The 1970s was a wild era for women’s hairstyles, blending hippie influences with disco glamour and everything in between. Women experimented boldly with their locks, trying trends that ranged from effortlessly natural to dramatically structured. These iconic hair moments defined a generation and continue to influence fashion today – for better or worse!
1. Feathered Like Farrah
Farrah Fawcett’s iconic feathered flip became the hairstyle every woman coveted. The voluminous, layered cut required constant maintenance with round brushes and blow dryers.
Many women slept uncomfortably on rollers just to achieve those perfect wings.
2. Shag Haircuts Everywhere
The shaggy, layered cut popularized by Jane Fonda featured choppy ends and lots of movement. Women loved how it looked effortlessly cool with minimal styling.
The cut worked on various hair lengths, making it accessible to almost everyone.
3. Dorothy Hamill’s Wedge
After the 1976 Olympics, everyone wanted Olympic skater Dorothy Hamill’s precise wedge bob. The geometric cut tapered at the nape while maintaining fullness around the face.
It required frequent salon visits to maintain that perfect angled shape.
4. Afros in Full Glory
The Afro symbolized Black pride and embracing natural texture during this revolutionary decade. Women tossed chemical relaxers aside to grow magnificent, rounded shapes.
Maintenance involved wide-toothed picks and specialized moisturizing products to preserve shape and health.
5. Long and Straight Hippie Hair
Hippie-inspired ultra-long, center-parted hair remained popular throughout the decade. Women spent hours ironing their locks between wax paper for that stick-straight look.
Natural hair oils were avoided, as squeaky-clean strands held the style better.
6. Pageboy Bobs with Rolled Ends
The sleek pageboy featured a curved under shape that required serious styling commitment. Women slept in uncomfortable rollers or used hot curling irons daily.
Hairspray became a household necessity to maintain those perfectly rolled ends throughout the day.
7. The Controversial Mullet
Yes, women rocked mullets too! This controversial ‘business in front, party in back’ style gained popularity late in the decade. The dramatic contrast between short front and long back created an edgy silhouette.
Some added perms to the longer sections for extra texture.
8. Charlie’s Angels Flip
Beyond Farrah, the other Angels sported medium-length cuts with distinctive flipped ends. Women used hot rollers specifically for those perfectly curved ends while maintaining volume at the crown.
Teasing combs became essential tools in every bathroom.
9. Perm Explosion
Chemical perms transformed straight hair into tight curls or loose waves. Women endured hours in salons with pungent chemicals and uncomfortable rods wrapped tightly against their scalps.
The resulting curls often looked unnaturally uniform but were considered fashion-forward.
10. Headband Hairstyles
Fabric headbands positioned a few inches back from the hairline created an instantly recognizable ’70s silhouette. Women used these accessories to control longer styles or add bohemian flair.
Headbands in leather, embroidered fabric, or macramé expressed personal style.
11. The Wedge With Sideburns
A variation on the wedge cut featured longer sections in front of the ears resembling sideburns. These face-framing pieces softened the geometric cut while maintaining its structured shape.
Some women highlighted these sections for added dimension.
12. Gypsy Shag Cuts
The gypsy cut featured abundant layers throughout, creating a wild, untamed look. Women embraced this low-maintenance style that worked with natural texture rather than fighting it.
Scrunching with mousse enhanced the deliberately messy, carefree aesthetic.
13. Flequillo despuntado
Straight-across, eyebrow-skimming bangs paired with longer hair created a distinctive ’70s look. Women often cut these themselves between salon visits, sometimes with regrettable results.
Dry shampoo became popular for refreshing bangs that quickly became oily.
14. Bowl Cuts Get Chic
The mushroom-shaped bowl cut gained surprising popularity among fashion-forward women. This androgynous style required thick hair to maintain its rounded shape and precise edges.
Regular trims were essential to preserve the distinctive silhouette.
15. Half-Up Disco Styles
For nights out, women pulled the front sections up and back while leaving the rest flowing. This created height at the crown perfect for disco dancing.
Backcombing added dramatic volume that could withstand hours under spinning mirror balls.
16. Cleopatra-Inspired Bobs
Geometric bobs with Egyptian-inspired straight bangs became fashionable after dominating runways. The severe cut required absolutely straight hair and precise maintenance.
Many women relaxed naturally curly hair to achieve this sleek, angular look.
17. Frosted Tips and Streaks
Frosting involved pulling strands through a plastic cap and bleaching them for dramatic highlights. Women endured hours with their scalps burning from the harsh chemicals.
The resulting striped effect created dimension but often damaged hair severely.
18. Braided Tendrils
Small face-framing braids adorned otherwise loose styles for a bohemian touch. Women often incorporated colorful threads or beads into these delicate plaits.
The small braids stayed intact for days, making this a practical yet decorative technique.