Big gothic hairstyles since the eighties emphasized height or largely styled hair that is both romantic and mysterious. Crimping or curling and backcombing are the major ways to achieve such big hair for certain gothic hairstyles.
Depending on the specific style, hairstyles in the big hair categories may require styling, cutting, or treatment techniques. Big gothic hair styles often requires backcombing or teasing and the liberal application of styling aids such as moulding mud, hair spray and hair gel, often in combination with the use of hair dryers. Crimping irons, curling irons, perms, hair rollers or other techniques may also be required for longer hair to help it stay big.