Bouffants, beehives, and flicks were popular at this time; some of the most recognisable hairstyles from beauty history books date back to this century. Famous people from the decade, such as Brigitte Bardot, Dusty Springfield, Diana Ross and The Supremes, and Brigitte Bardot, all had identifiable huge hairstyles.
Even though bouffants, which were the craze of the decade, are no longer as common, there are still plenty of styles that have a strong 1960s influence. In fact, many celebrities frequently choose a 1960s-inspired look for red carpet events, even if it’s just adding a soft, face-framing fringe.
For your perusal, we’ve compiled a list of some of the greatest 1960s hairstyles, encompassing both classic styles and more contemporary renditions. These are the hairstyles to know about whether you want to try simple ’60s hairstyles or reminisce about famous beauty looks from the past.
The best 60s hairstyles as seen on celebrities
The ’60s bob
A lot of celebrities in the music and entertainment industries used the bouffant bob in the 1960s, notably Diana Ross, lead singer of The Supremes. It was one of the most identifiable hairstyles of the time. Bouffant hair is simply defined as a large, voluminous style with a rounded contour. Hairspray is a need if you find it difficult to hold onto volume in your hair. You may add lift and produce that rounded shape by using a large rounded brush (or just one hair drier brush).
2. The Bardot updo
Actress and activist Brigitte Bardot, one of the decade’s most well-known fashion and beauty icons, was known for her signature half-up hairstyles with a beehive or voluminous updos, both topped off with a timeless, slightly fluffy ’60s fringe. The haircuts are still frequently called “Bardot” in modern times. The secret to pulling off this look is all in the preparation; apply volumising products on your hair before blowdrying to get huge, bouncy curls.
3. The beehive
Named for the towering shape the hairstyle was teased into, the beehive was another iconic ’60s design, as seen here on the great singer Dionne Warwick. Even though they require some work to style, beehives can occasionally be spotted on the red carpet at occasions like the Met Gala. Volume is key when it comes to a beehive hairdo, so if you want to pull this look off at home, get a teasing brush to help you backcomb the front two-inch section of hair.
4. The curled bouffant
In the 1960s, piled-high curls were also a fashionable way to design bouffant hairstyles; Dusty Springfield, a legendary musician, was frequently spotted sporting this style. Here, she also has a traditional block fringe, which was most likely styled with a lot of hairspray. Similar to a beehive, backcombing your hair is essential to achieve this style’s height and volume. If your hair is finer on the thinner side, you should use a good texturising spray to help give you more hold when styling.
5. The five point cut
The “five point,” a real fashion statement, was a 1963 angular haircut designed by famed hairstylist Vidal Sassoon and worn by Mary Quant. The haircut was dubbed “the hardest to achieve” by the stylist and was reportedly influenced by Bauhaus architecture, according to the Sassoon Academy. That was just geometry.
6. The blowout
Jane Fonda has made a shaggy, feathered hairstyle her signature in more recent years, but she has worn her hair in a variety of ways over the years, including a mullet in the 1970s and this voluminous, rounded blow dry in the 1960s. To achieve Fonda’s signature blowout hairstyle, you’ll need a multipurpose hair styler, like the Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styler.
7. The Holly Golightly updo
When it comes to a legendary 1960s movie like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Audrey Hepburn’s fringed updo, which she wore as Holly Golightly, is a timeless look that has made its way into beauty history books. It’s a haircut that has undoubtedly been replicated dozens of times at fancy dress events worldwide, piled high like many ’60s hairstyles. The secret to this hairstyle is to divide your hair into three sections, tie your middle portion into a ponytail, and use a hair doughnut shaper to give the appearance of a beehive. Then, twist and secure the remaining side sections of hair around the beehive.
8. The full fringe
If you’re looking for long hairstyles from the 1960s, Cher’s iconic, ultra-long, sleek haircut from that era also included a thick, full fringe. Regular trims are essential for maintaining the length and sharpness of this look, as is the case with any fringe haircuts.
9. The modern Bardot
With its face-framing curtain fringe and increased height at the crown, actress Halle Berry’s half-up hairstyle is a perfect reproduction of ’60s legend Brigitte Bardot’s hallmark look. For a more contemporary twist, the design is combined with extremely loose waves.
10. The headband
Headband hairstyles from the 1960s, worn with beehives, bouffants and pixie cuts, proved to be fashionable during the Swinging Sixties. Blake Lively’s ensemble here has a strong ’60s vibe, especially with those bold earrings.
11. The flicked ponytail
The ’60s saw the rise in popularity of the high ponytail, which persisted into the ’70s and ’80s. However, it was the movies that gave rise to this unique look, since it was reminiscent of the famed chat show host and businesswoman Oprah Winfrey. To obtain the desired style, simply run your straighteners over your hair, tilt the tool away from your face at the ends to produce a flicked-out impression, and then secure in place with hairspray. This is the simplest approach to recreate the look.
12. The slicked down side part
The enormous bouffant and other voluminous hairstyles of the 1960s were fashionable, as was Twiggy’s iconic pixie cut, which was extremely sleek and pared back. This sleek hairdo, reminiscent of the 1960s, is reminiscent of the actress Michelle Yeoh and features a deep side parting. For this type of hairdo, you really need a styling cream like this Moroccan Oil Hydrating Styling Cream in your haircare kit.
13. The fringed half-up
In addition to headbands, bows were also a common 1960s accessory and have recently gained popularity once more. This half-up hairstyle on Penelope Cruz, enhanced with a bow, is evocative of Brigitte Bardot’s iconic appearance.
