The 1960s was a time of revolution in fashion, music, and especially hair. From wild beehives to flowing hippie locks, hairstyles became powerful symbols of rebellion and freedom.
These bold styles didn’t just frame faces—they made statements about who you were and what you believed in during this transformative decade.
1. L'alveare
Standing tall and proud, the beehive towered above all other hairstyles of the era. Women teased their hair to gravity-defying heights, creating a cone-shaped style that required copious amounts of hairspray.
Originally created by Margaret Vinci Heldt in 1960, the style became a symbol of sophistication and glamour.
2. Vidal Sassoon’s Five-Point Cut
Geometric precision revolutionized women’s hair when Vidal Sassoon introduced his iconic five-point cut. Sharp angles and perfect symmetry created a low-maintenance style that framed the face beautifully.
Fashion model Nancy Kwan’s dramatic transformation to this cut made international headlines in 1963.
3. The Flip
Curling up at the ends with playful bounce, the flip captured youthful energy perfectly. Women spent hours with rollers to achieve those signature upturned ends that swung with every movement.
Mary Tyler Moore popularized this peppy style on television, making it a must-have look for young women.
4. Il taglio Pixie
Boldly breaking beauty norms, Twiggy and Mia Farrow made the ultra-short pixie cut a symbol of modern femininity. Barely reaching the ears and featuring wispy bangs, this style emphasized the eyes.
When Farrow chopped her locks for “Rosemary’s Baby,” it created a sensation that inspired women worldwide.
5. Hippie Hair
Flowing freely down backs and over shoulders, hippie hair rejected structured styles in favor of natural beauty. Both men and women embraced long, straight locks, often parted in the middle and adorned with flowers or headbands.
This carefree look embodied the counterculture’s rejection of mainstream values.
6. L'afro
Rising to prominence as both a fashion statement and political symbol, the Afro celebrated natural Black beauty. Hair was picked out into a full, rounded shape that stood proud around the head.
Icons like Angela Davis and Jimi Hendrix wore this style, challenging Eurocentric beauty standards while making a powerful visual statement.
7. Bardot’s Tousled Volume
Sex appeal personified, Brigitte Bardot’s signature voluminous style featured teased crown, face-framing layers, and casual yet deliberate messiness. Her half-up styles with cascading blonde waves inspired millions of imitators.
The French bombshell made bedhead look glamorous long before it became a modern trend.
8. The Mop Top
Beatlemania brought the mop top into living rooms worldwide, shocking parents and thrilling teens. The slightly shaggy cut featured longer-than-conventional hair that brushed the collar and covered the ears.
When the Fab Four shook their heads during performances, girls screamed and boys headed to barbers with Beatles photos.
9. Il bouffant
Elegance defined the bouffant with its rounded, full shape and smooth finish. First Lady Jackie Kennedy made this sophisticated style a national obsession, with women across America emulating her polished look.
Creating the perfect bouffant required serious backcombing skills and an arsenal of hair products.
10. Il paggio
Sleek sophistication characterized the pageboy with its smooth, rounded ends that curved under at shoulder length. Models like Jean Shrimpton showcased this polished style that required precise cutting techniques.
Women loved how the pageboy’s clean lines complemented the era’s mod fashions while remaining practical for everyday wear.
11. The Bob with Bangs
Reinventing the classic bob, Mary Quant added thick, straight bangs that perfectly framed mod makeup looks. This geometric cut typically hit just below the chin with crisp, straight lines.
As the designer who popularized the miniskirt, Quant’s signature hairstyle completed the quintessential ’60s fashion revolution.
12. The Dolly Bird Fringe
Heavy, straight-across bangs defined the dolly bird look, often paired with long, straight hair. British model Pattie Boyd epitomized this style with her wide-eyed innocence and trendsetting fringe.
The look required regular trimming to maintain that perfect eyebrow-skimming length that framed doe-eyes so effectively.
13. The Mod Crop
Androgynous appeal made the mod crop revolutionary when model Twiggy debuted her ultra-short cut. Closely cropped on the sides with longer layers on top, this style emphasized facial features and exuded confidence.
Women who adopted this look were making a bold statement about gender norms and fashion freedom.
14. The Biker’s Pompadour
Rebellious youth culture embraced the pompadour with its slicked-back sides and voluminous top. Greasers and rockers applied liberal amounts of pomade to achieve the perfect rebellious silhouette.
Elvis Presley maintained his version of this style throughout the decade, influencing countless young men to adopt similar looks.
15. The Chelsea Cut
Avant-garde and shocking, the Chelsea cut featured short, boyish hair with longer sections at the front and sides. This experimental style became popular among London’s fashion-forward crowd.
Often paired with dramatic makeup and mod clothing, it represented the boundary-pushing spirit of Swinging London.