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13 '80s Beauty Trends That Are Totally Back Again

Good Housekeeping

Thu, August 13, 2015 at 7:54 PM UTC

13 '80s Beauty Trends That Are Totally Back Again — Break out the purple eyeshadow and hairspray, folks.
Getty Images

THEN: Purple Eyeshadow — The '70s were all about pastels and the '90s featured tons of blue, but in the 1980s women wore lots of bold purples and pinks. By far the most flattering eyeshadow trend, it contrasts with all eye colors to make your irises stand out.
Getty Images

NOW: Purple Eyeshadow — Today's version is a little more blended and iridescent. Even better: The purple smokey eye is perfect for a sexy nighttime look.
Getty Images

THEN: Blonde and Gelled Pixies — Stylish short cuts — especially bleached blonde — were worn by women and men alike, including Annie Lennox, Madonna, and Billy Idol.
Getty Images

NOW: Blonde and Gelled Pixies — Even in 2015, few hairstyles make quite the same impact as a closely-cropped blonde 'do.
Getty Images

THEN: Natural Brows — Following a decade of over-plucked, '80s brows were left untouched — celebrated for their naturally bushy beauty.
Getty Images

NOW: Natural Brows — Gone are the pencil-thin brows of the 1990s and the sharply angled shapes of the 2000s. These days, eyebrows are considered prettiest when barely touched. A little shaping and filling is fine when keeping with their natural shape and thickness.
Getty Images

THEN: Two-Toned Hair Color — Leave it up to Cher to set the bar high (and a little wild) when it comes to hair trends. This bold look combined a short, spiky cut with a funky blonde-and-black dye job.
Getty Images

NOW: Two-Toned Hair Color — Two-toned hair is now more subtle (see Kaley Cuoco's version). But with Cruella de Vil hair gaining some steam, expect for things to get more intense à la '80s Cher.
Getty Images

THEN: Messy Topknot — As seen in this spectacularly pretty photo, Iman proves that sweet, chic buns right at the top of the head were huge among women in the 1980s.
Getty Images

NOW: Messy Topknot — And they're still going strong. Now the ultimate lazy day hairstyle, the topknot made a comeback due to its simplicity and easygoing elegance.
Getty Images

THEN: Mohawk — Thanks to teens on the '70s and '80s punk scene, this anti-establishment hairstyle was all the rage. But they didn't just stop at shaved sides and spikey tips, they also dyed it in bright, wild shades.
Getty Images

NOW: Mohawk — Soft, conditioned, and with far less product, the mohawk of 2015 — seen here on Kelly Osbourne — is far more pretty than its predecessor.
Getty Images

THEN: Funky Lipstick Colors — Always a trailblazer, singer Cyndi Lauper wore bright, unconventional shades of lipstick, bringing her creative style to mainstream audiences.
Getty Images

NOW: Funky Lipstick Colors — Who would have imagined this wild look would make such a huge return? High-fashion runways, including Ann Yee's for the Fall/Winter 2014 season (left), which featured blue lips, leading to women everywhere scrambling to find the perfect shades of blue, purple, and even green.
Getty Images

THEN: Dark Brows, Light Hair — Platinum blonde hair was huge due to trendsetters like Madonna, and she didn't care if it looked natural. Dark brows define the eyes, so keeping them this shade only enhances the overall look.
Getty Images

NOW: Dark Brows, Light Hair — Though the shift is slightly more subtle than in the '80s, the dark brows, light hair look is back and better than ever as women embrace their natural eyebrow shades while still having fun with their hair color. Simply groom your brows if you want more polish.
Getty Images

THEN: Orange Eyeshadow — Bright eyeshadow wasn't just popular on the punk scene. Orange lips, cheeks, and eyes were a staple of Joan Collins' glamorous Dynasty look.
Getty Images

NOW: Orange Eyeshadow — Rather than the ultra-bright shade of the '80s, the more modern version of orange shadow veers towards a metallic copper. Bonus: It's an unexpectedly flattering shade on all eye colors.
Getty Images

THEN: Men With Ponytails — Steven Seagal did it, so naturally, tons of action movie-loving guys followed suit.
Getty Images

NOW: Men With Ponytails — The '90s touted some long-haired looks for men, but the ponytail didn't fully return until this decade. Now, stars including Brad Pitt, Jared Leto, and Chris Hemsworth have all rocked an elastic around their hair.
Getty Images

NOW: Piecey, Straight Bangs — Though she's known for her wild, spiky hair, Tina Turner once rocked this gorgeous, more subtle 'do in the early 1980s.
Getty Images

NOW: Piecey, Straight Bangs — This modern, slightly shaggy style with bangs has recently been worn by the likes of Kerry Washington, Taylor Swift, and Dianna Agron. Its flattering layers make it the perfect haircut for heart-shaped faces.
Getty Images

THEN: Eyeliner on Guys — With his dark eyes and occasional red lips, The Cure frontman Robert Smith popularized goth makeup for men during the 1980s.
Getty Images

NOW: Eyeliner on Guys — Oscar-winning heartthrob Jared Leto has helped bring the guyliner trend back to life with his smudged smokey eye. Plus, one recent study showed that a surprising 10% of guys wear makeup when going out.
Getty Images

THEN: Neon Hair Colors — Who could've possibly gotten through the '80s without a heaping helping of Manic Panic, after all?
Getty Images

NOW: Neon Hair Colors — Well, would you look at that! Cyndi Lauper, now 62, is still totally leading the trendy pack with her pink hair.
Getty Images

