When was crimping hair popular?

When was Crimping Hair Popular?

Crimping hair was a popular hairstyling technique that gained immense popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a style that was loved by many and hated by a few. In this article, we will explore the history of crimping hair and when it was most popular.

Early Days of Crimping

The concept of crimping hair dates back to the 1970s when hairstylists and technicians started experimenting with new techniques to create different textures and styles. Crimping, also known as crinkling or kinking, involved using a specialized tool called a crimping iron to create permanently textured hair.

The first crimping irons were cordless and used a chemical solution to achieve the crimped effect. However, these early models had drawbacks, such as being difficult to use, unreliable, and causing damage to the hair.

The Golden Era of Crimping (1980s-1990s)

The Golden Era of crimping hair began in the 1980s, when crimping irons became more sophisticated and user-friendly. This was largely due to the introduction of heat-resistant irons, which allowed hairstylists to set the temperature to suit the type of hair they were working with.

The Birth of Crimped Hairstyles

The MTV era, marked by the rise of MTV in the late 1980s, played a significant role in popularizing crimped hairstyles. Celebrities and music icons, such as Princess Diana, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper, donned crimped hairdos that defined the style of the decade.

The fashion magazines, like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Harper’s Bazaar, also contributed to the craze, featuring crimped hairstyles on their covers and inside pages. Hairstylists and fashion designers created new and innovative ways to style crimped hair, leading to a hair care and styling boom.

The Crimping Revolution

The crimping revolution of the 1980s and 1990s saw the birth of new products, such as crimping creams, gels, and mousses, which were designed to enhance and lengthen the crimped effect.

Popular Crimping Hairstyles

Here are some popular crimping hairstyles of the 1980s and 1990s:

• Crimp-and-Frizz: a classic combination of crimped hair and frizzy ends
• Boxer Braids: crimped hair with boxed braids on top
• Crinkled Bob: a short, crimped bob with curly layers
• Wet-and-Crimp: a technique where hair was crimped while still wet, resulting in a unique, lived-in look

Decline of Crimping (2000s-2010s)

As the years went by, crimping popularity began to decline. Alternative hairstyling techniques, such as flat-ironing, curling, and hair straightening, gained favor among fashionistas and celebrities.

Why Crimping Lost Popularity

There were several reasons why crimping lost its appeal:

• Over-exposure: crimped hair became too ubiquitous and lost its uniqueness
• Limited styling options: crimping limited styling options and didn’t cater to individual tastes
• Hair damage: the heat and chemicals used in crimping irons damaged hair over time

Conclusion

Crimping hair was a stylish and popular trend of the 1980s and 1990s. It revolutionized hairstyling, giving rise to new products and techniques that continue to influence the beauty industry today.

While crimping may have fallen out of favor in recent years, it remains an iconic style that evokes memories of a bygone era. The revival of vintage hairstyles has seen crimping making a comeback, albeit in reinvented forms and with improved technology.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the 80s and 90s or a curious stylist, understanding the history and evolution of crimping hair will give you a deeper appreciation for the ever-changing world of beauty.

Timeline of Crimping Hair

Here is a timeline of the history of crimping hair:

Sources:

• "The Crimping Iron: A Stylish Hair Accessory from the 1980s" by Cosmopolitan
• "The Rise and Fall of Crimped Hair" by Harper’s Bazaar
• "A Brief History of Crimping Hair" by Beauty Inc.
• "The 1980s Hairstyling Trend that Refused to Die" by MTV News