How 80s temporary hair colors changed the way we experimented with style
From big perms to gravity-defying mohawks, the decade was a playground for self-expression. But what if you weren’t ready to commit to blue bangs or a full head of neon pink? That’s where 80s temporary hair colors came in — a perfect way to transform your look for a night out or a weekend of fun without the long-term consequences.
Temporary hair colors became a hit in the 1980s thanks to their accessibility and the endless possibilities they offered. Products like colored sprays, gels and mousses gave everyone — from high school kids to adults — the freedom to experiment with wild shades that weren’t exactly office-friendly. Whether you were channeling punk, new wave or pop star vibes, these products gave you an instant way to add a splash of color. And the best part? Most of them washed out after a single shampoo.
Neon shades like hot pink, electric blue and lime green were among the most popular, but metallics and pastels had their moments too. Temporary hair colors weren’t limited to wild party-goers, either. Even kids got in on the trend with colored streaks for Halloween costumes or school spirit days. For those brave enough to embrace the bolder 80s trends, temporary colors were a way to stand out without worrying about the long-term upkeep of dyed hair.
The formulas themselves weren’t perfect — they could be a little messy, and some left a faint residue — but that didn’t stop people from embracing the fun. Advertisements from the time show just how creative people got, from bold streaks in bangs to full-on rainbow looks. The products were often marketed with promises of instant fun and individuality, which matched the free-spirited and experimental energy of the decade. Have a look below at the collection we’ve gathered!
1980s temporary hair color: Pazazz Hair Colorstiks hair mascara from Clairol (1985)
1980s temporary hair colors: Pazazz colorful styling mousse & gel (1985)
Vintage 1980s Pazazz hair mousse with shimmering color
Style in a touch of shimmering color — new styling mousse and gels with tiny reflective color crystals add shimmer and glimmer
Hair paint: 1980s Colorific color styling gels (1986)
They sparkle. They glimmer. They illuminate your hair in striking colors. They’re new Colorific. A revolutionary fusion of color and style. Only from Vidal Sassoon.
Paint them on. Finger-paint or use a brush. Be chic. Be adventurous. Wear one or as many as you please. Create a mood. Match your outfit. Your makeup. Day or night. Change colors in a minute. They wash away in one shampoo.
Martina in Bold Gold, Electric Blue, Hot Pink, Quick Silver
You’ve just seen three different looks of Martina. Now you can dare to be different. Introducing Colorific Color Styling Gels.
They’re fabulously fast. They’re outrageously metallic. They’re daring colors you can erase.
Now shine as you surprise. With new Colorific. Six bedazzling colors you can erase. Only Vidal Sassoon could bring this much style to hair color. Look for them in the hair color section next to Colorific Color Styling Mousse.
ALSO SEE: Do you remember these 58 shampoos & conditioners from the 80s?
1980s temporary hair color: Colorific color hairstyling mousse
A shade of difference makes all the difference. Enhance your style, rev up your color, spotlight your highlights. Be subtle, be sizzling. Be a shade apart from all the rest.
It’s color without commitment. Color you can change whenever you change your mind. Color that always adds drama to your style, color that always makes history. Colorific Color Styling Mousses enhance your natural shade of color as they style your hair. Choose from 10 rich, beautiful colors that wash out in 3-4 shampoos.
Nestle Color-Glo temporary glow-in-the-dark hair colors (1985)
It’s fact, not fiction, say psychologists: a little fantasy is not only good fun, it’s good sense. One quick, easy way to indulge in a healthy bit of fantasy is to spark up your usual beauty routine before a night on the town with some special — and we mean special — effects via spray-on/wash-out hair color.
What better way to add extra punch to your traditional little black dress look than to spray on a few contrast-color streaks in vivid pink, purple, or even fluorescent green? Nestle Le Mur makes it easy to do with Streaks N’ Tips spray-on/shampoo-out hair color, in seven knockout colors.
Albert Squillante, spokesman for Nestle Le Mur shares some pointers for successful spray-on streaking, noting, “The fun of temporary hair color is that it allows the user to completely change the look of her hair for an evening, and wash it out in time for work the next morning.” That’s good news for button-down types.
