Letting Your Hair Down: 30 Vintage Photos That Show Metalheads Long Hair Subculture of the 1980s

   

Back in the day long hair was a big source of pride in the metal community regardless of where it originated.

 

Heavy metal fashion is the style of dress, body modification, make-up, hairstyle, and so on, taken on by fans of heavy metal, or, as they are often called, metalheads or headbangers. While the style has changed from the 1970s to the 2010s, certain key elements have remained constant, such as black clothes, long hair and leather jackets.

Back in the 1980s, long curly hair was very important to fans of music ranging from Thrash Metal to Pop Metal. Every morning before school was a long time spent with the curling iron and hairspray.

Why? It was the metal look that trickled down from how the bands were wearing their hair. Why did the bands do it? Part of it was rebellion. Longer hair was seen as more free and less constrained. Part of it is just that long hair is great for headbanging.