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50 Women’s Hairstyles From The 1960s That Range From Hilarious To Amazing
Interview With Expert
The 1960s were wild. In a good way, of course. It was the decade when thousands of Americans challenged democracy, fought for their freedom and equal rights, and rewrote established norms in every realm, starting from cinema and music and ending with fashion and hair. The aforementioned even became a symbol of social change as women chose shorter and edgier cuts and men grew out their locks to lengths that were considered scandalous. The bouffants, pompadours, and poodle cuts that were all the craze in the previous decades were replaced by beehives, afros, and classic shags.
To better visualize what the ‘60s hair was all about, the team at Bored Panda compiled a list full of the most incredible hairdos from this era. Get your hairspray and teasing comb ready as you scroll through, and don’t forget to upvote the ones that mesmerized you the most!
While you’re at it, make sure to check out a conversation with Kate Ross, hair specialist at Irresistible Me, who kindly agreed to chat with us about ‘60s hair.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Traveling Lady Railfan 1 year ago
Some photos of the hairstyles are "a bit much" (haven't aged well) but others, like this one, look great! What a beautiful woman.
Roni Stone 1 year ago
Diane Carroll was an amazing woman. We sadly lost her in 2019.
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Zoe's Mom 1 year ago (edited)
She looks like Diahann Carroll. The 1st black actress to have her own TV series.
Auntriarch 1 year ago (edited)
She looks lovely. I guess the point of this one is how far removed is it from her natural hair. Which isn't a criticism by the way.
Veronika Frau 3 months ago
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#2
Khavrinen 1 year ago
The numbers on Bored Panda change around A LOT. You can't rely on identifying pictures by the number.
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Alicia M 1 year ago
There's nothing wrong with the way she looks but she's very anti woman. Read her comments on the me too movement. She pretty much believes women should keep their mouths shut and be thankful for the opportunity to be famous, no matter what happened. She seems incredibly old-fashioned and tone deaf.
Riley Quinn 1 year ago
Bardot could do the uptight, hair sprayed helmets, but she always looked better with the slightly messy natural look.
#3
Maisey Myles 1 year ago
Fan asked her how long it took to do her hair. She said ‘Honey, I do t know, I’m never there!”
Riley Quinn 1 year ago
It's Dolly. Expect nothing less. She made tacky look good. Love this woman.
Ovata Acronicta 1 year ago
Goals actually. I wish for my hair to be so absurdly high (not sure if doable with gel or mousse though).
Icons like Diana Ross, Jackie Kennedy, Twiggy, and Brigitte Bardot all had recognizable hairdos that characterized the style of the decade. They were everything from voluminous and flipped to coiffed and cropped.
Bored Panda reached out to Kate Ross, hair specialist at Irresistible Me, to learn more about the features and intricacies of the ‘60s hair.
“The 1960s were a revolutionary decade for hair. It was a time of bold experimentation, and hair was often used to make a statement. There were two main trends that dominated the era: sleek and sophisticated styles on one end and big, voluminous hair on the other,” she explains.
#4
JM 1 year ago (edited)
I wore my hair kind of like this in 5th grade in 1970 (not teased at all, just curled like this). Had to wear those pink sponge rollers every night with lots of dippity do - I can almost smell that stuff now.
MyName'sLisaMontoyaYouKiltMyPa 1 year ago
Dippity Doo!!! You were lucky you had sponge rollers. I used my mom’s spring curlers with those demon pokey things that were like bottle brushes in the middle. Sleeping was not easy wearing those things!
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#5
Papa 1 year ago
I've always thought so, along with two of her contemporaries; Raquel Welch and Ann-Margret (yes, I'm old).
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Riley Quinn 1 year ago
Sophia Loren graced us for 70 years. She was only 15yo when she kind of married Carlos Ponti, age 37, until his death.
Joey Jo Jo Shabadoo 1 year ago
No she was 15 when she met him and 22 when she kinda of married him in Mexico
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Gustav Gallifrey 1 year ago (edited)
Jane Birkin. The 60s and 70s incarnate. She died only last year.
NoNicknamePanda 1 year ago
The "Birkin" bag was named after her, after she dropped everything from her big date book on the plane. Epic story!
