19 Iconic 70s Hairstyles for Women to Bring Back the Retro Vibes

From Farrah’s feathered layers to bold disco perms, 70s hairstyles revolutionized how women expressed themselves through their locks. These iconic looks didn’t just frame faces—they made statements, launched careers, and challenged conventions.

The decade gave us an extraordinary range of styles: sleek geometric bobs, natural afros celebrating cultural pride, bohemian braids adorned with flowers, and rebellious punk cuts pushing boundaries.

Each style tells a story of liberation, self-expression, and changing beauty standards.

Join us as we explore these transformative 70s hairstyles that continue to inspire modern trends and remain powerful symbols of one of fashion’s most innovative eras.

1. The Farrah Fawcett Feathered Flip

This iconic 1970s layered cut features voluminous, blonde waves that frame the face beautifully. The signature style includes soft, feathered layers that flip outward with wispy bangs sweeping across the forehead. Light blonde highlights blend with darker undertones, creating dimension throughout the shoulder-length mane.

The hairstyle embodies casual glamour with its seemingly effortless volume at the crown and sides. Those distinctive wings near the face required hot rollers and a round brush to achieve the trademark bounce and movement. This look paired wonderfully with both casual attire and evening wear, making it incredibly versatile for women during the disco era.

Many women brought magazine clippings to their stylists, requesting this exact cut throughout the decade. The styling typically involved blow-drying with a round brush, setting with hot rollers, and finishing with hairspray to maintain the buoyant curls. This hairstyle represents the free-spirited yet polished aesthetic that dominated fashion during the 1970s and continues to inspire modern interpretations today.

2. The Afro

This striking 70s afro showcases natural hair in all its glory, worn with confidence and style. Rich, voluminous curls extend outward in a rounded silhouette that frames the face beautifully. The dramatic shape stands out against the warm orange and yellow backdrop, creating a visual statement that captures the era’s embrace of natural beauty.

During the 1970s, this hairstyle represented more than just fashion—it symbolized cultural pride and self-acceptance. Women embraced their natural texture after decades of conforming to straightened styles. The look pairs wonderfully with the period-authentic outfit featuring a white collar and vibrant geometric print, embodying the decade’s bold fashion sensibilities.

Maintaining this powerful style required specialized tools like wide-toothed combs and picks to shape the hair without disrupting the curl pattern. Many women used moisturizing products to keep their afros looking healthy and full. This iconic hairstyle became a cultural touchstone of the 70s, representing freedom, authenticity, and the changing beauty standards that celebrated diverse hair textures and Black identity.

3. The Dorothy Hamill Wedge

This sophisticated pageboy cut showcases the minimalist geometry that defined much of 70s hair fashion. Glossy brunette strands cascade into a smooth, curved shape that hugs the jawline and nape. The straight, thick fringe cuts across the forehead at eyebrow level, creating a bold frame for the face while the sides tuck neatly behind the ears.

Styling this look required significant blow-drying and brushing to achieve such glass-like smoothness. Women often used setting lotions and hot rollers to create the curved under effect at the ends. The overall silhouette creates a helmet-like precision that was highly sought after during this era, particularly among fashion-forward women who embraced the mod aesthetic carried over from the late 60s.

Many celebrities and fashion icons sported variations of this cut throughout the 70s, pairing it with turtlenecks and tailored clothing as shown in the image. The look demanded regular trims to maintain its sharp lines and pristine shape. Daily brushing with a round brush and hairspray helped preserve the smooth contours that made this style so distinctive and recognizable as a hallmark of 70s fashion.

4. The Long, Straight Hippie Hair

This ethereal 70s hairstyle embodies the free-spirited bohemian aesthetic that defined the decade. Long, natural waves cascade down the back while a braided leather headband wraps around the crown, adorned with a delicate daisy. Soft wisps frame the face, creating that sun-kissed, carefree look popular among the era’s folk-inspired fashion movement.

Women embraced this earthy style during outdoor festivals and gatherings, pairing it with flowing, natural-fiber clothing as seen in the image. The style required minimal heat styling, celebrating natural texture and movement instead. Braided accessories became signature elements of 70s hair fashion, offering both function and decoration while connecting wearers to the handcrafted, artisanal values of the counterculture movement.

