Fashion in the 1970s began as a continuation of the mod style and hippie movement of the ’60s, evolving the flower child look into the decade’s distinct bohemian aesthetic. Next, it leaned toward androgynous dressing and finally began to embrace more glamorous and flashy looks in line with the disco trend. Of course, this is just a brief summary that hardly skims the surface of what was in during the ’70s.
Both clothing trends and ’70s hairstyles were influenced by musicians, movies, magazines, countercultures, political movements, and other defining zeitgeists from the decade. What were the most iconic women’s hairstyles of the ’70s? Some of the most memorable include the center part, pin-straight hair, the shag, disco curls, feathered flips, and various hair accessories, from flower crowns to bandana headbands.
Whether you need inspiration for a ’70s-themed party, are jogging your memory before an upcoming high school reunion, or are just feeling nostalgic about the heyday of 1970s hair, you’ll find what you’re looking for here. Keep scrolling for a rundown of the best
Here’s ’70s hairstyles pulled straight from real yearbook photos.
| Key Takeaways – Iconic ’70s Hair Trends: The ‘70s offered a variety of hairstyles, including the effortless center part and pin-straight “Cher hair”, voluminous disco curls, and Farrah Fawcett’s feathered flip. – Celebrity Inspiration: Stars like Cher, Farrah Fawcett, Diana Ross, Stevie Nicks, and Pam Grier set the decade’s beauty standards, inspiring millions of women with their signature looks. – Popular Everyday Styles: The shag haircut, curtain bangs, afro, and wavy bob were among the most-worn looks found in ‘70s culture, blending individuality with nonchalance. – Hair Accessories: Bandanas, flower crowns, and wide fabric headbands completed the decade’s signature boho-chic and disco styles |
Our Favorite Women’s Hairstyles From the 1970s
The wigs and intricately styled hair you see on TV shows and movies depicting 1970s style reflect the trends at the time. But these uncanny looks often lack the authenticity of what hair actually looked like in the ’70s.
Here are some of our favorite women’s hairstyles of the era. Explore real retro looks with the real ‘70s photos to match.
Center Part
When it comes to ’70s hair, the center part is among the most popular, memorable looks. This simple hairstyle just calls for wearing your hair down and parting it down the middle. The TV character Marcia Brady of The Brady Bunch (played by Maureen McCormick) and Cher were two notable inspirations for this ubiquitous hairstyle.
Long Pin-Straight Hair
Very long, pin-straight hair (often with a center part) was one of the most sought-after hairstyles of the ’70s. Cher was (and still is) most famous for this look, so much so that it was often referred to as “Cher hair.” Before the age of flat irons, people often used clothing irons to achieve stick-straight strands.
Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs are another hairstyle that begins with a center part. Hair can be layered, one length, short, or long, with evenly parted temple-length bangs that sweep out to either side.
Shoulder-Length Shag
Featuring choppy layers, long piecey bangs, and fuss-free natural texture, the shoulder-length shag was among the most popular ’70s haircuts. As seen on Jane Fonda, Joan Jett of The Runaways, and Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks, the look was low-maintenance with a laid-back cool-girl vibe.
Afro
The afro was not only a hair trend among women and men in the ’70s but also a symbol of Black pride that celebrated natural hair texture. This look was seen on actress Pam Grier in movies like The Big Doll House (1971) and Foxy Brown (1974), along with Tamara Dobson in the 1973 film Cleopatra Jones and Gloria Hendry as a “Bond girl” in 1973’s Live and Let Die.
Feathered Flip-Out
Farrah Fawcett was a hair icon of the 1970s. The actress was one of the original Charlie’s Angels, a show that ran from ’76 to ’81, where she famously wore her bouncy blonde hair in a feathered flip-out with face-framing layers swooshed back like a mane. This fashion hairstyle became massively popular, with teens and women everywhere wearing what was known as the “Farrah flip” or “Farrah hair.”
Disco Curls
Disco curls are tightly wound and full of volume. In the ’70s, this look was often worn with a center part. Unlike curly styles of today, the coils weren’t weighed down with hair-styling products but rather teased slightly for a fuzzy, halo-like effect that adds a whimsical vibe while still looking natural.
Bouncy High Ponytail
Stemming from mod fashion of the ’60s, this elevated updo is at once groovy and polished. It features an extra-high ponytail tied at the top of the head toward the back. An additional hair tie might be wrapped around to add height, and the tendrils hanging down from the ponytail are curled or shaped to create bouncy volume.
Air-Dried Hair
The truth is, people didn’t have nearly as many tools, products, resources, or inspiration for hair looks in the ’70s as they do now. Authentic 1970s hair was often air-dried. Whether with a center pair, curls, or hair tucked behind the ears, the result looked effortless—because it was.
Waist-Length Locks
Long hair was in during the ’70s. But not just long—very, very long. Embraced by everyone from hippies to rock stars, waist-length locks were seen on Cher, as well as “Queen of Disco” Donna Summer.