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MrsFettesVette 1 year ago
Jane Birkin, a fashion icon, the Birkin bag was named after her (I can't afford a Birkin but "Birkenifying" your bag is the new thing, and I have done that)
“One of the most iconic styles was the bouffant, with its height and volume. This look was often paired with a rounded shape, which gave a glamorous effect,” says Ross.
The hairdo widely varied in size and shape, from slightly rounded and sleek to big, tousled with curls and waves. It wasn’t one particular look but one that involved big pouffy hair. The hairstyle’s advantage was that it was easy enough to create and wear during the day-to-day for women of all ages.
#7
Traveling Lady Railfan 1 year ago
I am astounded at the height of some of these "dos". I'm barely hair-competent enough to manage a high ponytail....
Griffy 1 year ago (edited)
Holy carp, the lady on the far left looks like Mrs. Slocombe from the 70's britcom "Are You Bing Served?"
RabidChild 1 year ago
OMG it's my mom & her friends getting ready for a night at the Elks Club!
JM 1 year ago
Yes! Or my Aunt Nell getting ready to go to bingo at the VFW!
Load More Replies... Lavern Defazio 1 year ago
I can smell the Avon perfume and stale Virginia Slim Cigarettes. Is it odd I equate smells to the images? Must be the weed.
nottheactualphoto 1 year ago
Virginia Slims! You've come a long way, baby!
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Tucker Cahooter 1 year ago
The one on the left reminds me of a double scoop chocolate ice cream
#8
Celtic Pirate Queen 1 year ago
I'd have to agree. Twiggy was famous for her pixie cut.
Load More Replies... Forrest Hobbs 1 year ago
Twiggy! https://www.chron.com/life/style/slideshow/supermodels-of-the-60s-57799.php
Jumping Jellyfishes 1 year ago
She was known for having a "pixie' haircut (very short).
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Moonie Pinkslip 1 year ago
she had short, close to the head, hair...this is such a plastic plait it's clearly fake
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
I kind of blame Twiggy for the too-skinny look of models. Think Marilyn Monroe's shape in the 50s, followed by Twiggy in the 60s. Well, not really Twiggy personally, but the fashion industry behind her.
Forrest Hobbs 1 year ago
Don't blame Twiggy - she was like that naturally (more or less).
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#9
Gustav Gallifrey 1 year ago
Jean Shrimpton. Another lady whose sheer stylishness was absolutely effortless.
“The beehive was another big hair trend. It featured hair stacked high on top of the head, creating a kind of rounded and towering look,” adds Ross.
It was invented by a hairdresser, Margaret Vinci Heldt, and entailed stacking a woman’s hair on top of the head in a cone shape, locking it in place with large amounts of hairspray. As the name suggests, it was named after its size and resemblance to a real beehive.
“For those who preferred something edgier, the pixie cut, popularized by icons like Twiggy, was a bold and daring choice,” Ross says. When the model Twiggy became a fashion icon in the early '60s, short pixie haircuts became all the rage, modernizing women’s looks. The hairstyle was highly appealing, as it was easy to manage with a light spray of hair lacquer.
#10
Multa Nocte 1 year ago
We'll look at your high school pictures the same way in 60 years and laugh.
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Melissa Harris 1 year ago
This was photo day. Unlikely they wore their hair like this all the time.
Load More Replies... Mike F 1 year ago
I don't think it was so much the hair as the Aquanet. 🤣🤣
Load More Replies... Auntriarch 1 year ago
My mother briefly sported the bottom right one. But she looked rather fabulous, think a young Joan Collins
Melissa Harris 1 year ago (edited)
Looks like the women's hairstyles in the original Star Trek.
#12
April Pickett 1 year ago
She admits to wearing wigs. I wonder if this was one. Probably. I think I would too if in her profession - just pop it on and you're ready to go.
“On the more minimalistic side, we had sleek, chin-length bobs, often with sharp bangs, as seen on fashion-forward women like Vidal Sassoon’s clients,” Ross mentions.
The ‘60s was also the decade when women of color started to embrace their natural hair more. Tired of straightening their curls for more than a century, they left them natural and cut short. This was their way of expressing their black pride and identity. As women got more comfortable with their hair, their locks got longer and were teased into a classic Afro hairstyle.
