Celebrity Women Who Embraced '80s Hair Before Its Big 2026 Comeback

The decade most closely associated with flashy, unapologetically big hair was the 1980s. Elaborately styled hair (complete with damaging heated tools and lots of hairspray) was among the things people actually found attractive in the '80s. Whether it was teased-up curls, a feathered mullet, or swooping side-parts, the era was host to a variety of dramatic hairstyles. Over four decades later, there are now many '80s hairstyles that celebs are rocking today. Given the return of maximalism to mainstream fashion, it comes as no real surprise that over-the-top hairdos would make their way back into the fold. However, even before the 2026 revival of '80s hair trends, some celebs were ahead of the curve.

These trendsetting stars brought back '80s-inspired hair well before we would come to appreciate retro styles once more. As far back as 2014, celebs like Zendaya went old school for red-carpet events and public appearances alike. Curls never go out of style, but the ultra-voluminous ringlets popular in the '80s stand out for their boldness. Another of the decade's most popular styles, the mullet got a shaggy new remix in 2023 in the form of the wolf cut; it's been one of the trendiest hairstyles of the 2020s thus far, but some celebs chose to rock choppy mullets before they regained mainstream attention. Though we're all getting in on the '80s revival this year, here are some of the celebs who led the charge before its recent explosion in popularity.

Florence Pugh isn't afraid to try the latest hair trends, and even pushes the envelope with alternative looks. Pugh attended the photocall for the "Dune: Part Two" cast in 2024 while rocking a platinum-blond mullet. Unlike the more dramatic mullets of the 1980s, Pugh's look skewed more modern with a shorter length, and curled ends. Nevertheless, the style was still decidedly retro thanks to her feathered layers and tousled fringe bangs.

Is there anything more '80s than big, voluminous curls? Zendaya, who regularly owns the red carpet, channeled '80s extravagance back in 2014 with her AMAs look. Zendaya has rocked retro hair trends many times over her years in the spotlight, but one of her most under-appreciated old-school looks spotlighted bold ringlets. The "Challengers" star even wore the full-bodied coils with a dramatic side part and cropped curly bangs, which is about as '80s as you can get. 

Billie Eilish's hair transformation has taken her from bright green to blond, so it is no surprise that the star has experimented with her haircut as well. In 2021, Eilish cropped her blond locks into a choppy bob with thick bangs. In an Instagram Story, she compared the style to a throwback picture of her mother, emphasizing the cut's retro vibes, per E! News. Eilish's '80s rockstar vibes suited her moody music as well as her alternative style (we're rooting for the "Ocean Eyes" singer to revive this look in 2026).

Over the past several years, Miley Cyrus has embraced alternative styling much more than other celebs on her level. Cyrus turned heads when she stepped onto the Grammy Awards red carpet in 2024 thanks to her ultra-voluminous locks. She wore her hair into an elaborately teased-up style, completed with messy '80s loose curls. There may be multiple products and techniques involved in achieving Miley Cyrus' "Barbarella"-inspired Grammys hair, but the look has clearly stood the test of time — volume has officially made its way back into mainstream style.

Leading up to the '80s hair revival of 2026, late 2025 saw the return of one 1980s hair trend: a glamorous side part. Singer Olivia Dean owned the trend, rocking a stunning side part that swooped over one eye at the ARIA Awards. While other it-girls of that year wore sleek, slicked down side parts, Dean channeled retro vibes with her unapologetically glam curls. Take a page from Dean's book this year and embrace full '80s glitz. 

Doja Cat is the queen of experimental red-carpet fashion. The "Streets" singer made a splash at the 2021 Grammy Awards in her risqué gown and choppy black mullet. As one of the biggest haircut trends among men in the 1980s, the mullet has since become the alternative, unisex style of the 2020s. Doja's particularly dramatic iteration of the cut — with baby bangs, a cropped crown, and modest length at the back — served as a retro statement years before '80s hair would come back into fashion.