Diary / Beauty / Sep 26, 2022
The Best (and Worst) Beauty Trends of Every Decade
Written by: Brianna Lapolla, Purewow
Photography by: Getty Images
When it comes to beauty trends, what goes around comes around. We look forward to reuniting with some, but others, not so much. Winged eyeliner? Bring it on. Mullets? Keep ’em. Here, the best (and worst) beauty trends from the last 80 years.
1940S’ BEST: NAIL ART
Nail art has been a thing for almost 80 years. Started from the half-moon mani, now we're here. Who knew?
![1940s Nails MARGARET CHUTE GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/6w6UzxaXaEemWKQoA0gyck/d1be9a22a2bee0917ea88762a2229c89/1940s_Nails_MARGARET_CHUTE_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
1940S’ WORST: VICTORY ROLLS
Don’t get us wrong, this style is definitely memorable. But we’re docking some points for how much time it would add to our morning routine.
![1940s Hair GEORGE MARKS GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/2KzltcOjMQCMSs4a0KaYaY/f5eaa5db1d4cc8f1e069d7810d64d89b/1940s_Hair_GEORGE_MARKS_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
1950S’ BEST: WINGED EYELINER
There’s a good reason this trend has transcended decades: It makes your eyes appear bigger, wider and slightly feline (in the best way possible).
![1950s Eyeliner CARLTON GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/7bMiRc9qTuyKCaIK2SWqg/c8807775ce4232f50be73566b3cf36fb/1950s_Eyeliner_CARLTON_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
1950S’ WORST: BABY BANGS
We're pretty confident this woman's hairdresser was her snip-happy five-year-old niece.
![1950s Baby Bangs HULTON ARCHIVE GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/4uzLGmemROAAAOyseeYAku/04a1528eee06a630a8f8fcd31378d9b9/1950s_Baby_Bangs_HULTON_ARCHIVE_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
1960S’ BEST: EXTREME LASHES
Twiggy started it, and everyone followed. We’ll always have a special place in our heart for high-drama lashes.
![1960s Eyelashes WILLIAM VANDERSON GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/2zDOn1l0kguMEY2C26IYGu/ac305edd21b7baa243725eb99c35c738/1960s_Eyelashes_WILLIAM_VANDERSON_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
1960S’ WORST: BEEHIVES
Amy Winehouse tried to bring it back, but in our opinion it belongs in the ’60s for good. (Side note: That’s Dolly Parton, you guys.)
![1960s Beehive MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/3nohAAOSxq6YcwgYws4Gmw/6748c9a9915ad97afe71442a1681d785/1960s_Beehive_MICHAEL_OCHS_ARCHIVES_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
1970S’ BEST: FEATHERED LAYERS
We’re talking full-on Farrah Fawcett hair. So iconic.
![1970s HairABC PHOTO ARCHIVES GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/5H3LfwtLtC6QkCAsA6QYga/1a6a1808ee46053840165819780497c4/1970s_HairABC_PHOTO_ARCHIVES_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
1970S’ WORST: BARBIE DOLL MAKEUP
Sometimes, it’s OK to play up both your eyes and your lips. But add in bold brows and cheeks and you look like you're working the pageant circuit.
![1970s Makeup GIANCARLO BOTTI GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/4yTQlAdVXGwQcgCao2oM6y/bcb5a39ee91bb5bb8e58c3d3fc7c12dd/1970s_Makeup_GIANCARLO_BOTTI_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
1980S’ BEST: NEON LIPSTICK
Fortune favors the bold (bold lipstick-wearers, that is).
![1980 Lipstick MONDADORI PORTFOLIO GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/1MEjsj5qfqm0mGU8Ao8cIs/437479b76dc16a1fb86410c00e50bf38/1980_Lipstick_MONDADORI_PORTFOLIO_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
1980S’ WORST: MULLETS
The party called—it's nowhere near the back (or front) of this head, thank you very much.
![1980 Mullets CBS PHOTO ARCHIVE GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/4W2gzNLspWu0q2iuAkMoWu/c5f9772d1d36bb32fe561b5cdef56884/1980_Mullets_CBS_PHOTO_ARCHIVE_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
1990S’ BEST: BROWN LIPSTICK
We know, we know. We didn’t think we’d say this either. But you have to admit it’s kind of polished and works on every skin tone.
![1990s Brown Lipstick SGRANITZ GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/w7sxlSbl4cMyQWOCom4yC/767d30922e51865bd57d39e222782e81/1990s_Brown_Lipstick_SGRANITZ_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
1990S’ WORST: OVERPLUCKED EYEBROWS
Are you there, brows? It's me, Tweezers.
![1990s Eyebrows J. VESPA GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/2Tu0WaVVF6Ce6K4cYimaoa/bc76497b56fa0ef1b3f27c5283688677/1990s_Eyebrows_J._VESPA_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
2000S’ BEST: GLOSSY LIPS
Why did we ever stop wearing gloss, which makes lips look naturally plumper in a way no matte lipstick ever could?
![2000 Glossy Lips KEVORK DJANSEZIAN GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/1vQNFAjCduaYii6wM6yAgs/0c03c38393a3ecb8a8f2b7fa33d4c541/2000_Glossy_Lips_KEVORK_DJANSEZIAN_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
2000S’ WORST: FAKE TANS
A. Tanning beds are dangerous. B. If your natural skin color is orange, you should see a doctor.
![2000s Fake Tans GEORGE DE SOTA GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/1827Hpu0ZCme0qakosSAa2/afe4858917c5d2dcec50c959ccc448bd/2000s_Fake_Tans_GEORGE_DE_SOTA_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
2010S’ BEST: BOLD EYEBROWS
We’re petitioning for this one to stay here for a long, long time.
![2000s Eyebrows ANTHONY HARVEY GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/d33LYbA2K48Smq8YmWgC6/3d228aaff2a3dfaf488d44cffffcf287/2000s_Eyebrows_ANTHONY_HARVEY_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)
2010S’ WORST: EXTREME CONTOURING
Unless your last name starts with Kardashian, do not attempt.
![2010 Contour JON KOPALOFF GETTY IMAGES](http://images.ctfassets.net/aymz0dg3ex94/57HBBMnKrYa4yksAO4uuYG/504a18b86089072101dfdef71e92af46/2010_Contour_JON_KOPALOFF_GETTY_IMAGES.jpg)