#13
LizzieBoredom 1 year ago
Tried to make her go to Romulus. She said no, no, no.
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#15
MyName'sLisaMontoyaYouKiltMyPa 1 year ago (edited)
It’s MY mom! (But she died her hair red.)
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Since most of the 1960s hairdos were all about height and volume, they required a lot of work and definitely weren’t a quick process, says Ross. “To get that iconic volume, women would backcomb or tease their hair, focusing on the roots to create lift. This method involved combing the hair backward toward the scalp to create a cushion of volume underneath the smoother outer layer. After teasing, hairspray was a must to lock in the height and hold the shape throughout the day. Hairspray became every woman’s best friend in the ‘60s!”
#16
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#18
Kristen Woehlke 1 year ago
She looks like she's got a friggin tribble from STAR TREK on her head!
Joshua David 1 year ago
As a stylist i can honestly say i have no idea this was ever a thing. I hope it was just an accident. So bad.
Maartje 1 year ago
As a survivor of that era (and lucky enough not to be stuck with this type of do) I can tell you that this was not the norm.
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Jenna Kay 1 year ago
The mushroom bomb style .... dear heavens it's terrible!
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Maryland 1 year ago
Yes. The. "Fall" was sold in the back of magazines for $10 . Eight weeks later it arrived in the mail and never really matched your hair color🙄
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Sometimes, to achieve even more volume in the hair, women would use additional hairpieces on the crown, creating towering hairdos. Sometimes the extensions didn’t have to match the natural color—all that mattered was the height. The famous ladies who frequently sported this hairstyle were Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, The Supremes, and Dusty Springfield.
#19
Marsha Hultberg 1 year ago
Orange, the color ‘o the day. (The cat doesn’t want to be there. 🫤)
nottheactualphoto 1 year ago
Cat: You are causing me discomfort, human. This is unacceptable.
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#20
Moonie Pinkslip 1 year ago
Curious: that's an Indian woman wearing a sari, and it's clearly a still-shot from a movie, and they are all westerners iin the background, so what's goin' on here?! Also, NO...her hair is a RATTY MESS!!!
#21
Dorothea Stovall 1 year ago
Is that where they got the idea for Dracula's hair on Gary Oldman?
Auntriarch 1 year ago
Carefully, but it's a dress with a zip down the back
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Auntriarch 1 year ago
Inexpensive synthetic wigs were a thing in the 60s, my mother had a couple
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“Women used large rollers or hot tools like curling irons to add waves and body before teasing. The rollers would often be left in for hours to ensure maximum volume. Some women even wore their styles for several days between washes,” explains Ross. “As for time, women in the ‘60s could easily spend 30 minutes to an hour on their hair each day, depending on the style. But for those with elaborate styles like the beehive, it could take even longer!”
#22
MyName'sLisaMontoyaYouKiltMyPa 1 year ago
Every woman who worked in a restaurant in the midwest in the early 70s.
#23
nottheactualphoto 1 year ago
At my college radio station, Flock of Seagulls was filed under "A." Because it's A Flock of Seagulls.
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The ‘60s hairstyles were so influential that we can still see them echoing in today's trendy hairdos. “The big, voluminous blowout we see today (think of models like the Victoria’s Secret Angels) is a modern take on the ‘60s bouffant, but with a sleeker, more polished finish,” says Ross.
The pixie cuts that were popular in the day evolved into more modern versions with added texture and volume. Even fashion icon Anna Wintour’s sharp bangs has its roots in the ‘60s. “We’re seeing variations on this style in modern looks, whether with blunt bangs or more textured fringes,” says Ross.
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#27
Shelly Graham 1 year ago
This is a wiglet on top of another wiglet... Possibly one more wiglet . Every Saturday I accompanied my mom to get her hair "Done" and then go grocery shopping! I LOVED watching them do hair! They could tease a comb over on a man so high he'd be 6" taller! I kinda miss the smell of AquaNet!
The 1960s beehive also remains popular but in a more toned, event-appropriate version. “These are often styled with a softer, more romantic feel, but the roots of the look definitely come from the ‘60s," concludes Ross.
#28
#29
Traveling Lady Railfan 1 year ago
That looks like a flattering hairstyle on her! She wears it well
#30
#31
Rose the Cook 1 year ago
Went to have my hair done for a wedding and it ended up like this. My mother took it down and I wasn't allowed to attend my cousins wedding as punishment.
