, which would peak in popularity later in the '90s.
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12
1991: Flat Tops
Can you really call yourself a teen idol if your signature hairstyle isn't copied by youth throughout America? The flat top style that Jason Priestley's character on 90210 rocked became a huge trend in the early '90s.
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13
1992: Flowing Hair
Joey Lawrence's hair on his hit TV show Blossom was just one example of a '90s icon who rocked a long style that wasn't quite short enough on top to be a mullet, but not quite long enough to hit his shoulders.
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14
1993: Grunge a la Nirvana
By the mid-nineties, grunge had spread across the country thanks to Kurt Cobain and his band, Nirvana. In the band's prime, the rock icon's chin length cut became the easiest way to achieve the popular grunge look.
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15
1994: The Heartthrob Haircut
Seemingly every '90s heartthrob rocked this short and loose look (including Leonardo DiCaprio), hence it's name. It's also referred to as "hero hair" after studies found that women raised in the '90s were attracted to men who wore this style due to its close resemblance the hair of princes in Disney movies.
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16
1995: Caesar Bangs
During the mid-nineties, a short cut up front called the "Caesar bang" became quite popular and, honestly, we understand why. Between the short length and limited layers, it seems like a pretty no-muss, no-fuss style.
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17
1996: Cornrows
Snoop Dogg was one of the most iconic artists to wear this hairstyle back in the mid-nineties, around the same time that his second album, Tha Doggfather, was released.
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18
1997: Bowl Cuts
The treacherous bowl cut was, unfortunately, hugely popular in the 1990s. For proof that it was not just limited to your school picture day, please enjoy exhibit A featuring Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter jumping on the trend.
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19
1998: Frosted Tips
Another popular boy band look: frosted tips. NSYNC star, Lance Bass, embraced this trend and took it up another notch by wearing it in a spiked style, which was the epitome of cool at the time.
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20
1999: Short and Spiky
If you were one of those kids whose mom wouldn't let them bleach their hair, all it took was some gel and a comb to go the spiky route that was so popular in the '90s.