For best, brightest results, spray on white color base before applying colored sprays. “The base gives the colored sprays something to adhere to,” reports Squillante, “much the way moisturizer aids in the application of make-up.”
Random highlights are easily achieved by drawing sections of hair to be streaked through a small opening in a flat piece of aluminum foil, and spraying the strands against the foil. Let hair dry, tear foil away, and gently style hair into place.
EXTRA, EXTRA: Swatch watches of the 80s & 90s: Remember the colorful watch craze
L’Oreal Zazu Colorburst hair cosmetics: Mascara brush 1980s temporary hair color (1986)
Zazu Colorburst. Brave New Makeup For Your Hair. Don’t you have a few wild streaks in you? We thought you did. So we invented mascara for your hair. 10 brush-in streaks of colour. Hair today, gone tomorrow. But the impact lingers on.
1980s temporary hair color: L’Oreal Zazu Colorwash (1986)
Zazu Colorwash. Brave New Makeup For Your Hair. Come. Take your hair from merely beautiful to… they haven’t even invented the adjectives yet. L’Oreal creates the Zazu Colorwash in 8 shades from mysterious to very very very wild. You’ll want it to last, but pity… it’ll be gone in a few shampoos.
DON’T MISS: How to make 11 awesome ’80s hairstyles
Vintage 80s temporary haircolor: Fanci-full Color Splash Gel (1987)
Fanci-Full color styling mousse by Roux (1986)
HOW TO GET OUT THE COLOR: Do you remember these 58 shampoos & conditioners from the 80s?
Temporary hair color fun you can have today
- THE GLOW UP YOUR HAIR NEEDS: Style your hair and make it radiate! These gels are UV reactive and offer you bold neon hues that illuminate under ultraviolet black light. There are so many creative...
- 6 RAINBOW COLORS: Get a complete pack of various colors! This hair gel set comes with six florescent UV colors that include pink, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Colors shine bright in normal...
- ADD A SPLASH OF COLOR TO YOUR OUTFIT OR COSTUME: Perfect to put in your hair for raves, parties, festivals so you glow brightly. Accentuate your Halloween or cosplay costume by lighting up your hairdo...
- 10 Color Hair Chalk Comb ：Assorted 10 bright colors-Dark Blue&Blue&Green&Purple&Brown&Pink&Orange&Red&Dark Green&Yellow hair chalk is ready for your choice. DIY your hair color with your different...
- Not Easy Show Color on Black & Brown Hair： This hair chalk for kids is very easily applied to light hair like blonde hair. But it is a bit difficult for dark or brown hair, you can follow step:1....
- Washable and Safe：The hair chalk comb is made with washable ingredients, ensuring that the temporary hair color can be easily removed with shampoo. Rest assured that our hair chalk comb is safe for...
- 【2 Color Combination for Choice】--- This hair gel set comes with 3 florescent UV colors, Blue+Pink+Purple, or Green+Orange+Yellow, Colors shine bright in normal light but activate in black lights...
- 【Magical UV NEON Hair Colors】--- Colors are beautiful and bright in normal lighting and glow when there is UV/Blacklight. Perfect for birthday party, stage performance, fancy dress costume themed...
- 【Unique Brush Head Design】--- Self-contained brush head is convenient to operate. Color wand for streaking, built in comb for styling. To get your hair glowing, just apply the gel using your hands...
- Vibrant Neon Pink: Transform your hair with Adore's semi-permanent hair dye in Neon Pink. Enjoy a vivid and long-lasting color that makes a statement.
- Quick and Easy to Use: Achieve salon-quality results at home with our user-friendly formula. Our Pink hair dye applies smoothly and evenly, ensuring a hassle-free coloring experience.
- Free from Harsh Chemicals: Adore's Pink hair dye is free of alcohol, peroxide, ammonia, and other toxic chemicals, making it gentle on your hair and scalp.
- NEON YELLOW color
- Temporary hair color wax
- 120ml / 4.05 fl.oz
