So what made this decade so unique? The use of hair spray and back combing gave plenty of volume to tresses with big hair being in. From long hair to short hair, here is a list of 1960s hairstyles to get you caught up on the glamorous era in pop culture.
famous hairstyles in the 1960s
When it comes to some of the most famous haircuts of all time, the bob unquestionably tops the list. Back in the 1960s, renowned vocalist Barbra Streisand was the queen of the bob hairstyle. She had a flipped bob with bangs.
The bouffant was popular with women of all ages since it was simple to make and wear. It was popularized by First Lady Jackie Kennedy. Talented hairdressers and a whole era of glam girls including The Supremes elevated bouffant hairstyles to the peak of eye-catching elegance as the decade continued.
To begin with, the hair was placed in a huge curler to provide the necessary bounce. Once set, the hair was backcombed to achieve the desired shape, form, and voluminous style. You could also see this on shows like Star Trek, giving a sci-fi chic look. It happens to be one of the quinessential sixties hairstyles.
The 1960s saw the onset of a counterculture revolution, with accepted social norms in every realm from music to film to fashion being challenged and re-written. Slowly, the bouffants, pompadours and poodle cuts that reigned over the previous decade were replaced by more exaggerated, edgier hairstyles. Hair became a symbolic representation of social change as women opted for shorter cuts and men grew out their hair to lengths previously considered unacceptable. Variety encompassed the decade, with a whole host of styles moving swiftly in and out of fashion over the years.Below, see our list of the nine most memorable hairstyles of the 1960s, and how they influenced and were influenced by the popular culture of the decade.
Image credit: BETTMANN / CONTRIBUTOR / GETTY IMAGES2. The Flipped BobIn 1961, America elected its youngest president to date, John F. Kennedy, and with him, his young and impeccably stylish wife, Jacqueline Kennedy. Jackie Kennedy became a household name during the early part of the decade, becoming for many Americans the epitome of grace and class. Her signature hairstyle, a short, bob-like cut that flipped out at the ends, was copied by millions of women. Even superstars like Diana Ross and the Supremes and Elizabeth Montgomery sported versions of the look made popular by the First Lady.Image credit: Apple Corps3. The Mop TopThe 1960s saw the formation of perhaps the biggest band of all time, The Beatles. The Liverpool-based group climbed to unprecedented popularity in the United States, leading to what eventually became known as "Beatlemania." Though their hairstyles evolved drastically over the years, The Beatles were initially recognizable for their "mop-top" look - a messy, longer cut that shifted away from the slicked back, classic looks of the 1950s. The style became a symbol of rebellion, and was quickly adopted by Beatle lovers around the world.Image credit: Getty Images4. The BombshellDuring the 1960s, social taboos were continually challenged. Sexuality became increasingly embraced, especially in the realm of film and cinema. This was reflected with bigger, sexier hair. Actresses such as Raquel Welch, Jane Fonda and Brigitte Bardot began wearing long, flowing, voluminous hairstyles that soon became synonymous with beauty and sensuality.Image credit: Getty Images5. The New Pixie
On the exact opposite end of the spectrum from big, bombshell hair, many women began opting for shorter, rebellious cuts. World-famous model, Lesley Lawson, better known as Twiggy, burst onto the scene sporting a new version of the 1950s pixie, one that was sleek, smooth and boyish. Soon, women began copying the famous side part and long, side bangs look.Image credit: Ronald Dumont/Getty Images.6. The Vidal Sassoon CutIn close connection with the new craze for short, boyish pixies, Vidal Sassoon, a British hairdresser who soon became established in the U.S., pioneered the modern bob during the mid-1960s. The geometric, Bauhaus-inspired looks he created were incredibly radical for the time, but that didn't stop Sassoon styles from exploding in popularity. Sassoon's heavily-publicized haircuts of such well-known celebrities as Nancy Kwan and Mia Farrow, began the demand for short, sharp, angled looks across the country.Image credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images7. AfrosAs the African-American Civil Rights Movement gained momentum during the '60s, it brought with it a renewed sense of identity to the African-American community. In a conscious break from previous styles that demanded that African-Americans attempt to model their hair after the styles of white Americans, the 1960s saw the increasing popularity of the Afro. Also known as the 'Fro or "natural" hair, the Afro became a symbol of African-American power, and was worn by civil rights supporters and leaders such as Angela Davis, Jimi Hendrix and James Brown.Image credit: Ralph Crane8. Hippie HairToward the latter half of the decade, the counterculture movement gained steam with the introduction of hippies into the mainstream. War protests, Woodstock and The Summer of Love challenged the more straight-laced, older generations, as did the increasingly long hair that began showing up in hippie culture. Men and women alike began growing out their locks into long, natural, unkempt styles that directly challenged the structured, glamorized looks of previous years. Musicians such as Joan Baez, Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead helped to popularize the free-flowing style.Image credit: Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images9. AccessoriesThere was one thing that united the incredibly varied looks of the 1960s: hair accessories. The decade saw an explosion of different accessories that were used to adorn and enhance unique styles. Jackie Kennedy's pill box hats, Grace Kelly's glamorous headscarves, along with ribbons, flowers and jewels paved the way for women to infuse fashion and fun into their hairstyles.
