Remember those iconic hairstyles your parents rocked in their photo albums? Well, dust off those old pictures because those retro looks are making a serious comeback! From voluminous bouffants to feathered layers, today’s trendsetters are embracing these classic styles with modern twists. Let’s explore the boomer-era hairstyles that are turning heads once again in salons everywhere.
1. The Shaggy Mullet
Business in front, party in the back—with a modern edge! This divisive style from the ’70s and ’80s has returned with softer layers and more blended transitions.
Today’s mullet incorporates textured fringe and casual volume that works for all genders. Rock stars made it famous; now TikTokers are making it cool again.
2. Farrah Fawcett Feathers
Those signature wings of perfectly flipped layers created the ultimate ’70s bombshell look. Farrah’s feathered masterpiece required hot rollers and plenty of hairspray to achieve that perfect bounce.
Modern versions feature softer, more natural-looking feathered layers that frame the face beautifully while maintaining that iconic movement.
3. The Beehive Updo
Towering heights of teased hair defined this ’60s statement style. Originally needing industrial amounts of hairspray and backcombing, the beehive symbolized sophistication with attitude.
Today’s version maintains height but with a deliberately messier finish. Red carpet events frequently showcase these updated beehives with loose tendrils for a less rigid appearance.
4. The Pageboy Bob
Sleek, chin-length, and curved under—this sophisticated cut gained popularity in the ’50s and ’60s. Jackie Kennedy made this polished style synonymous with elegance and class.
The contemporary take features slightly more layers and texture while maintaining that signature curved-under finish. It’s perfect for those wanting structure without stiffness.
5. The Pompadour
Elvis didn’t invent it, but he certainly made it iconic! This rebellious style featured height at the front with slicked-back sides.
Men’s fashion has embraced the pompadour again, now with faded sides and more natural-looking volume on top. Women rock modern versions too, creating an edgy, confident statement with this gender-bending classic.
6. Curtained Middle Part
The ’70s heartthrob look featured shoulder-length locks parted directly down the middle. Think young Robert Plant or Mick Jagger with their flowing manes framing their faces like curtains.
Gen Z has claimed this style as their own, sporting straight, glossy hair with that distinctive center part. It works beautifully with today’s gender-fluid fashion sensibilities.
7. The Flipped Bob
Mary Tyler Moore made this perky, outward-flipped bob famous in the ’60s. Those distinctive ends required sleeping in uncomfortable rollers or daily styling with hot tools.
Today’s version maintains the playful flip but with softer lines and more movement. Modern heat tools make achieving this bouncy look much easier than in boomer days!
8. The Afro
Celebrating natural texture, the Afro became a powerful symbol of Black pride and identity in the ’60s and ’70s. Icons like Angela Davis showcased this bold, voluminous style.
The modern natural hair movement has embraced Afros of all sizes. Today’s versions often feature defined curls and shaped silhouettes that honor this historically significant style.
9. The Shag Cut
Jane Fonda’s choppy layers in Klute created a sensation that defined ’70s hair. This rebellious cut featured face-framing layers that gradually lengthened, creating movement and volume.
The modern shag incorporates curtain bangs and works beautifully with natural texture. It’s become the cool-girl cut of choice, offering effortless style with minimal maintenance.
10. The Pixie Cut
Mia Farrow’s ultra-short crop in Rosemary’s Baby shocked America and launched a revolution in women’s hair. This daring style challenged traditional femininity with its boyish, cropped silhouette.
Today’s pixies feature more texture and asymmetrical elements. The modern version offers versatility with longer tops that can be styled multiple ways while maintaining that bold statement.
11. The Bouffant
Height was everything with this ’60s status style! Priscilla Presley and Brigitte Bardot showcased these voluminous creations that required serious teasing and hairspray.
Today’s bouffant incorporates the volume at the crown but with softer, more natural-looking finish. Red carpet events often feature these updated versions that nod to vintage glamour without the helmet-like stiffness.
12. The Bowl Cut
The Beatles made this geometric style a sensation in the ’60s. That perfectly rounded shape looked exactly like someone had placed a bowl on the head as a cutting guide.
Fashion-forward trendsetters have reclaimed this quirky cut with modern asymmetry and texture. The contemporary bowl cut often features undercuts or fades for an edgier, less uniform appearance.
13. The Rachel
Jennifer Aniston’s layered, highlighted cut from Friends created a ’90s phenomenon that late-Boomer women rushed to salons to copy. Those face-framing layers and chunky highlights defined a generation.
Today’s version features softer, more blended highlights and less structured layers. The updated Rachel maintains the bouncy, face-framing effect but with a more lived-in, natural appearance.
14. The Wedge Cut
Dorothy Hamill’s short, graduated bob won hearts during the 1976 Olympics. This distinctive geometric cut featured a shorter back that gradually angled to longer front pieces.
Modern versions maintain that dramatic graduation but with softer lines and more texture. The contemporary wedge offers versatility and works beautifully with today’s casual-chic aesthetic.
15. Loose Hippie Waves
Free-flowing, natural waves embodied the counterculture spirit of the late ’60s and early ’70s. Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks exemplified this carefree, bohemian aesthetic.
Today’s beach waves capture that same effortless vibe but with more defined texture. Modern tools like triple-barrel wavers create that perfectly imperfect finish that looks deliberately undone.