Achieving this look involved growing hair long, enhancing natural waves, and incorporating meaningful accessories. Flowers, leather cords, and woven elements added personal touches to these styles. This romantic approach to hair represented more than just fashion—it symbolized the decade’s yearning for authenticity and connection to nature. Hippie culture and folk music icons popularized these styles, making them emblematic of the 70s quest for simplicity and natural beauty.

5. The Pageboy Flip

This polished shoulder-length style showcases the refined flip that became a workplace staple throughout the 1970s. Rich chestnut brown hair falls in a smooth curtain to the shoulders, where the ends gracefully curl outward in the signature flip motion. Side-swept bangs blend seamlessly into the face-framing layers, creating a soft yet structured silhouette that exudes professional elegance.

Women often paired this versatile cut with office attire, as illustrated by the crisp blouse and neck scarf in the image. The look required significant effort to maintain, typically involving hot rollers, setting lotions, and vigorous brushing to achieve the glossy finish and controlled movement. This style bridged the gap between the more casual bohemian trends and the structured cuts of the corporate world.

Achieving this sophisticated look meant regular salon visits every 4-6 weeks to maintain the precise shape. Daily styling involved blow-drying with a round brush and using large curlers on the ends to create that characteristic outward curl. The style represented the growing presence of women in professional settings during the 1970s, offering a polished appearance without sacrificing femininity. Many career-focused women embraced this practical yet elegant hairstyle as their signature look throughout the decade.

6. The Perm

This voluminous curly style captures the bold glamour that defined 70s disco culture. Bouncy, defined ringlets frame the face and create dramatic height and width, embodying the era’s “bigger is better” approach to hair. Rich brown curls with subtle honey highlights catch the light with each movement, adding dimension and visual interest to this statement-making look.

Achieving this signature 70s style required salon visits for chemical perming treatments that transformed straight hair into these springy, defined coils. Women spent hours under hooded dryers after perming solutions were applied, committing significant time to attain this sought-after texture. The look gained immense popularity after appearing on famous musical artists and movie stars who frequented Studio 54 and other legendary nightclubs.

Maintenance of these spirals demanded special care routines unknown in previous decades. Women used newly developed curl-enhancing products and avoided brushing, which would create frizz rather than definition. Instead, they scrunched their curls with their fingers and diffused with blow dryers to maintain the springy texture. This iconic style represented the liberation and expressiveness of 70s fashion, where hair became a canvas for personal expression and breaking conventional beauty standards of previous eras.

7. The Wedge Bob with Heavy Bangs

This striking geometric bob showcases the architectural precision that revolutionized hairstyling in the 1970s. Sharp, blunt bangs cut straight across the forehead create a dramatic frame for the eyes, while the sleek sides angle forward toward the chin. The high-shine finish emphasizes the severe lines and angles of this bold cut, which tapers dramatically at the nape for a distinctive silhouette.

Vidal Sassoon popularized this structural approach to hairstyling during the decade, treating hair as a medium for geometric design rather than just a frame for the face. Women who chose this dramatic style often paired it with equally bold makeup choices, as seen in the striking winged eyeliner and bright red lips in this image. The style represented a modern, fashion-forward aesthetic that broke with the softer, more romantic styles of previous eras.

Maintaining such a precise cut required frequent salon visits and daily styling with flat irons to achieve the glass-like smoothness. Each section of hair needed to fall exactly right to maintain the architectural quality of the style. Fashion magazines celebrated this look throughout the 70s, showcasing it as the epitome of contemporary chic for women who wanted to make a statement with their hair. The style complemented the era’s graphic clothing patterns, as demonstrated by the bold geometric print garment shown.

8. The Cornrow Braids

This stunning protective style showcases cornrows braided back into a stylish updo, crowned with a vibrant patterned headwrap in bold yellows, reds, and blacks. Precision cornrows follow clean parts across the scalp, displaying exceptional craftsmanship in their uniform width and tension. The colorful fabric wrap adds height and visual interest while complementing the structural beauty of the braided pattern.

During the 1970s, this hairstyle represented both practicality and political expression as the Black Pride movement encouraged women to embrace traditional African-inspired styling techniques. Women wore these designs as statements of cultural identity and celebration of heritage. The intricate braiding required significant time and skill, often becoming social events where techniques passed from generation to generation.

