Common 70's Hairstyles
Hot on the trails of the groovy '60s, the 1970s--with hot pants, pantsuits, mini and maxi skirts, and ultra-wide neckties--was a unique decade in terms of fashion. Though hemlines got shorter, hair got longer, and a new generation of disco-ready hairstyles was born. Fashion crazes fueled the most common of these hairstyles. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Feathered 'Do
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Wings and feathered bangs were all the rage for young women in the 1970s. These poofed hairdos were popularized thanks to Farrah Fawcett and the fame of the Charlie's Angels television program. Young women desiring the feathered hairdo required a thorough working-over with hair product and hairbrushes every morning, and a practiced technique resulted in a perfect, wavy Charlie's Angels hairstyle.
The Shag
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The shag, an extension of the Beatlemania-fueled "moptop" of the '60s, was the popular hairstyle for young men. The shag was a low-maintenance hairstyle, and shoulder- and collar-length hairdos were the norm for men and boys in those days. Those with stricter parents could sometimes get away with a "half-shag," which went down to the neckline.
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The Bob
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Young women who didn't want to spend much time on the upkeep of a feathered hairdo wore their hair in a funky bob. This straightened, neat hairstyle was a more business-like hairdo, but still fashionable. Those who wanted a bob-styled hairdo would pay for professional hairstyling.
The "Mussed" or Natural Look
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Both men and women spent their mornings perfecting a "mussed" hairdo with wisps of coiffed hair in every direction. This was sometimes accentuated with a simple hair-band or headband. These hairdos were more naturalistic and tended toward 1960's sensibilities.
The Afro
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African-American men and women popularized an Afro craze during the 1970s. Youth took great pains to increase the size of their Afros, and young men often wore their Afro pick or comb in their hair. White men with naturally curly hair could fashion their hairdos into Afros as well.
The Mullet
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The mullet was a hairstyle that was introduced in the 1960s and retained popularity throughout the '70s. Those with mullets buzzed their sides and top short and grew out the hair in the back of their head, resulting in a "coonskin cap" look.
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References
Resources
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