80s curls trend - how-to tutorial
HAIR

80s Curls by Ted Gibson

80s curls trend - how-to tutorial

I visited Ted Gibson salon in New York, where a hairstylist Dayna Goldstein taught me how to create trendy 80s hairstyles look, so-called 80s curls. I was mostly inspired by seeing the come back of the “it” 80s hair on Mandy Moore (one of my favorite actresses when I was a teenager!). Needless to say, I was thrilled to try this fabulous look myself.

While it seems like the 80s curls take forever to create, it’s not as time-consuming as I thought. The main trick here is to make your hairstyle “from scratch.” Meaning that you have to wash your hair first as opposed to curling your second-day hair (which is typically my strategy as my hair is too smooth for curls).

Don’t forget to properly wash and condition your hair to create a perfect canvas for your 80s-style curls. Then, continue as follows.

How to Create 80s Curls

While it seems like the 80s curls take forever to create, it’s not as time-consuming as I thought. The main trick here is to make your hairstyle “from scratch.” Meaning that you have to wash your hair first as opposed to curling your second-day hair (which is typically my strategy as my hair is too smooth for curls).

  1. THERMAL PROTECTION

    Apply your favorite heat protect spray that helps minimizing the damage of using the curling wand. Dayna recommends Redken Heat Design 09 Blow Dry Gelee as her product of choice for curly hairstyles.

  2. LIFT THE ROOTS

    Use a diffuser on your hairdryer to add additional volume to your roots. (If you don’t have one, check out this selection of diffusers that you can attach to the hairdryer that you already own). Put your hairdryer on low speed and “brush” your hair with the diffuser to create a voluminous look.

  3. CREATE SMALL CURLS

    Pick the thinnest curling wand you have in your collection and create bouncy curls of different sizes. If you are wearing bangs, curl them too. That way, your hairstyle will look even more 80s!

  4. DEFINE YOUR CURLS

    Finally, finish with Oribe Curl Control Silkening Creme to define your curls.

  5. (OPTIONAL): PIN YOUR BANGS

    If you don’t have any bangs, try creating the illusion of having them. Using a bobby pin, secure a small amount of hair onto the crown of your hair.


Whether you are a fan of 80s hair styles or not, curls are always fun to experiment with. At least for me. How about you? What’s your favorite “throwback” hairstyle? Let me know in the comments!

80s hairstyle - curls
80s CURLS: Step-by-Step Hair Hair Tutorial

Digital influencer and beauty expert, Katya Bychkova provides on her blog, StyleSprinter.com, an industry insider view on all things makeup and skincare!

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