Gold accessories like the prominent hoop earrings frequently accompanied these styles, enhancing their regal quality. Maintenance involved applying oils to keep the scalp moisturized between washings. The style protected natural hair while offering versatility through different wrapping techniques and fabric choices. Fashion icons and activists popularized these looks throughout the decade, helping transform traditional African styles into mainstream fashion statements that challenged Eurocentric beauty standards. This elegant style remains timeless in its beauty and cultural significance.

9. The Choppy Pixie

This daring pixie cut represents the boundary-breaking androgynous styles that gained popularity in the 1970s. Feathered layers on top create texture and movement while the sides and back remain closely cropped for a boyish silhouette. Subtle highlights throughout the ash blonde shade add dimension to this revolutionary short style that challenged traditional femininity.

Women who chose this bold cut in the 70s often paired it with dramatic eye makeup, as shown in the smoky eye and defined lashes that create a striking contrast with the short hair. The cut emerged during a time when gender norms in fashion were being questioned and redefined. Celebrity style icons like Twiggy and Mia Farrow helped popularize these cropped cuts, giving women permission to embrace styles previously considered exclusively masculine.

Maintaining this look required frequent salon visits every 3-4 weeks to preserve its precise shape. Styling products like mousse and light-hold hairsprays helped create the textured, piece-y effect on top. This statement-making style appealed to women embracing new freedoms and rejecting conventional beauty standards of previous decades. The look complemented the era’s menswear-inspired fashion trends, including turtlenecks and collared shirts as shown in the image.

10. The Asymmetrical Bob

This striking platinum bob epitomizes the futuristic edge that emerged in late 70s hairstyling. Blunt, razor-sharp edges create a geometric silhouette that ends precisely at jaw level, creating a strong architectural statement. The severe straight-across bangs cut high on the forehead add to the dramatic, avant-garde effect while the pristine platinum blonde color makes an unmistakable statement against the dark background.

Achieving this look required extensive bleaching to reach such a pale blonde shade, reflecting the decade’s willingness to embrace dramatic chemical processing. Stylists would cut this look with extreme precision, often using the “cutting into glass” technique popularized by Vidal Sassoon. The style paired naturally with the emerging punk and new wave scenes of the late 70s, as shown by the edgy metallic high-necked garment worn by the model.

Maintenance demanded significant commitment, with root touch-ups needed every few weeks and special purple-toned products to prevent yellowing. Each morning, women would use flat irons and smoothing serums to maintain the glassy, straight texture essential to the look. This bold style represented the evolution of 70s hair from the softer, more natural looks of the early decade to the sharper, more dramatic statements that would fully bloom in the 1980s. The severe geometry and statement color made this a favorite among fashion-forward women unafraid to stand out.

11. The Studio 54 Disco Curls

This spectacular voluminous curly style captures the essence of late 70s disco glamour in its most dramatic form. Honey-blonde spirals explode outward in a magnificent halo effect, creating the impressive circumference that defined nightclub royalty. Each defined ringlet catches the blue and golden lights of the dance floor, enhancing the three-dimensional quality that made this style so captivating under disco balls and colored spotlights.

Creating this showstopping look required a combination of techniques popular during the era, including perming, teasing, and strategic backcombing to achieve maximum height and width. Women would spend hours under salon dryers after chemical treatments, then use hot rollers of varying sizes to define different sections. The style embodied the excess and celebration of nightlife culture, paired here with glossy makeup and light-catching disco attire that completed the glamorous presentation.

Maintenance of such elaborate styles often involved sleeping with hair carefully wrapped or on satin pillowcases to preserve the shape between outings. Special wide-toothed picks helped fluff and separate curls without disturbing their form. Famous musical artists and dancers popularized these dramatic styles, making them synonymous with the freedom and self-expression of disco culture. The look represented a bold rejection of understated elegance, embracing instead a philosophy that celebrated taking up space and commanding attention on and off the dance floor.

12. The Farrah Flip Variation: Winged Victory

This classic mid-70s shag features abundant layers that create remarkable volume and movement throughout honey blonde locks. Soft waves cascade away from the face in feathered sections that add height at the crown and fullness through the sides. The style frames the face beautifully with shorter pieces near the cheekbones that gradually lengthen toward the shoulders, creating that quintessential 70s silhouette.

Styling this popular look required significant blow-drying with a round brush, followed by hot rollers placed strategically to achieve the distinctive outward flip and airy texture. Women across America brought magazine clippings to their stylists requesting variations of this universally flattering cut. The look paired naturally with the era’s romantic fashion aesthetic, exemplified by the cream-colored pussy bow blouse seen in the image.