13 '80s Beauty Trends That Are Totally Back Again — Break out the purple eyeshadow and hairspray, folks.
Getty Images

THEN: Purple Eyeshadow — The '70s were all about pastels and the '90s featured tons of blue, but in the 1980s women wore lots of bold purples and pinks. By far the most flattering eyeshadow trend, it contrasts with all eye colors to make your irises stand out.
Getty Images

NOW: Purple Eyeshadow — Today's version is a little more blended and iridescent. Even better: The purple smokey eye is perfect for a sexy nighttime look.
Getty Images

THEN: Blonde and Gelled Pixies — Stylish short cuts — especially bleached blonde — were worn by women and men alike, including Annie Lennox, Madonna, and Billy Idol.
Getty Images

NOW: Blonde and Gelled Pixies — Even in 2015, few hairstyles make quite the same impact as a closely-cropped blonde 'do.
Getty Images

THEN: Natural Brows — Following a decade of over-plucked, '80s brows were left untouched — celebrated for their naturally bushy beauty.
Getty Images

NOW: Natural Brows — Gone are the pencil-thin brows of the 1990s and the sharply angled shapes of the 2000s. These days, eyebrows are considered prettiest when barely touched. A little shaping and filling is fine when keeping with their natural shape and thickness.
Getty Images

THEN: Two-Toned Hair Color — Leave it up to Cher to set the bar high (and a little wild) when it comes to hair trends. This bold look combined a short, spiky cut with a funky blonde-and-black dye job.
Getty Images

NOW: Two-Toned Hair Color — Two-toned hair is now more subtle (see Kaley Cuoco's version). But with Cruella de Vil hair gaining some steam, expect for things to get more intense à la '80s Cher.
Getty Images

THEN: Messy Topknot — As seen in this spectacularly pretty photo, Iman proves that sweet, chic buns right at the top of the head were huge among women in the 1980s.
Getty Images

NOW: Messy Topknot — And they're still going strong. Now the ultimate lazy day hairstyle, the topknot made a comeback due to its simplicity and easygoing elegance.
Getty Images

THEN: Mohawk — Thanks to teens on the '70s and '80s punk scene, this anti-establishment hairstyle was all the rage. But they didn't just stop at shaved sides and spikey tips, they also dyed it in bright, wild shades.
Getty Images

NOW: Mohawk — Soft, conditioned, and with far less product, the mohawk of 2015 — seen here on Kelly Osbourne — is far more pretty than its predecessor.
Getty Images

THEN: Funky Lipstick Colors — Always a trailblazer, singer Cyndi Lauper wore bright, unconventional shades of lipstick, bringing her creative style to mainstream audiences.
Getty Images

NOW: Funky Lipstick Colors — Who would have imagined this wild look would make such a huge return? High-fashion runways, including Ann Yee's for the Fall/Winter 2014 season (left), which featured blue lips, leading to women everywhere scrambling to find the perfect shades of blue, purple, and even green.
Getty Images

THEN: Dark Brows, Light Hair — Platinum blonde hair was huge due to trendsetters like Madonna, and she didn't care if it looked natural. Dark brows define the eyes, so keeping them this shade only enhances the overall look.
Getty Images

NOW: Dark Brows, Light Hair — Though the shift is slightly more subtle than in the '80s, the dark brows, light hair look is back and better than ever as women embrace their natural eyebrow shades while still having fun with their hair color. Simply groom your brows if you want more polish.
Getty Images

THEN: Orange Eyeshadow — Bright eyeshadow wasn't just popular on the punk scene. Orange lips, cheeks, and eyes were a staple of Joan Collins' glamorous Dynasty look.
Getty Images

NOW: Orange Eyeshadow — Rather than the ultra-bright shade of the '80s, the more modern version of orange shadow veers towards a metallic copper. Bonus: It's an unexpectedly flattering shade on all eye colors.
Getty Images

THEN: Men With Ponytails — Steven Seagal did it, so naturally, tons of action movie-loving guys followed suit.
Getty Images

NOW: Men With Ponytails — The '90s touted some long-haired looks for men, but the ponytail didn't fully return until this decade. Now, stars including Brad Pitt, Jared Leto, and Chris Hemsworth have all rocked an elastic around their hair.
Getty Images

NOW: Piecey, Straight Bangs — Though she's known for her wild, spiky hair, Tina Turner once rocked this gorgeous, more subtle 'do in the early 1980s.
Getty Images

NOW: Piecey, Straight Bangs — This modern, slightly shaggy style with bangs has recently been worn by the likes of Kerry Washington, Taylor Swift, and Dianna Agron. Its flattering layers make it the perfect haircut for heart-shaped faces.
Getty Images

THEN: Eyeliner on Guys — With his dark eyes and occasional red lips, The Cure frontman Robert Smith popularized goth makeup for men during the 1980s.
Getty Images

NOW: Eyeliner on Guys — Oscar-winning heartthrob Jared Leto has helped bring the guyliner trend back to life with his smudged smokey eye. Plus, one recent study showed that a surprising 10% of guys wear makeup when going out.
Getty Images

THEN: Neon Hair Colors — Who could've possibly gotten through the '80s without a heaping helping of Manic Panic, after all?
Getty Images

NOW: Neon Hair Colors — Well, would you look at that! Cyndi Lauper, now 62, is still totally leading the trendy pack with her pink hair.
Getty Images

Break out the purple eyeshadow and hairspray, folks.

From Good Housekeeping

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