A Guide to Chic 1960s Hairstyles for Women (2024)

Are you curious to try out a new hairstyle? How about something unique and different? Perhaps, a hairstyle borrowed from your foremothers? Would you like to bring the 1960s hairstyles for women back in trend? Are you uncertain which one would suit you the best?

If you love vintage styles as much as we do, this is the perfect opportunity for you to explore a popular hairstyle from a time long gone. We understand this might be foreign territory for many of you, and as exciting as it might seem, it could be quite nerve-wracking too.

Therefore, we have come to you with this piece to discuss 1960s hairstyles for women. We will not only dive into different types of hairstyles that women in the 1960s loved and rocked, but we will also let you know how you can do the hairstyles all by yourself.

Why Choose 1960s Hairstyles for Women?

The beginning of the revolutionary counterculture movement, the 1960s will always be recalled as the commencement of the era of breaking societal norms and establishing individualism. People found and embraced new ways to express what they stood for, and one of these ways was their appearances. While fashion played a major role, so did people’s hairstyles.

Hairstyles became a form of freedom of speech as both women and men in society were breaking gender norms. Women opted for shorter hair, while men embraced the life of keeping long hair. Besides politics, popular culture widely influenced hairstyles among peers too.

Hence, if and when you choose to get yourself a hairstyle inspired from the 1960s, you are making a statement. You are proudly announcing yourself as a supporter of the counterculture movement and that barrier-free lifestyle, and embracing a life of individualism. It is an honor and tribute to the women of that era for whom these hairstyles were symbolic.

11 Most Popular 1960s Hairstyles for Women

Are you ready for a new look? If yes, without further ado, read our discussion below about the most popular and outrageously stunning 1960s hairstyles for women.

Margaret Vinci’s Iconic Beehive

If you love long hair but are not a big fan of having them down and untied, the beehive hairstyle is the one for you. It was one of the most iconic hairstyles of the 1960s that most – if not all – female celebrities wore as hair updo at some point. It was trendy and well-accepted in popular culture.

Introduced by the hairstylists Margaret Vinci Heldt, the beehive is the most exaggerated and extra look you could go for. The hairstyle simply incorporates gathering and piling up all your hair neatly on top of the head and pinning them up. You will definitely need loads – and we mean loads – of hairspray to ensure your hair stays up and in place.

For those of you who love bangs too, you can style the bangs to frame your face away from the beehive. This will give more definition to your face and overall hairstyle.

How To DIY A Beehive?

• Select a section of the hair from the crown of the head where you will create the beehive – starting in the middle is recommended.
• Backcomb the hair, i.e., teasing, until you create a nest-like effect.
• Continue the previous step until you are satisfied with all the hair sections.
• Collect the hair and pin-up to create the long-conical structure.
• Lightly comb the surface to smooth out the top hair.
• The longer your hair is, the bigger and higher will be the beehive.
• Don’t forget to use hairspray to retain the structure for a long period.

The Bombshell Glam Hair

True to its name the bombshell hairstyle will without a doubt make you look and feel like a bombshell. As a symbol for sexuality, sensuality, and beauty – the bombshell was all about embracing your truest self unabashedly.

This hairdo is most suitable for women who love long hair with extra volume. The longer and more voluminous your hair is, the better you can pull this off. The mere size and luxuriousness of the locks will make you feel a hundred times more appealing. It is the perfect combination of looking put together in a subtle unkempt manner.

How To DIY A Bombshell?

• Part your hair, i.e., your bangs, in the middle and clip them back.
• Use a roller or volume brush to create base volume.
• Start with the hair in the middle of your crown for the best result.
• Once you have the base volume, you can now tease your hair by backcombing to enhance and give some extra volume.
• Use hair setting spray after teasing each section.
• Gradually a structure will form on the crown of your head.
• Pinup or tie your hair in a half updo to retain the acquired structure.
• Don’t forget to style your bangs and give it an overall tousled look.
• Voila! You have a bombshell look now

Flip That Bob!

The flipped bob is, perhaps, the most charming hairstyle of all time. It will make you feel timeless and youthful. This hairstyle falls on the short hair end of the spectrum, i.e., jaw or chin length.

To achieve this look all you will need to do is tease your hair on the top of your head, and use curlers or rollers to curl up the hair at the bottom. Thus, the ends of the hair will be flipped outwards. Of course, if you are feeling more daring, you can always flip the curls at the bottom inwards.

How To DIY A Flipped Bob?

• Brush your hair out to make sure its tangle-free; remember your hair must be a short bob for this look.
• Pinup the front hair away from the crown.
• Take the middle section of the crown and tease.
• Repeat the process for the rest of your hair on the crown of the head.
• Once you are pleased with the overall volume, smooth out the surface with a brush.
• Use an iron curler to curl the bottom or end of your hair outwards.
• Your hair will have a bounce effect at the bottom while the structure on top will be stiff
• Use a setting spray to retain the look and enjoy your flipped bob hairstyle for the rest of the day

The Symbolic Afros

One of the societal norms broken during the 1960s was when Black women stopped straightening their hair to conform to what society deemed to be acceptable. The Black women let their hair grow and with that embraced the Afros. They wore Afros like symbolic crowns to their identity and political stance.

