35 Hair Nightmares That Were Once Considered Cool In The 80s And 90s

Grab your hairspray and turn up the Bon Jovi, because we’re taking a trip back to the days when bigger truly meant better - at least when it came to hair! Remember when we thought spiral perms, mullets, and mall bangs teased to the heavens were the height of fashion? When we’d spend hours with a crimping iron, rattail comb, and enough Aqua Net to destroy the ozone layer single-handedly?Well, these brave souls have dug through their photo albums to share the hair-raising evidence of those gloriously misguided style choices. From “business in front, party in the back” to “how many cans of hairspray did that take?”, these 35 people have bravely shared their most cringe-worthy coiffures from the decades that taste forgot.This post may includeaffiliate links.

Well, these brave souls have dug through their photo albums to share the hair-raising evidence of those gloriously misguided style choices. From “business in front, party in the back” to “how many cans of hairspray did that take?”, these 35 people have bravely shared their most cringe-worthy coiffures from the decades that taste forgot.

This post may includeaffiliate links.

As a 10yr old male I was a 30yr old lesbian.

Boy with unique 1990s hairstyle, wearing a flag t-shirt, sitting next to a black dog indoors.

My mom loved to get professional photos taken of my siblings and me when we were kids. I hated it. I learned fairly quickly that if I complained or was fussy they would just keep going and ask me to be still or quiet. However, if I behaved perfectly and just made awful facial expressions the photos would end. This little gem is a product of my silent temper tantrums.

Toddler with voluminous blonde hair from the 1980s, showcasing an epic hair disaster expression.

80s and 90s family photo with unique hairstyles; man with side-swept bangs, woman with short hair, holding a baby.

Person with big 1980s hairstyle wearing a blue shirt, showcasing epic hair disasters.

80s hair disaster with voluminous bangs and curls in a striped shirt portrait.

1980s epic hair disasters: Woman and child with curly hair and glasses, both wearing red.

My mother at 17, this was her senior portrait, the lady loved her hair so much she took a bunch of pictures for her. 1988

1980s woman with big, voluminous hair, embodying epic hair disasters of the era.

Man with a high flat top hairstyle, an iconic 1980s and 1990s hair trend disaster, wearing a patterned shirt.

Young boy with a unique 80s bowl haircut and striped shirt, capturing a hair disaster moment.

Person with a unique two-toned hairstyle, showcasing an epic hair disaster from the 1980s and 1990s.

My 80s hair didn’t even take a break for softball. I can practically hear Skid Row through this photo.

Person with epic 1980s hairstyle wearing a Yellow Jacket shirt, holding a baseball glove, standing outdoors.

80’s Hair. Defying Gravity.

80s hair disaster with blonde, voluminous style and large hoop earrings, embodying iconic fashion of the era.

When your mom puts a bowl on your head and cuts your hair. And you rush home after school to slam 3 cans of raviolis and watch Bill Nye the science guy (mid 90s)

Smiling person with a bowl haircut typical of the 1990s, showcasing a memorable hair disaster.

Child in the 1980’s with a rattail

Child in a blue tank top with 1980s hairstyle, standing outdoors with people in the background.

Kid with 1980s hairstyle and striped shirt, smiling in front of laser background.

“In 1988, my mother won a free portrait session from Olan Mills for me and my brother. I remember feeling uncomfortable with my clothes and our pose and I think the only thing that felt normal to us was our hair.”

Two people with big 1980s hair, smiling in a vintage portrait.

“This was me in first grade. My mom convinced me to cut my hair ‘like Demi Moore in Ghost.'”

Child with a bowl haircut smiling, showcasing an epic hair disaster from the 1980s and 1990s fashion trends.

My mom cut & styled my hair for picture day. I never let her touch my hair ever since. #mullet #90s #texas

Young girl with 1980s hairstyle, wearing a blue shirt, showing an epic hair disaster characteristic of the era.

“Me and my mom with our matching Christmas mullets.”

Two smiling people with 1980s hairstyles standing together indoors near a decorated Christmas tree.

My mother in middle school, 1985

Woman with 1980s high hair, wearing a white jacket and earrings, smiling at the camera.

I thought I was cool s**t in elementary school. New haircut and my favourite turtle neck. What could go wrong?

Child with a mullet hairstyle, smiling against a blue background, embodying epic hair disasters from the 1980s and 1990s.