Maintaining this voluminous style often involved daily setting and frequent use of hairspray to preserve the lifted roots and defined waves. Millions of women embraced this versatile cut that worked for various face shapes and hair types. The style represented a move away from the sleek, straight looks of the early 70s toward a more dynamic, textured approach that would continue evolving throughout the decade. Celebrity icons popularized this layered look, making it perhaps the most recognizable and widely adopted hairstyle of the entire era.

13. The Brushed-Out Roller Set

This glamorous updo showcases the sophisticated roller set styling that remained popular for special occasions throughout the 1970s. Large barrel curls crown the top of the head, meticulously placed to create height and visual interest. Rich brunette waves cascade down the back in smooth, controlled sections, revealing subtle caramel highlights that add dimension to the polished look.

Creating this elegant style required significant preparation with hot rollers or overnight setting techniques. Women would visit salons for these elaborate arrangements before important events or nights out. The precise side part and sculptural quality of each curl demonstrates the technical skill involved in achieving such structured styles. This look represents the more formal, classic approach to hair that coexisted alongside the decade’s more casual trends.

Accessories like pearl drop earrings and cream-colored silk garments complemented these refined hairstyles, completing a sophisticated aesthetic. Maintenance required careful sleeping positions and avoiding humidity at all costs. Famous actresses and socialites popularized these looks for premieres and galas, making them aspirational styles for special occasions. The dramatic red lip paired with this hairstyle reflects the continued influence of old Hollywood glamour that persisted through the 1970s, offering an alternative to the era’s more bohemian or disco-inspired looks.\

14. The Sculptural Updo

This dramatic sculptural style represents the experimental edge of 70s hair artistry that emerged from the decade’s fashion-forward circles. Honey-blonde hair rises dramatically upward in a structured mohawk formation, with intricate geometric mesh designs woven through the sides and barrel curls crowning the top. The bold architecture showcases the technical innovation happening in high-fashion hair during this revolutionary period.

Achieving such elaborate designs required collaboration between hairstylists and artists who pushed traditional boundaries. Women in avant-garde fashion scenes, particularly those connected to emerging punk and new wave movements, embraced these theatrical styles for photoshoots, runway shows, and exclusive nightlife events. The look combines precision styling techniques with artistic vision, transforming hair into a three-dimensional canvas for geometric expression.

Professional styling teams used specialized tools, hair extensions, and structural supports to create these gravity-defying shapes. Heavy application of setting sprays and gels helped maintain the architectural integrity of the style. While not practical for everyday wear, these boundary-pushing creations influenced mainstream fashion through magazine editorials and music performances. The look celebrates the 70s spirit of experimentation and theatrical self-expression that flowed between the worlds of fashion, music, and art throughout the decade.

15. The Boho Bandana Wrap

This quintessential 70s style pairs straight, natural hair with a vibrant paisley bandana worn as a headband. Long, flowing locks cascade past the shoulders with minimal styling, embracing the decade’s love for effortless, natural beauty. The rich rust-colored bandana tied at the back creates a focal point while keeping hair away from the face, exemplifying the practical bohemian aesthetic that defined much of 70s fashion.

Women across America adopted this accessible look during the era’s folk-rock movement. The style required little maintenance beyond regular brushing and occasional trims to maintain healthy ends. Bandanas and scarves became essential accessories, allowing for personalization through different patterns, colors, and tying techniques. This approach to hair reflected the decade’s shift toward simplicity and authenticity in beauty practices.

Golden hoop earrings and simple white button-down shirts frequently accompanied this laid-back style, completing the earthy, casual look popularized by musical icons of the era. The sunset-bathed setting highlights the free-spirited nature associated with this approach to styling. Young women across college campuses and music festivals embraced this practical yet expressive look as a statement of their generation’s values and aesthetic preferences. This enduring style represented the 70s rejection of fussy, structured hairstyles in favor of more natural, low-maintenance approaches.

16. The Zigzag Part

This chic shoulder-length bob captures the playful glam rock influence that emerged in 70s hair fashion. Chestnut brown locks feature subtle caramel highlights and gentle waves that add texture without overwhelming the clean lines of the cut. The standout detail is the lightning bolt hairpin—a quintessential 70s accessory that reflects the era’s fascination with cosmic and rock imagery, adding an element of theatrical flair to an otherwise classic style.