However, over the years, the Afro hairstyle gained such positive popularity as a fashion statement that many white people would perm their hair into Afros. Those who could have them naturally would merely need to use a wide-toothed pick and comb their hair to achieve the look.

It must be noted that Afros can be slightly high maintenance, but again most 1960s hairstyles for women were high maintenance.

How To DIY An Afro?

• If you naturally have curly hair that can be transformed into an afro, all you need to do is part your hair into four sections and tie them up.
• Start with the back sections and slowly brush out the hair – from bottom to top.
• You will notice your hair is increasing in volume, basically becoming quite frizzy.
• Once you are done with the back sections, tie the hair into a pony.
• Now you need to repeat the same steps and brush out the front sections of the hair.
• When you are done, untie the back pony, and you have your afro.
• Of course, use a setting spray and tousle up the hair to ensure all of it is set the way you want.
• If you do not have natural curls prone to afros, we recommend you to go to a hair specialist and get it done professionally as you will need a perm.

Flower-Child’s Hippie Hair

On the note of maintenance, if you want a hairstyle that needs zero to low maintenance, you could try out the hippie hairstyle. This is as basic as any hairstyle can be. You grow your hair out, and then let your long hair flow. The style is picture-perfect for women who are into the flower-child aesthetics. To give your hair more personality, you can always adorn it with a headband, beads, or even some real flowers.

It must be noted the hippie hair was conformed into by both men and women.

How To DIY A Hippie Hair?

This is, perhaps, the simplest look to accomplish. All you need to do is brush down your hair and use a scissor to cut the ends in a straight line. To do that quickly and easily, braid your hair into two plaits and just cut off the ends. That’s it! Now, you only need to style your hair with braids or different bohemian-inspired hair accessories.

The Beatles’ Signature Mop Top

Similar to the hippie hair, the mop-top hairstyle was equally explored by both men and women. It was a hairstyle that was blown out of proportion when the biggest band of all time and the 1960s showcased it. Yes, we are talking about The Beatles. They did not only popularize the hairstyle but made it a fashion statement that people followed almost instantaneously.

The Mop Top hairstyle of the 1960s is a short messy hair look. It includes having short bangs that gradually become longer and continue down to the nape of your neck. It is a symbolic hairstyle for the rebels, and of course, The Beatles’ fans.

How To DIY A Mop Top?

• To get a mop-top you need to cut off all your hair to the nape of your neck.
• The hair on the crown of your head will only be slightly shorter than the hair at the back. If you like you can also let them be of the same length.
• The hair on the frontal region of the head will be cut in a bob style bangs, the ends will meet or will be just above your brows.
• You can let the side hair cover your ears or cut them short to be above the ears.
• That’s all! You have a classic mop-top.

1960s Pixie Dream Hair

Source

As we mentioned earlier many women opted to embrace short so-called “boyish” hairstyles. One of these booming short hairstyles was the pixie cut. You could say the pixie is the neater version of the mop-top hairstyle.

The pixie hairstyle is a smooth “boy” cut with long or short side bangs. The overall look is sleek and quite smart. If you like the no-hassle hair but want to look cute and composed, this should do that for you.

How To DIY A Pixie?

• You need to separate your hair into three sections on your head: front, crown, and back.
• Don’t forget to wet your hair before combing them back and separating them into sections.
• Unclip the back section, and use a scissor to cut your hair short, as short as possible, and close to your scalp.
• Use a hair trimmer, and preferably a number 05 shaver, to shave your hair close to the scalp.
• Once you are satisfied with the results, clean shave above and behind your ears followed by the hair on the nape of your neck.
• Untie or unclip the other two sections.
• Brush and blow-dry the hair.
• The next part is layering the top two sections, which can be slightly tricky for beginners.
• Remember the layering in a pixie cut will be much shorter than a mop top.
• Start with the crown section and vertically cut through the hair.
• Your goal is to layer in a way that the hair on your crown is shorter than the hair on the frontal region of the head.
• When you are done and satisfied with the crown section, you can move on to the front section.
• Perhaps, give sideways long bangs or short bangs – whatever you prefer.
• Cut the bangs diagonally and vertically for the edgier ends.
• Blow-dry and brush your hair when you are done, and style your new pixie hair however you fancy.

The Chic Vidal Sassoon

To put it simply, the Vidal Sassoon haircut is a lovechild of the mop-top and the pixie hair. This geometrical hairstyle is a fancy look for anybody who loves short and sharp-angled hair.

The hairstylist Vidal Sassoon introduced this radical cut during the mid-1960s and took popular culture by storm. Many female actors embraced it with open arms – open to new looks and changes. Not long after women country-wide went wild with this look.