14. The modern beehive
Though they aren’t often stacked as high as they were in the 1960s, beehives undoubtedly still have a place on today’s red carpets, much like modern bouffant hair. In recent years, celebrities such as Adele, Janelle Monae, and Sienna Miller have all dazzled on the scene with contemporary styles.
15. The undone updo
While polished updos were undoubtedly fashionable, undone and rather “lived in” looks—such as this low, almost wispy style spotted on actress Salma Hayek—were also very popular in the 1960s and early 1970s. For an effortless, off-duty look, carefully remove stray hairshafts from your entire updo and curl them.
16. The big Bardot
Actress Anne Hathaway dazzled at the 2023 Met Gala in an incredibly long half-up hairstyle that featured face-framing fringe and a huge Bardot beehive. The outfit seemed to pay homage to the glitz of the 1960s, especially with the smoky makeup.
17. The flicked ponytail and side fringe
Actress Margot Robbie’s sleek side fringe and high ponytail give off a distinct late ’50s or early ’60s impression. This look could be straight out of the musical Hairspray, along with the bouffant hairstyles in our guide. Have a shimmer spray or hair gloss on hand to get the sleek look and add some extra shine to this red carpet-worthy haircut.
18. The pixie crop
Throughout the 1960s, Twiggy, Edie Sedgwick, and Mia Farrow were just a few of the well-known celebrities who adopt the pixie cut. The classic look of actress Michelle Williams feels akin to the actress’s haircut in this instance.
19. The curly updo
Updos are fantastic because they look good for almost any situation, from everyday wear to special occasions. Actress Sandra Oh looks like a wispy version of the Bardot updo, which is usually achieved with a thin curling wand. Her style is complete with a little feathered full fringe and tight 60s curls.
20. The subtle bouffant
While bouffant hair may not be as popular as it was in the 1960s, at least not in the same ways, you can still see subtle tributes to it on the red carpet, such as actress Priyanka Chopra’s hairstyle here. Teasing the hair at the top of your head is a great way to showcase this style. Finally, add soft waves to finish the appearance.
21. The full fringe
In the 1960s, fringes came in all shapes and sizes. From soft face-framing fringe to large block or complete fringes, fringes were popular. Actress Viola Davis’s hair feels very ’60s with its statement waterfall fringe and ultra-high updo.
22. The heavy side part
Actress Julianne Moore’s hair looked very ’60s with its rounded form and volume at the crown, along with the wide sweeping side fringe that adds a touch of retro flair to the whole look. Julianne Moore attended the 2022 Met Gala. An impressive red carpet appearance. Finding a new parting is as simple as wetting your roots, letting your hair fall back, and then choosing where you want your parting to be.
23. The half up
In the 1960s, half-up hairstyles frequently had some form of fringe; if not, they were swept back with a little extra height and volume, which is comparable to Marion Cotillard’s red carpet appearance. You’ll need a silk hair tie or claw clip if you’re trying this hairdo.
24. The bun
The traditional round bun, worn shown with a somewhat dishevelled vibe on actress Helen Mirren, was a hugely popular updo in the 1960s and has truly withstood the test of time. For buns, hair grips will become your closest buddy to make sure your hairstyle stays put all day.
25. The rounded bob
While rounded, layered bobs may not have as much volume as they had in the 1960s, mid-length looks like this one by Jennifer Hudson are predicted to be major hair trends in the coming years.
26. The loose curly bangs
This updo on actress Nicole Kidman is another instance of a look that has a somewhat “undone” vibe. It has extremely loose curls pulled out to frame the face, with the remaining hair piled into a messy bun reminiscent of Bardot.
27. The layered pixie crop
Actress and model Jodie Turner-Smith’s shorter, jagged layered haircut here is a great example of a crop, or shorter pixie cut, another classic 60s hairstyle that accentuates the form and structure of her face.
28. The headband updo
The 1960s saw the widespread use of large statement headbands with wide bands, but smaller, narrower bands were also a common option; actress Natalie Portman is wearing one similar to this one here with an updo. Headbands are incredibly adaptable; they look great on both mid-length and longer haircuts as well as shorter ones like pixie crops.
29. Ultra long
The 1960s and 1970s saw a rise in the popularity of extremely long hairstyles; Cher is one famous person who frequently wore this style. Actress Jessica Chastain’s incredibly sleek hair here has a strong side part that also evokes a 1960s vibe. An oil for hair, such as this Ouai Hair Oil, should be a mainstay in your beauty kit if you want to achieve Jessica’s flawless, healthy shine.
30. The vintage loose curls
A timeless option for celebrities attending red carpet events, gorgeous large and bouncy curls with an Old Hollywood vibe were still quite fashionable in the 1960s. Actress Angela Bassett looked stunning in this look for the 2024 Golden Globes. A curling wand with a 25mm barrel is ideal for creating a range of curls for hair of any length. This will give your hair the dramatic, evening-ready Hollywood curl that Angela has.
31. The subtle quiff updo
Probably more in vogue in the 1950s, quiffs with an updo remained trendy well into the 1960s, accompanied by bold hairstyles like the bouffant and beehive. Actress Scarlett Johansson sports a more understated version of this trendy style, which you can pull off with a quick spray of root lift spray to give your hair some more lift.
32. The sleek side fringe
Julia Roberts, an actress, had an updo that reminds me of some of the sweeping, sleek side fringes that were fashionable in the 1960s along with pixie cuts and different length bouffants. When replicating sleek, side-swept hairstyles, a thickly bristled hair brush is an essential addition to your hair toolkit.
