It was the era of bouffants, beehives and flicks – ’60s hairstyles are some of the most iconic from the beauty history books. Icons like Diana Ross and The Supremes, Dusty Springfield and Brigitte Bardot all had recognisable big hairdos that characterised the looks of the decade.
Sixties hairstyles, like the decade's most popular bouffant, look may not be seen quite so much when you’re out and about, but some styles still very much have a ‘1960s influence – not to mention that many celebrities will regularly opt for a ‘60s-inspired ‘do for a red carpet event, even if it's simply with the addition of a soft, face-framing fringe.
We’ve rounded up some of the best 1960s hair trends for you to browse, including both from the decade itself and more modern iterations. Whether you want to look back at iconic beauty looks from days gone by or get inspired to try easy '60s hairstyles, these are the styles to know about.
The best 60s hairstyles as seen on celebrities
1. The '60s bob
Bouffant hair basically translates as a big, voluminous style with a rounded shape and so many stars of both music and film sported this bouffant bob in the 1960s – including lead singer of The Supremes, Diana Ross – which became one of the most recognisable hairstyles from the decade. Drying hair with a big rounded brush (or one hair dryer brush) can add lift and create that rounded shape and, if you struggle to retain volume in your hair, hairspray is a must.
An ultra-lightweight pre-blow dry spray, Color Wow's Dream Coat helps to promote and retain a smooth finish through multiple washes. It's a great humidity shield and, because it's so lightweight, won't weigh the hair down.
Hair dryer brushes are great if you want to copy the style of a professional blow dry but aren't a dab hand with a hair dryer and separate brush. This one from Drybar has a big brush head and is great for adding volume due to its bumper size.
A lightweight, non-sticky hairspray is a must for setting a voluminous hairstyle in place if your hair struggles to retain volume or hold a style. This one from ARKIVE, created by hairdresser Adam Reed, is a great one.
2. The Bardot updo
One of the most famous fashion and beauty icons from the decade, actress and activist Brigitte Bardot's signature look was either a half-up hairstyle with a beehive or a voluminous updo, both with a classic, slightly feathery '60s fringe. The hairstyles are still commonly referred to as "Bardot" today. The key to achieving this hairstyle is all in the prep, make sure to use products that work to boost the volume of your hair before blowdrying to create big and bouncy curls.
3. The beehive
The beehive was another classic '60s look, seen here on legendary singer Dionne Warwick, and was named as such because of the towering shape the hairstyle was teased into. They take some effort to style but beehives are still seen on the red carpet every now and then today at events like The Met Gala. A beehive hairstyle is all about volume, so to recreate this look at home, make sure to invest in a teasing brush to assist you when backcombing the front two inch panel of hair.
4. The curled bouffant
Bouffant hairstyles were also commonly styled in piled-high curls back in the '60s, with the look often seen on music legend Dusty Springfield. Here, her look also features a classic block fringe and was probably set with a lot of hairspray. Alike the beehive, backcombing your hair is key with this look to increase volume and height. If your hair is on the thinner side, it's wise to prep your hair with a quality texturising spray to help give you extra grip when it comes to styling.
5. The five point cut
A real fashion statement, the “five point”, seen on Mary Quant, was an angular haircut created by legendary hairdresser Vidal Sassoon in 1963. According to the Sassoon Academy, the cut was inspired by Bauhaus architecture and the hairdresser described it as “The hardest to achieve. That was pure geometry.”
6. The blowout
In more recent years Jane Fonda has made a shaggy, feathered hairstyle her signature, but she's had so many different looks over the years – from a mullet in the '70s to this voluminous rounded blow dry in the '60s. A multi-purpose hair styler, like the Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styler, is an essential when achieving Fonda's signature blowout hairstyle.
7. The Holly Golightly updo
When it comes to a '60s style updo, this fringed updo, worn by Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in the iconic 1960s movie Breakfast At Tiffany's, is a classic look from the beauty history books. Piled high like many '60s hairstyles, it's one that's probably been recreated at fancy dress parties around the world thousands of times. The trick to this hairstyle is sectioning your hair into three, tie the middle into a ponytail and create a beehive-effect using a hair doughnut shaper, before twisting and securing the remaining side sections of hair around the beehive.
8. The full fringe
If you're on the hunt for 1960s hairstyles for long hair, Cher's recognisable ultra-long and sleek hairstyle also featured a heavy, full fringe back in the '60s. As with all fringe hairstyles, regular trims are key for this look, both for its sharpness and length.
9. The modern Bardot
A classic recreation of '60s icon Brigitte Bardot's signature hairstyle, actress Halle Berry's half-up hairstyle here features those face-framing curtain bangs and the added height at the crown, paired with very loose waves for a more modern take on the look.
10. The headband
1960s hairstyles with headband proved to be popular during the Swinging Sixties, worn with beehives, bouffants and pixie cuts. Blake Lively's look here has a very '60s feel, particularly with the statement earrings.
11. The flicked ponytail
The high ponytail was a style that continued to be popular all through the '70s and well into the '80s, but the flicks are what made it different in the '60s – very much like this style seen on legendary chat show host and businesswoman Oprah Winfrey. The easiest way to recreate this look is by running your straighteners through your hair before tilting the tool away from your face when you reach the ends, to achieve that flicked out effect - then secure in place with hairspray.
12. The slicked down side part
Back in the '60s, popular hairstyles ranged from big and voluminous, like the big bouffant, to super sleek and pared back, like model Twiggy's signature pixie haircut. With its heavy side parting, this slicked-down hairstyle seen on actress Michelle Yeoh's has a similar vibe and a definite '60s feel to it. A styling cream is a must-have in your haircare arsenal for this hairstyle - such as this Moroccan Oil Hydrating Styling Cream.