How To DIY A Vidal Sassoon?

If you want a Vidal Sassoon, we highly advise you to avoid trying to do it at home. It is a haircut and style that only experts who are trained can achieve impeccably. So, it would be wise if you contacted a hairdresser with the required expertise.

Raimon’s Stylish Artichoke

The artichoke, also known as the pinwheel, was an invention by the hairstylist Louis Alexandre Raimon. It was a short hairstyle that looked both stylish and modern and was worn by women all over the country at one point.

If you get an artichoke, your hair will be cut in layers that are about 2 to 3 inches in length. Each strand will look petal-shaped that will be teased then to create volume. The overall length of the hair is short, the ends will meet the nape of your neck, so it is a stunning hairdo for people who are into short hair.

How To DIY An Artichoke?

Similar to the Vidal Sassoon, the Artichoke should also be handled by an expert. Due to the precise lengths and techniques required to achieve this haircut and style, we advise you to go to a hair specialist.

The Timeless Bouffant

A style borrowed from the 1950s, the bouffant of the 1960s was worn by women as tastefully. It is a hair updo that is easy to wear once you get a hang of the mechanics of it. The main element of the hairstyle is a puffed-up structure, i.e., the bouffant, created at the rear top of your hair.

The bouffant can be done in various shapes and sizes, however, 1960s bouffants’ are pretty bouffed up. They might not be the easiest to style as you need to use curlers, tease your hair, and set it all correctly. It is time-consuming but worth every second. The plus point is that you can acquire a bouffant with hair of every length.

How To DIY A Bouffant?

• You can get a bouffant in a similar manner you would get a beehive or a bombshell hairstyle.
• First, separate the front hair, if any, from the back hair and pin them up.
• Take a section of hair from the middle of the crown and use a volume brush to acquire some base volume.
• You can then slowly start teasing your hair in sections.
• The goal is to create a structure rounder and wider than the beehive, and higher than the bombshell.
• Once you are satisfied with the puffed hair, smooth out the surface and pin-up where necessary.
• Brush the rest of the hair to attain a neat and poised look.
• You have your perfect bouffant hairstyle now.

Classic Long Hair with Fringes

Another simple and moderately low maintenance 1960s hairstyle for women you could try is the straight long hair look with fringes. This is of course quite similar to the hippie hair look but with the extra flair of having some gorgeous fringes.

The fringes could have sharp edges at the end and touch your eyes barely, so basically eye-grazing bangs. It will give your face a great dimension but you must be ready for some work as maintaining bangs can be a handful.

How To DIY Long Hair With Fringes?

• You will of course need to grow out your hair.
• If you have curls, go ahead and straighten them.
• Brush your hair back, and then select a section from the front that you would like to cut.
• Tie back the rest of the hair and spray some water on the front loose strands.
• Comb down before slowly and carefully cutting the hair in a straight line parallel to your brows.
• You have your fringe. If you want edgier ends rather than blunt, use the head of the scissor to vertically cut the ends.
• Once you are satisfied, blow dry your hair, use a straightener, and comb through the fringes.
• Use a setting spray to ensure the hair stay as you styled them.
• You now have the classy 1960s long hair with fringes style.

As a midpoint of the other two decades, the 1960s have a lot of shared trends with the 1950s and 1970s. In other words, the 1960s had the fortune of enjoying trends that were immensely loved for almost thirty years. This also applies to the hairstyle trends that women enjoyed during that period.

For instance, the bouffant and the pixie are among the hairstyles that were introduced during the 1950s, the best versions of them were mastered in the 1960s, and the remnants were enjoyed in the 1970s. Other hairstyles such as the mop-top that were big during the 1960s inspired similar styles like different types of shag hair in the 1970s.

As women became more liberal and outspoken during the 1950s, the next generation of women in the 1960s had the opportunity to use their privileges to explore their identities further. One of the ways they did so was with hairstyles, and these women also build and created new waves of changes that were carried into the 1970s.

Final Verdict

To sum it all up, 1960s hairstyles for women are iconic and will look incredibly stunning no matter when and where you wear them. Most of them are a perfect blend of elegance and chic, which is what you should aim for when you want to look effortlessly glamorous. Of course, you do need to put quite a bit of effort to achieve the majority of the looks, but they are worth every second.

The 1960s was the era of political and individual revolutions. People got the freedom to express themselves and embrace their identities in the best way possible – through fashion statements that included hairstyles too. Black women wore afros as a part of identity, many women cut their hair short openly breaking gender norms, and others explored glamorous and sensual hairstyles that were considered outright scandalous.

We promise you, if and when you decide to embrace the culture of 1960s hairstyles for women, your overall appeal will change – you will feel as free as the women of the 1960s. You will make statements with your look, and attract the attention you want. Thus, do not hesitate or delay any longer, and book that appointment with your hairdresser immediately, or buy the necessary products you will require to achieve these looks.