#32
Colleen Glim 1 year ago
That’s a lot of hairspray boys and girls. No wonder there was a hole in the ozone
Upstaged75 1 year ago
I'm pretty sure I contributed to that hole quite a bit in the 80's as well.
Load More Replies... Traveling Lady Railfan 1 year ago
Is this what they imagined "the future off fashion" to look like?
Heras buddy 1 year ago
Most of these were fire hazards. Remember most people smoked back then.
Verbalocity 1 year ago
I once saw a live cigarette ash get dropped on a 'do like this. It was horrific, a literal torch.
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#33
Bettye McKee 1 year ago
Yep. Looks like a helmet but provided no protection.
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#34
Roni Stone 1 year ago
This bouffant flip and the helmet style are probably *the* most classic styles for young women/teens from what I can remember.
#35
NoNicknamePanda 1 year ago (edited)
We spent hours in the beauty shop getting ready for senior yearbook pictures.
#36
JoNo 1 year ago
How did these women have enough time each morning to do their hair, get to work, take the kids to school, etc? This woman must have got up at 4am each morning to get to work on time.
Auntriarch 1 year ago
They went to the salon once or twice a week, and just tried to keep it tidy in between. Going to bed in a bonnet with a few strategically placed rollers helped
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#38
Forrest Hobbs 1 year ago
1965, apparently: https://www.reddit.com/r/1960s/comments/os15gj/jean_shrimpton_wearing_a_hairstyle_by_mr_kenneth/?rdt=55834
Load More Replies... Lavern Defazio 1 year ago
Brooch is a great idea. Keeps the wind from blowing your Eva Gabor Wig off your head.
#39
Bored Retsuko 1 year ago
Probably trying super hard not to blink for the photo!
Load More Replies... Lavern Defazio 1 year ago
She's just hoping the photo turns out good since she spent hours doing it. Just take the damn picture already.
#40
Roni Stone 1 year ago
I'm gonna guess these are women whose religion forbids the cutting of women's hair. No makeup, elaborate hair, and all buttoned down. I grew up amongst them.
#41
Bored Retsuko 1 year ago
If you scroll enough to cover the top bit, it's a nice and modern look!
#42
Daniel Atkins 1 year ago
This looks like they are stealing a wig by putting another on top and hope nobody notices.
Maartje 1 year ago (edited)
I thought I recognized this image and here you go "SEA Heritage & History added 4 new photos to the album: Indonesia #2 — in Amsterdam, Netherlands. tproondseS 5at4c08bh8c uu52f06m160r2gO1ic027mei2hif9a9o495,t · 🇮🇩 𝗔 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝟭𝟵𝟲𝟬 🇳🇱 This photo shows a photo of two Indonesian women in the Netherlands in 1960. The parents of these two women used to be from the Dutch East Indies (present day Indonesia). This photo was taken by two Dutch photographers, Ed van der Elsken and Theo van Houts. These two photographers made them the model and icon of the city of Amsterdam as a city that is open to various ethnicities and cultures. – MZA & RS #Indonesia #DutchEastIndies #Netherlands #Dutch" sorry about any garbage in the link
Calvin Smelliott 1 year ago
It would be so cool to be able to transport into the time and place where this picture was taken and roam around the streets for an hour….
Shaun Coleman 1 year ago
Is the top of the hair attached to the hemline? Hair goes up, hemline goes up...
Mark Hastings 1 year ago
All the hairspray required for these do's put a new hole in the ozone layer.
#43
Greenmantle 1 year ago
The front boof looks bad on everyone IMO. Especially with a ponytail on the back
#44
Forrest Hobbs 1 year ago
Hairspray - lots and lots of hairspray. That's what it took then, that's what it'd take now.
Load More Replies... G A 1 year ago
With those eyebrows and that jawline, I'm not convinced this isn't a bloke in drag
Moonie Pinkslip 1 year ago
"But Daddy, why are you in Mummy's room, and what are all her wigs doing on the bed..."
Rebecca McNall 1 year ago
thinking of all the back combing she did for this hurts my wrists lol
Auntriarch 1 year ago
And it hurts your hair, I only did it once for a 60s party, never again
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#46
Janet Floyd 1 year ago
Poor thing, this is what happened when a curly haired person attempted those styles.