Straight-across bangs cut just above the eyebrows frame the face, complementing the geometric patterns common in 70s fashion. Women seeking this look would visit salons for precision cuts, then style at home with hot rollers for those soft waves. The warm tones in the hair beautifully echo the earthy palette of the distinctive patterned collar, showcasing how hair and fashion worked in harmony during this eclectic decade.

This versatile style appealed to women embracing the decade’s fusion of retro and futuristic elements. Maintenance involved regular trims to keep the crisp lines fresh and occasional color touch-ups to maintain the dimensional highlights. Glam rock musicians and their fans popularized these statement-making accessories and cuts, bringing theatrical elements into everyday style. The look embodies the 70s talent for balancing structure with whimsy, creating styles that were simultaneously grounded and expressive.

17. The Jeweled Afro

This glamorous afro captures the cosmic fascination that permeated 70s disco culture. Natural texture creates a magnificent round silhouette adorned with metallic star pins in gold, silver, red, blue, and pink scattered throughout like a personal constellation. The style celebrates Black beauty while incorporating the decade’s fascination with space and celestial imagery, creating a stunning fusion of natural hair celebration and disco-era embellishment.

During the 70s, women embraced statement-making hair accessories to personalize their afros for special occasions and nights out. This approach allowed for creative expression while honoring natural hair texture. The carefully placed stars transform what might be an everyday style into something suitable for Studio 54 and other legendary nightclubs of the era. Dangling crystal earrings complement the sparkle in the hair, creating a cohesive look ready for dancing under mirrored disco balls.

Maintaining this style required gentle handling to preserve both the hair’s shape and the placement of the decorative elements. Women used wide-toothed combs and picks to shape their afros without disturbing the natural curl pattern. This celestial-adorned look represents the joyful experimentation of 70s beauty, combining cultural pride with the era’s love for glamour and theatrical self-presentation. The look exemplifies how women used their hair as canvas for personal expression during this revolutionary decade in fashion history.

18. The Wrapped Chignon

This elegant updo showcases the 70s fascination with silk scarves as both practical and decorative hair accessories. Chestnut brown hair with caramel highlights has been smoothed back into a sleek, low bun at the nape of the neck. A vibrant patterned scarf in teal, orange, and magenta weaves through the hairstyle as a headband, with its trailing ends gracefully draping down the back, adding movement and color to the sophisticated style.

Creating this polished look involved gathering the hair into a low ponytail, twisting it into a neat bun, and securing with pins before incorporating the colorful scarf. Women often coordinated their scarves with their jewelry, as shown by the matching statement earrings that echo the scarf’s warm tones. This versatile style appeared everywhere from office settings to evening events, offering a refined option for women who wanted to look put-together while expressing personal style.

The rich jewel tones and geometric patterns typical of 70s accessories made these scarf-adorned styles particularly distinctive. Fashion magazines frequently featured variations of this look, providing step-by-step instructions for achieving different scarf placements and knots. Many women collected scarves specifically for hair styling, appreciating how they could transform simple updos into fashion statements. This chic combination of functionality and style represented the decade’s talent for making practical solutions fashionable and expressive.

19. The Chelsea Girl Cut

This edgy asymmetrical style represents the rebellious punk aesthetic that emerged in the late 1970s. One side features closely cropped, almost shaved hair while the opposite showcases longer, textured strands dramatically swept across the head. The striking contrast between the two lengths creates a bold statement that challenges conventional beauty standards of the era.

Women in avant-garde and punk scenes embraced these dramatic cuts as the decade progressed, particularly in urban centers like London and New York. The look required significant commitment, as growing it out proved challenging. Styling involved substantial amounts of hair product to achieve the deliberate, piece-y texture and directional sweep seen in the image. This cut paired naturally with the leather jacket and smoky eye makeup that defined the emerging punk subculture.

Famous musicians and artists pioneered these boundary-pushing styles in the late 70s, inspiring young women to reject mainstream fashion expectations. Regular maintenance included frequent trimming of the shaved section while allowing the longer portion to grow and develop texture.

This rebellious look represented the evolution of 70s hair from the softer, more natural styles of the early decade toward the more extreme, statement-making cuts that would flourish in the 1980s. The style embodied a powerful rejection of traditional femininity that characterized the emerging punk movement.