Big hair was one of the boldest fashion statements of the 20th century. It started taking shape in the 1960s, picked up serious momentum through the 1970s, and hit its peak in the 1980s. For about three decades, the bigger the hair, the better — and people across the world embraced it.
The style was not limited to people with naturally thick or long hair. Even those with short hair found ways to add volume and height. Hairdressers used techniques like backcombing — brushing the hair backward toward the roots — to create that signature puffed-up look. Strands were often brushed forward and layered to build different shapes and textures.
Two products made this all possible: hair spray and mousse. Hair spray locked styles in place and kept them from falling flat throughout the day. Mousse added body and helped hair hold its shape from the roots. Cans of hair spray became a staple in bathrooms and dressing rooms everywhere.
Celebrities played a huge role in pushing big hair into the mainstream. Farrah Fawcett’s feathered, wing-like style became one of the most copied looks of the 1970s. Her 1976 poster — showing off that voluminous, layered cut — sold over 12 million copies and cemented her as a hair icon.
Brigitte Bardot and Raquel Welch brought big, wild waves to the screen in the 1960s. Their teased, full-bodied styles set an early standard for glamour. Jane Fonda’s layered shag cut in the 1970s added a different edge — less polished, more rebellious. Madonna took it further in the 1980s with her crimped, teased, and sometimes chaotic styles that matched her bold stage presence.
The looks varied widely depending on the decade. The 1960s leaned toward structured, sculpted shapes like the beehive — a towering updo that required serious teasing and pinning. The 1970s moved toward looser, more natural volume. The 1980s went all in with full-on power hair: permed curls, giant bangs, and styles that seemed to defy gravity.
Men were part of this trend too. Rock musicians especially embraced big hair as part of their identity. Bands in the glam rock and heavy metal scenes wore their hair as loud as their music — teased out, sprayed up, and impossible to ignore.
The photos below capture just how wild and creative these styles truly were. From perfectly sculpted updos to gravity-defying perms, this collection covers the full range of big hair across three remarkable decades.
