The best way to tie a great costume together is with the right hairstyle. Your clothes can have...

Hairdos and 80s OutfitsIdeas for authentic hairstyles and

accessories

The best way to tie a great costume together is with the right hairstyle.

Your clothes can have lots of zing, but if your tresses fall flat, then you have wasted an opportunity to stand out.

Here are a few ways to consider styling your locks with some 80s outfits.

Side Ponytails Many girls and young women could be

seen wearing an off-centered ponytail. These were worn high on the head, or

about ear-height; locks could be curly or crimped. Straight hair would be teased or fluffed somehow to look fuller

The ideal accessory to use for this look is a colorful scrunchie (or two).

Mullets Nothing says eighties like an obvious

mullet. Unless you are willing to cut your hair,

the best way to achieve this look is to purchase a wig.

You can find some fun options at http://funwirks.com/Products/Decade-80s.aspx.

Banana Clips

Like scrunchies, this was another tool used to pull tresses back out of the face.

Banana clips could be worn centered on the back of the head, or slightly to the side.

They came in a variety of colors, so it was ideal to match the color of your clip to your clothing.

Bandanas Some male rockers, like Axl Rose and

Brett Michaels, were known for wearing bandanas over long hair.

This is a great option for guys that have long hair but don’t want to have to do much styling.

Bandanas were generally darker colors, such as black or blue, with a pattern.

Crimping A popular styling tool to use in this

decade was a crimping iron. A crimper shapes your locks into small

zig-zags, and adds body and texture. Best results were achieved when

styling products were worked in before using the hot iron.

Teased Hair It’s impossible to talk about 80s outfits

without mentioning teased hair. Whether curly or straight, tresses were

often “ratted” to give height and body. This styling technique involves

applying hairspray to a small section of the roots, then combing backwards towards the scalp to tangle it slightly.

The procedure is then repeated to other small sections in the desired area.

Once your locks have sufficient body, you can shape and style it into the look you desire.

Be sure to smooth out the outer edge of the ratted area, so it looks smooth. Hair can look messy, but never tangled.

Spiked Hair Punk in this decade was all about

spiked hair, preferably in a variety of bold colors.

Like a mullet, the easiest way to achieve this look without making a long-term commitment to the hairstyle is by purchasing a wig.

If your current locks can be spiked, consider purchasing spray in hair color.

One of the great things about the eighties was the drastic and colorful techniques people used to style their tresses.

Be sure to match your “do” with the clothing style you are wearing.

If you can’t easily create the look you want on your own, consider asking someone you know in their forties to help. They probably have plenty of first-hand experience!