Since its debut on Netflix earlier this summer, there have been countless blog posts dedicated to decoding the formula that has made Stranger Things a viral sensation. The campy, episodic sci-fi horror-thriller tinged by comedic interludes is certainly helped along by its roots in the past—look closely and you’ll see hints of The Goonies, E.T., Poltergeist, and even The X-Files—not to mention the incredible type face of the opening credits; the synth-heavy soundtrack; and the excellent casting.
And then, of course, there s the hair, which, in its own right, invites a collective nostalgia for the decade s distinctive self-styling. Between Eleven’s buzz cut, Nancy’s girl-next-door side-sweep, and Barb’s Molly Ringwald-meets-Mary Stuart Masterson strawberry-blonde crop, the ’80s archetypes come fast and furious throughout the show’s first season. Factor in the choppy, good-bad proportions of Joyce s modified shag—played by ultimate era queen Winona Ryder—and it s enough to inspire some serious reminiscing about some of our own all-time favorite iconic cuts from the decade.
We re talking about the electro clash, rock-inflected headbands, scrunchies, and side-ponytails popularized by Chrissie Hynde, Debbie Harry, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper; the gender-bending razor-shaves of Annie Lennox and Grace Jones; the teen-queen feathered bangs and braids that made Phoebe Cates and Jennifer Jason Leigh instant heartthrobs to an entire generation of Fast Times at Ridgemont High fans; the sheer number of cans of mousse it must have taken to keep the cast of Heathers at full volume for the duration of filming; and the bigger-the-better ringlets that took Julia Roberts from playing a small-town pizza-slinger in Mystic, Connecticut, to an international superstar.
In fact, with chic new ’80s-minded sartorial statements turning up on the recent Fall 2016 runways from Isabel Marant to Saint Laurent, it s no stretch to imagine just such experimental, individualistic beauty influences making their way above the neck in a few short weeks. Consider this a photographic archive for your next trip to the salon—or your next DIY experiment with a pair of scissors and a dimly lit bathroom, if you want to keep things authentic.
