How to Be an 80s Punk

Last Updated: January 31, 2023

Being an 80s punk is great. Just be real. Take it a step at a time, evolve into a punk slowly. Get into the music first, then get your clothes and hair in the right space. Once you are comfortable there, you can go all out to be an 80's punk.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Looking the Part

1
Get the clothes. It isn't too hard to look the part. Just make sure you have T-shirts from punk bands, jeans, and a beat-up leather jacket.
- Don't spend a lot of money on anything. Leather jackets can be pricy, buy a used one.
- Have some s**t kicking boots. It is good to look tough. They should be black and not low rise.
- Get a chain for your wallet.
Most classic punk is the 4 bar black flag's symbol (look their music up) on the forearm. If you have one, it is tough to say you are a poser. But start slow before you go all the way here.

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3
Punk haircuts are simple. It doesn't need to be a mohawk. Starting with a mohawk is probably a bad idea anyway, since it is harder to pull off. You can do skinhead.
- You can also do a fauxhawk or a devilock, like the Misfits.
- You can get more ideas from this article.
Remember, you are supposed to be angry and tough.
Buttons with band names or punk slogans are good.

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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Acting the Part

1
Have the attitude. Remember at all times, that you are angry. You don't like authority, cops, parents, bosses, whatever.
- Do what the hell you want. Punk shows in the 80s were famous for anger. Remember, a 80s punk show is one where you can throw a beer bottle in the air and not care where it comes down.
- Hang out with others like you. Nothing says punk like hanging out drinking a brew on a street corner with your fellow punks.
2
Fight the stereotype. In the 80s punks had the reputation of being a bit dumb or uneducated, mostly because they were young.
- You, however, are more street smart and wiser about the ways of the world.
- The 2000s are a less innocent time. So fight the stereotype of a dumb punk by reading up on your anarchist literature and quote Alan Watts at them until their heads spin. Haters gonna hate, but that doesn't mean you have to embrace the stereotype of the dumb punk.
There is some chance you decide not to be a punk anymore, so you want to be able to go back.

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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Living the Lifestyle

Listen to 80s punk especially the big four of hardcore punk: Dead Kennedys, Charged GBH, Bad Brains and Black Flag. There are plenty of others. Go with what you like. A lot of the music is good. Don't be afraid to mix in some more recent punk too.
2
Ambition. You probably don't want it. It is best to get money from family or friends.
- A career in music is a good one.
- If you are an intellectual, you might want to be a philosopher or economist or similar. But you need to extreme/anti authority views to fit the image.
- You can also work in a creative kind of job, like design.
SF, LA and New York are all good. Of course they are hard to pay for, but if you live in a warehouse it is cheaper. You can also live in Oakland, Brooklyn and so on.
It is a great way to get more into the lifestyle and make more punk friends.

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How do I make headphones out of cardboard?

Katherine Stepp

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1. Get a drink holder from your local drive-through and cut two of the holders off. 2. Trim the holder until there is no edge left. 3. Measure the distance over your head from where your ear connects to your head on one side to the other. 4. Cut a piece of cardboard 1-Inch wide that same length and attach the cup holders to each end. 5. Measure the length of your chin from the edge of your jawbone on one side to the other. 6. Cut a piece of black string that same length and attach it to the two cup holders by punching a whole on both sides then tying the string onto it. 7. Decorate the headphones as you like!

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Can I be against politics?

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Of course you can. Your political views (even if those views are disliking it all) are yours and yours only. This includes disliking politics. Be aware though, that some people will insist that not being "politically aware" is a failing, no matter how awful the politics you're supposedly meant to be aware of.

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Tips

Be yourself and express yourself. Don't be the total stereotype.

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There are many different punk hairstyles, experiment.

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Don't make it obvious that you are trying to be this way, no one likes a poseur.

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Warnings

Don't force yourself to like something just because it's punk .

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People might think you are weird, but who cares as long as you like it.

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Being punk and being a jerk are not the same thing.

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Remember to keep your old friends, too.

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80s punk is a specific fashion. Try not to get confused with goth, emo, or even regular punk which is more extreme.

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Don't shop at only mainstream places like Hot Topic. Try finding some punk areas where you live, where you find clothes.

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Make sure you're going to stick to the punk style. If you're only a punk for a month, you're a poser.

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How to Be an 80s Punk

Steps

Looking the Part

Acting the Part

Living the Lifestyle

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

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