Vintage Hairstyles That Our Parents Thought Were Edgy And Cool
The quickest way to figure out which era a photo is from is to look at the hairstyles in said photo. If girls are sporting long, straight, sleek hair, you’re probably looking at a photo from the ’70s. If the hair is big and permed, that’s a photo from the ’80s. We think of our preferred hairstyles as “normal,” but what’s going to be the norm 20 years from now when our kids look back at pictures of us?
Keep reading to see the coolest hairstyles from days gone by. This is what used to be “normal.”
Right Out Of Movie
Reddit user TigerDucks posted this photo of her aunt online. Obviously, this is a photo from the ’80s, but what’s striking about it is that it looks like a movie still.
If you told me that was Sigourney Weaver, I might just believe you.
A Family Affair
These people just became new parents (in the early ’80s, of course). They look rather stunned to have a new little one in their lives. The baby looks chill, though.
Girl Squad
These high school girls standing around a car are rocking the most ’70s hairstyle. That middle part, long straight hair, and flared jeans combination could have only come out of the same era that gave us the Sonny and Cher show.
A Quality Photo From The ’50s
You don’t see a color photo from the ’50s like this all to often. Reddit user saraahfry posted this photo online with the caption, “My grampa, who celebrated his 90th birthday today — circa the 1950s.”
Gang’s All Here
The person who posted this photo got it from his friend. This is a picture of his friend’s parents with their friends in the 1980s. This might be the most ’80s photo ever.
Who’s This? Little Debby?
This photo doesn’t even look real. It looks like an artist drew a stereotypical girl from the 1960s. Her name isn’t Debby, so we’ve come to learn. It’s actually Wendy, which seems to make a lot of sense.
Big Hair, Don’t Care
This is Maxine. She’s Reddit user the_legit_writer’s great-grandmother. This photo was taken in the 1940s. Maxine looks super happy to be in front of a camera… That was sarcasm. She looks rather scowly.
Those Sideburns, Though
This handsome fellow definitely looks like the epitome of the 1970s. Reddit user teix85 posted this photo of his father online. That hair is epic. He looks like he should be in a band or something.
This Was A Hairstyle
We’re coming at you with a real throwback. Reddit user Tarafry posted this photo online with the caption, “My great-great-great-grandfather who was born in 1834.” Apparently, this is what people looked like in 1834.
Glamor Shot
This photo was taken in 1990. Believe it or not, this guy is a dad now. He’s left his punk band days behind him and he even cut his hair.
What A Style
This guy must have been taking notes from David Bowie and Conan O’Brien. The ’80s really did a number on this man. Hopefully, his hair doesn’t look like this now.
Prom In The ’80s
We’re not sure which senior prom hairstyle is worse here. The perm is a lot, but the mullet is a crime against hair. These two were made for each other.
A Long Time Ago
This photo was taken in 1946, back when hairstyles like this one were popular. This style looks pretty intricate, even though it’s short. She had to sleep in rollers all night to get this look.
That Gray Streak
Reddit user musland posted this photo with the caption, “My grandfather always disliked his white strand of hair because as a kid he was teased for it. But I always thought it looked really cool. (1950’s)”
How Does This Hair Even Work?
This hair seems to be defying gravity. Also, she has a new baby. How does she have time to do her hair like that when she has a new baby?
This Perfectly Round Fro
Reddit user mpyles10 posted this photo, which is her dad’s senior photo from the 1970s. His hair isn’t quite this big now, but we’re sure he could grow this back if he tried.
Spiky Perfection
This photo of Reddit user Mary_Mark_Official’s mother was taken in the 1980s. We think that design between her eyebrows is a temporary tattoo, but who knows, it could be a real tattoo.
Men In The ’70s
This photo was taken in 1975, which was a wild year for men’s hair. These men are all sporting feathery long hairstyles. It kind of suits the guy on the left. We’re not so sure about the two other guys.
The Year Was 1969
This photo was taken in 1969, right before the ’70s hit. When Bryan Adams was singing about the summer of ’69, this is what people looked like back then. Nice hair.
Epic Fros
Okay, so these afros are kind of epic. They’re so perfectly round! Those sideburns, though. That’s pure ’70s. Apparently his jaw needed warming. She seems kind of into them, though.
What Is On Her Head?
Reddit user Hunt4H2ofalls posted this photo along with the caption, “My aunt and grandmother in 1990. The hair is epic.” I don’t know if “epic” is the right word here…
That Triangle Cut
This ’80s haircut is very…triangular. It looks like she has a pyramid on her head. Maybe that was the look she was going for. She liked it enough to wear it in her class photo.
’80s Glam
What’s more ’80s than big, poofy hair? How about big, poofy hair that’s dyed pink with an at-home dye kit paired with some very dramatic eyeliner? This picture couldn’t get more ’80s if it tried.
The Grunge Scene
Reddit user high97 posted this photo of her parents back in the day. It’s amazing that these two grunge kids stayed together long enough to get married and have a kid of their own.
Tied Up With A Bow
Reddit user cristina_holdthe_h posted this photo of her grandmother in Cuba in the 1930s. A lot of time has passed since then, but we still think that this hairstyle is pretty fire.
The Perfect ’70s Shot
Everything about this photo screams ’70s. From the warm tones to the car to the flared pants to the hairstyles. I don’t even know these people, but I want this photo framed in my house.
Big Red
Reddit user canilivemylife posted this photo online with the caption, “Mema and all her hair in the 1960s.” All her hair is right. That’s a heck of a lot of hair.
’90s Curls
Reddit user artbyjoellecathleen posted this photo online with the caption, “Senior Class Photo. 1990. Took me an hour to do that hair.” She added in the comments that she needed super ultimate hold hairspray.
Wild Child
Reddit user allthatur posted this picture of herself online with the caption, “A can of hairspray every 3 weeks and a memorable time. 1988 high school picture.” That’s a lot of hairspray!
Sister Sister
These two sisters are rocking out in the back of a car in 1985. That hair really is something special. Which sister do you think has the better hairdo? We can’t tell which one is more embarrassing.
