big hair

American  

1. hair having the appearance of fullness and height, usually teased and sprayed.

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big hair British  

noun

1. a hairstyle with volume created by hair products or styling techniques such as backcombing, etc

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Etymology

Origin of big hair

1985–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

big hair

The show, with a book by David Hornsby and Chris Hoch, is set in the year the movie was made—hence the big hair and big shoulders—and follows its plot closely, with minor innovations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

There are plenty of reasons to be nostalgic about the 80s, from big hair to the movie Wall Street —and stocks’ performance.

From Barron's ● Apr. 27, 2026

Keaton stuck a clothespin on the tip of her nose to make it smaller, and acted the part of an extrovert: big laugh, big hair and, when she stopped liking her hair, big hats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025

The series, which has nearly three million followers on various platforms, revolves around Paloma Diamond, an actress whose signature look includes big hair, bright eye shadow and bold clothes.

From New York Times ● Nov. 26, 2024

The combination of her big hair and bright black eyes and full pink lips is undeniably cute.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon