70s Hairstyles

Anything goes: that was the way of the 1970s, and it was especially true of the hairstyles of the time. The hairstyles of the day also marked a sudden shift from the overdone hairdos of the 1950s and ‘60s: natural was in, in a big way. No more rolls, pin-up hairdos, or sleeping in curlers. Many of the hairstyles of the ‘70s have gone on to influence the hairstyles of today.

The most popular hairstyle of the time was undoubtedly the sleek, straight hair hairstyle you see in many pictures from the ‘70s. The style first came around as an imitation of Ali MacGraw’s hair in the film Love Story. Today, the style is easily achievable with a straightening iron, more commonly known as a flat iron. Of course, they didn’t exist in the ‘70s. So what to do?

Enter the clothing iron. Yes, young women would iron their hair with a clothing iron, inch by inch. It was a two person job; trying it alone would probably burn your hair and necessitating a haircut.

Speaking of short styles, the shag was also popular in the ‘70s. The most iconic shag haircut of the time was likely Jane Fonda’s, forever immortalized in the film Klute. This style was seen as more edgy, more anti-establishment.

Some styles were seen as edgy at the time, but have since faded into history as an embarrassment. The disco wedge cut is a good example of this. Not many people remember it, and some people are even afraid of it. But perhaps the best example of an embarrassing cut is the mullet. No more need be said.

Perhaps due in large part to the Black Power movement, people of African descent were also embracing their hair’s natural texture. The afro was a very popular style for black people at the time, as a sort of statement to others that beauty came in all shapes and forms.

Lastly, any article on hairstyles of the 1970s would be remiss in omitting ‘feathered’ hairstyles. Most famously worn by Farrah Fawcett, the feathered look took advantage of the better motors that hair-dryers had in the 70s. The look had more volume, body and movement than previous hairstyles.

Sleek, feathered, shagged., even mulleted - many styles of the ‘70s are still well-known today. Hair of the 1970s was seen as simple, carefree, and natural. And really, who wouldn’t want that?