’70s Lob
Cropped to shoulder-length and rounded in at the ends, the lob (long bob) is a sleek, sophisticated hairstyle that flatters virtually anyone. Dianna Ross wore this ’70s haircut (among many other memorable looks from the decade).
Brushed-Out Curls
While modern curls are often more defined, people with natural or permed coils in the ’70s brushed them out to achieve soft, movable volume that welcomed a bit of frizz. Donna Summer, Dianna Ross, and model Jerry Hall inspired many women to rock this look.
Beehive
The beehive dates back to 1960, but this iconic updo held strong well into the ’70s and is still seen on celebrities today. The rounded, teased look can encompass all your hair or be worn as a half-up style—either way, the sky-high shape extends past the height of your head and tilts slightly back.
Side Braids and Low Pigtails
Inspired in part by The Brady Bunch sisters, side braids and low pigtails were a popular hairstyle among teens and grade-schoolers in the ’70s. The simple, youthful look allowed those with long hair to keep it neat while playing into hippie fashion trends of the decade.
Wavy Bob
A shorter version of the shag, the wavy bob was a popular 1970s haircut. The chin-length style could be created with curlers for old-Hollywood waves or by leaving your natural hair pattern as is. This look was seen on actress Elizabeth Taylor, British model Twiggy, and Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry.
Straight-Cut Bangs
Straight-across, blunt-cut bangs were an easy style to pair with long or short hair. Actress and model Jane Birkin wore this signature look through the ’70s to complement her naturally straight, light brown locks.
Boho Waves
Boho waves are a longer version of the shag. This hairstyle features long, piecey sections, worn slightly messy to merge rock-and-roll and hippie style influences. Stevie Nicks was known to wear the low-maintenance, edgy look in the late ’70s.
Wedge Haircut
Slightly more voluminous and shapely than the pixie, the wedge haircut is a shortly cropped, layered style, often with side sweeping bangs or feathered pieces framing the face. Figure skater Dorothy Hamill is credited with popularizing the practical yet flattering look in the ’70s.
Pageboy Haircut
The pageboy haircut is essentially the women’s version of the bowl cut. This straight, neck-length hairstyle has a smooth top, ends curved inward, and often blunt-cut bangs.
Shoulder-Length Flip-Out
The shoulder-length flip-out is a hairstyle from the ’60s that held strong through a good part of the ’70s. It features full-bodied hair, often teased at the top for extra height, that sits right at the shoulders and flips out at the ends.
Permed Hair
Many teens and women got perms in the ’70s. One chemical treatment delivered permanent curls until hair grew back out, and you could get it done with any hair length—short, medium, or long.
Disco Wedge
The disco wedge is a 1970s hairstyle featuring a center part, with flat, smooth hair at the top and curls starting about two-thirds of the way down. This was often the result of a perm grown partway out, combining the middle part with brushed-out curls.
Bandana Hair Scarf
Lots of women wore bandanas as hair scarves in the ’70s. This look nodded to the bohemian and hippie style trends of the decade.
Wide Fabric Headband
When browsing archive yearbooks on Classmates®, you’ll see many school photos of girls wearing wide fabric headbands. This hair accessory was often paired with teased hair or flipped-out ends.
Flower Crown
Flower crowns were the hair accessory of the flower child movement. This easy-breezy hair look allowed for long hair to fall naturally while adding a touch of character and a hint of whimsy.
What Was the Most Popular Hairstyle From the ’70s?
The ’70s hairstyles women wore most may have been the shag. This easy, laid-back hairstyle was achievable for many teens and young women of the era, as it could be worn at almost any length, with or without bangs. Feathered hair was also popular, along with the afro, center part, and long, straight hair.
Which Celebrities Influenced Hairstyles in the ’70s?
Many actresses, singers, models, political figures, and other prestigious personalities influenced 1970s hairstyles. Women got their inspiration from the likes of
- Farrah Fawcett
- Cher
- Olivia Newton-John
- Diana Ross, Pam Grier
- Tamara Dobson
- Twiggy
- Jackie O
- Jane Birkin
- Stevie Nicks
- Jerry Hall
- Goldie Hawn
- Donna Summer
- Barbra Streisand
How to Give Your Hair That Signature ’70s Look
Although ’60s hairstyles famously used lots of hairspray and teasing for sky-high looks, many ’70s hairstyles embraced a more natural, down-to-earth vibe. When considering how to style hair like women in the ’70s, less might be more. For instance, getting authentic-looking hair could be as simple as parting your hair down the center and allowing it to air-dry. Or, if you have naturally curly or textured hair, gently brush it out to create disco curls. A flower crown, wide headband, or bandana scarf can add a finishing touch.
Find Authentic ’70s Hairstyles Right From Your High School Yearbooks
Whether you want to browse yearbooks from your old high school, see how your schoolmates styled their hair, or get inspiration for ’70s hair from real photos from the decade, the Classmates yearbook finder is a great place to start.
Search for free, and explore thousands of digitized yearbooks from the ’70s and other decades.
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