💖 Big Hair, Big Dreams:

Retro Sonya
May 7
3 min read

A Xennial Hair Journey from the 80s to the 2000s!

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We were born into a world of hairspray clouds, neon scrunchies, and high-volume ambition. As early 80s babies—Xennials, the micro-generation caught between Gen X and Millennials—we didn’t just hear about 80s hair. We lived it.

Now, before I go on further about this totally rad 80s culture we Xennials were born into, lets first give credit to where credit is due!

The iconic 1980s hairstyles—like big teased hair, mullets, perms, mohawks, and feathered bangs—were mainly created and popularized by Baby Boomers and early Generation X.

Here's how it breaks down:

Baby Boomers (born ~1946–1964) were in their 20s to late 30s during the 1980s, which made them a driving force behind the trends in fashion, music, and pop culture. Many stylists, designers, musicians, and celebrities setting trends were Boomers.
Generation X (born ~1965–1980) were teens and young adults in the '80s, so they embraced and amplified the styles—especially in youth subcultures like punk, glam rock, new wave, and early hip hop.

Essentially, Boomers invented and marketed the styles, and early Gen X wore and spread them across pop culture.

And you'll never guess what generation created the beloved toys of our childhood.

And the toys! Lets not forget about them! Let's take my favorite childhood toy for example.

The G1 (Generation 1) My Little Pony toy line was invented by Baby Boomers and possibly some older Generation X members. Let me tell you how much I loved them!

The original My Little Pony toy line debuted in 1983, created by Bonnie Zacherle, along with sculptor Charles Muenchinger and illustrator Steve D'Aguanno.
Bonnie Zacherle, born in 1946, is part of the Baby Boomer generation.

So, the concept and design of G1 My Little Pony were primarily the work of Baby Boomers working in the toy industry in the late '70s and early '80s, with marketing and development possibly involving early Gen X professionals as well. Mad respect, I'll tell you! If you loved your 80s toys and hair styles, thank a boomer or an older GenXer today!

✨ Childhood in the Era of Big Bangs & Bigger Attitude

While some of us were still toddling in jelly shoes, the older kids were crimping their hair and flipping it over into side ponytails that defied gravity. We idolized pop queens like Madonna, Tiffany, and Janet Jackson, and watched our babysitters tease their hair like it was a sacred ritual.

Who else remembers:

Aqua Net Super Hold (a can in every bathroom)
Banana clips that stretched our curls into waterfall cascades
Crimping irons that turned your strands into zigzag masterpieces
Scrunchies that matched our leggings (and friendship bracelets)

💿 The 90s: Grunge Meets Glitter

As we hit our tweens and teens in the 90s, we adapted—but never let go. The world turned to flannel and darker tones, but some of us were still clutching our butterfly clips and glitter gel. We were in-betweeners—rocking Lisa Frank folders and watching Daria, rocking a side part with a butterfly clip, and maybe sneaking some blue hair mascara into our school bag.

And don’t forget those bowl cuts, half-up ponytails, and R&B baby hairs laid just right. We mixed and matched like fashion DJs—turning the 80s excess into a remix for the TRL generation.

🌟 Early 2000s: Retro Never Left Us

Even as sleek flat-ironed styles took over in the Y2K era, many of us Xennials still snuck in a piece of the past:

That zigzag part? Pure late-80s influence.
Layered bangs with flipped ends? The lovechild of 80s glam and 2000s sass.
Pink streaks or spiky faux-hawks? Echoes of punk and mall-goth glory.

We held onto our roots—figuratively and literally. While newer generations discovered vintage styles on Pinterest, we were living archives of big-hair energy.

💖 Conclusion: Still Teasing, Still Dreaming

Whether we’ve gone full Synthwave, embraced natural curls, or cut it all off and started fresh, our Xennial hair journey is one of evolution, rebellion, and joyful expression. We were raised on 80s flair and 90s edge, and we still carry that creative spark—whether we’re artists, dreamers, or digital revolutionaries. Be sure to sign up for the "Retro Sonya Synthwave Newsletter" below and get 2 free 80s inspired songs! Enjoy the music and stay synth!