13. The fringed half-up
As well as headbands, bows were a popular accessory back in the '60s and one that's become popular again in recent years. Elevated with a bow, this half-up hairstyle seen on Penelope Cruz is reminiscent of Brigitte Bardot's signature look.
14. The modern beehive
Alike modern bouffant hair, beehives definitely still have a place on today's red carpets - albeit not always piled quite as high as they were back in the 1960s. Celebrities like Adele, Janelle Monae and, here, Sienna Miller have all stepped out with a modern take on the look in recent years.
15. The undone updo
Polished updos were definitely on trend, but in the '60s and into '70s hairstyles territory, undone and slightly "lived in" styles were also extremely popular, like this low and slightly wispy style seen on actress Salma Hayek. Gently pull wispy strands of hair out of your complete updo and curl to achieve that undone, off-duty look.
16. The big Bardot
At the 2023 Met Gala, actress Anne Hathaway stepped out with an ultra-long half-up hairstyle, complete with a voluminous Bardot beehive and face-framing bangs. Along with the smokey make-up, the look felt like a real nod to '60s glamour.
17. The flicked ponytail and side fringe
Actress Margot Robbie's high ponytail, complete with a sleek side fringe, definitely feels like it has a late '50s or '60s vibe. Along with the bouffant hairstyles in our guide, this look could be straight out of the musical Hairspray. To bring the added shine to this red-carpet ready hairstyle, be equipped with a hair gloss or shimmer spray to nail the sleek effect.
18. The pixie crop
The pixie cut was a very popular hairstyle in the '60s, with famous faces including Twiggy, Edie Sedgwick and Mia Farrow all sporting one during the decade. Here, actress Michelle Williams' haircut feels similar to the latter's iconic look.
19. The curly updo
Updos are great because they work well for just about any occasion, from every day to evenings out. Complete with a slightly feathered full fringe and tight 60s curls, actress Sandra Oh's look here feels like a wispy take on the Bardot updo - typically created using a thin curling wand.
20. The subtle bouffant
Bouffant hair may not be quite as big now as it was in the '60s – in more ways than one – but you'll still see subtle nods to it on the red carpet with a bit of rounded lift at the crown, like actress Priyanka Chopra's hair here. Champion the look by teasing the section of hair at the crown of your head, before completing your look with subtle waves.
21. The full fringe
Fringes were all the rage during the '60s, from sweeping side fringes to subtle face-framing bangs to a big block or full fringe. Along with her ultra-high updo, actress Viola Davis' hair here feels super '60s with the heavy, statement waterfall fringe.
22. The heavy side part
While attending the 2022 Met Gala, actress Julianne Moore's hair looked very '60s with its rounded shape and volume at the crown, as well as the big sweeping side fringe that gives the overall look a bit of a retro vibe. A winning red carpet look. The easiest way to discover a new parting is by dampening your roots, then scrape your hair back before deciding upon a location for your parting to lie.
23. The half up
Half up hairstyles often featured some kind of fringe back in the 1960s but, if not, they were swept back with a bit of added height and volume – not dissimilar to this look seen on actress Marion Cotillard for the red carpet. If you're attempting this hairstyle, a silk hair tie or claw clip will come in clutch.
24. The bun
It's a classic hairstyle that really has stood the test of time – along with the beehive, the classic round bun was a very popular updo back in the 1960s, seen here with a slightly undone feel on actress Helen Mirren. When it comes to buns, hair grips will become your best friend for ensuring your hairstyle doesn't budge all day.
25. The rounded bob
They might not have quite as much volume as they did back in the '60s, but rounded layered bobs are still super on trend – and mid-length looks like Jennifer Hudson's here have been tipped as a key hair trend.
26. The loose curly bangs
Another example of a style with a kind of "undone" feel is this updo on actress Nicole Kidman, which features very loose curls pulled out to frame the face, while the rest of the hair is piled into a bit of a Bardot-esque, messy bun.
27. The layered pixie crop
Another excellent example of a shorter pixie cut or crop, another popular 60s hairstyle, here actress and model Jodie Turner-Smith's shorter and choppy layered style really shows off her face shape and bone structure.
28. The headband updo
Big statement headbands with wide bands were everywhere in the '60s, but smaller and narrower bands were also a popular choice, much like this one seen on actress Natalie Portman here with an updo. Headbands are very versatile, also working well on shorter hairstyles like pixie crops, as well as mid and longer hairstyles.
29. Ultra long
Extremely long hairstyles were popular in both the 1960s and '70s, with Cher being a notable example of someone who wore this look often – and here, actress Jessica Chastain's super sleek hair features a heavy side part that also feels kind of '60s. For a healthy silken shine like Jessica's, a hair oil - like this Ouai Hair Oil - will be a staple in your haircare kit.
30. The vintage loose curls
With an Old Hollywood feel, glamorous big and bouncy curls were still very popular in the 1960s and remain a classic choice for celebrities when they're attending red carpet events – much like actress Angela Bassett's look here for the 2024 Golden Globes. For Angela's dramatic, evening-ready Hollywood curl, opt for a curling wand with a 25mm barrel - perfect for creating a variety of curls for any length hair.
31. The subtle quiff updo
Perhaps more of a popular style in the '50s, but quiffs with an updo continued to be popular into the '60s along with big hairstyles like the beehive and bouffant. This modern version, seen on actress Scarlett Johansson, is a subtler take on the look, which can be achieved with a spritz of a root lift spray to give your locks added oomph.
32. The sleek side fringe
This updo worn by actress Julia Roberts feels reminiscent of some of the sleek, sweeping side fringes that were seen in the '60s – which accompanied popular hairstyles including pixie cuts and bouffants of various lengths. A densely bristled hair brush is fundamental in your hair tool kit when recreating sleek and side-swept hairstyles.
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