In particular, the stars of New Wave cinema and Italian film influenced popular culture. As a result, Brigitte Bardot was catapulted to international stardom and is arguably the ultimate 1960s siren.
Hairdressers have always developed new hairstyles and influenced hair fashions. For instance, the new decade welcomed the voluminous beehive, created by a Chicago-based hairdresser. This was followed by the advent of sharp, short crops by Vidal Sassoon, arguably the hairdressing star of the 1960s.
The popularity of the Afro peaked in the late 1960s into the 1970s, during which time it moved from being a political statement into being fashionable. Ultimately, it became so fashionable that white people got their hair permed to be tight and curly. One example of this is Barbra Streisand.
The beehive is a classic vintage 1960s hairstyle and one of the enduring symbols of the early sixties. The distinctively cone-shaped, backcombed and lacquered mountain of hair would last for many days, with a bit of tweaking and lashings of Aqua Net.
The 1960s bouffant carried on from the similar styles of the late 1950s. It varied in size from happily rounded to pretty big. It could be smooth and sleek or tousled with curls and waves. In a word, it was not just one particular look, but one that simply involved big and high pouffed-up hair.
During the first half of the 1960s, hair would not simply be left down without any styling and always looked sleek. It could be worn with a bit of lift and backcombed at the crown to achieve a rounded bouffant. The ends could also be put into a roller to create an upward curl.
The Pixie was originally a 1950s look, characterized by smooth, sleek, and boyish hair. Women began to prefer shorter and rebellious haircuts, thanks to Lesley Lawson, the world-famous model also known as Twiggy. Many women in the late 60s could be seen with this side-bang look.
The 1960s was a time of revolution and change, and it presented an opportunity to break away from societally-imposed image norms. African-Americans deliberately broke away from past hairstyle and image norms and embraced a style uniquely their own. This saw the rise in popularity of the Afro.
60s hairstyles for short hair are all about bouncy and defined curls. To achieve this look, wrap one-inch sections around your curling iron in the direction of your face, and hold each one coiled in your hand for thirty seconds as it cools.
Hairstyles during that era still reign the hair world. So, get ready to have a class in the best 60s long hairstyles! That classy beehive you always wanted to try out, and those flamboyant hipster hairdos people sport are all from the 60s. And the hair only got bigger and better!
By 1968-69, some young women were entering into a natural state of low-fuss, no-mess, long and straight hairstyles. The age of the hippies was the greatest influence, pushed further forward by fashionable stars like Cher. The half up, half down style was great for day or evening looks, giving women some variety to an otherwise simple 60s hairstyle. Long hair was also shaped into the flip and the bouffant top.
The natural hairstyle trend was felt the most by African American women (and men) who had been straightening their hair for over a century. The free and curly Afro in the late 1960s was short and round, but growing bigger as the 1970s rolled in.
As guys became more enlightened about different hairstyles and started exposing their hair and ditching hats, this trend also resulted in new and extreme hairstyles. One of those extreme hairstyles that came up was the freedom afro. It was in the group of long haircuts and was rocked by African American guys as a sign of pride and freedom. They also wanted to showcase their high and long hair. 2ff7e9595c
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