#47
Roni Stone 1 year ago
Nah, there's definitely a party going on up top, too.
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#48
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#50
#51
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#53
#54
Geoffrey Scott 1 year ago
Not if they stare at the ground, aerodynamics...
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nm (he/him) 1 year ago
Texas track club of Abilene, for Sports Illustrated 1964. https://lens.google.com/search?ep=gisbubu&hl=en-GR&re=df&p=AbrfA8qdwRIhPaDsfRfQ_KPsGxYM3w7KDJACNtEsSAiIwF_3upiH56kG9n2iKUD4WIBKeAHECOyx41Be0Mywkk1qVVlAH6OMyKH1fqFGukQ6epDY_mTi7CUW7PmV67nQ7pLO_ywp2OoNh7moSjpsdmmoBGVNO232G3swEnQ-OxBRAxobIsLsX04Ua1fM8a5uiukHd1RlsfzmsVgzDQ%3D%3D#lns=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDEsIkVrY0tKRGc1WWpObE5UZzJMVGd5T0RVdE5EQmpOQzFoTURFNExXVmpNRGcxTnpVeE9USTJOeElmUlhoQlowWlBYMjVmUzBWa2IwUk1aa3hPVEZCZlpWQnhRamxUWVV0b2F3PT0iLG51bGwsbnVsbCxbW251bGwsbnVsbCwiaXAtMiJdLFsiODVjODk1ZTAtZmVkYy00MGM0LWI3NjMtNGJiY2ZjMGU3ODIyIl1dLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLFtudWxsLG51bGwsW251bGwsWzAsNTE4Nyw5MzM3Miw2MTg1N11dXSxbIjg1Yzg5NWUwLWZlZGMtNDBjNC1iNzYzLTRiYmNmYzBlNzgyMiJdXQ==
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BrunoVI 1 year ago
Something about this looks very fake; like the runner's face and body look much more modern than the hair.
Forrest Hobbs 1 year ago
People haven't changed since then, but I agree that it looks fake. I don't see any really obvious give-aways, but perhaps this one is down to AI. I'm thinking: if you're pretending to be on the start-line of a sprint, you'll be looking up and forwards. And also, if you're trying to preserve one of those hair-dos, you'll be keeping your head up too.
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#63
Norma Luce 1 year ago
You would not believe the hair shellac we ingested to create these wonders.
#64
Alexandra Kuman 1 year ago
My sister and I used empty soda cans to get our hair as straight as possible. Made it very difficult to sleep!
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
If you look at the left side, the top one IS a can.
Load More Replies... #65
Dorothea Stovall 1 year ago
I must be old because I recognize these women and know their names.
wenchie 1 year ago
I have been scrolling through thinking of how beautiful all of these women are, and how they have such classic beauty. Took me til all the way down here to realize it's because they have natural lips and faces. 40 years from now there will be an article just like this one showing future pandas how silly all the inflated and overworked faces looked back in our day lol
Load More Replies... Chewie Baron 1 year ago (edited)
And then went off with Eric Clapton after he pursued her quite publicly. He even dated her sister at one point. It all cumulated in a guitar duel between Clapton and Harrison.
Load More Replies... Chewie Baron 1 year ago
Boyd inspired Harrison's songs "I Need You", "If I Needed Someone", "Something" and "For You Blue", and Clapton's songs "Layla", "Bell Bottom Blues" , "Wonderful Tonight", and "Have You Ever Loved a Woman"
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Tina Strong 1 year ago
Another wedding cake hairdo. So fashionable in early '60s Texas. I was there!
#70
Ava Lemar 1 year ago
That there is built-in cranial protection if you fall off your bike or crash a moped.
Debora Hegedus 1 year ago
I'll start to use it when on my bike. Ty for the advice!
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People were wondering how much hairspray these women needed to create such hairdos
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What do you think ?
Richard Graham 1 year ago (edited)
Wow! I graduated high school in 1970. I remember these styles so vividly. There are many pictures in my High School yearbook that would fit right into this collection. (I still have my high school year book - Penn Hills High School class of 1970 - go Panthers!)
Panda McPandaface 1 year ago
It would be so much better if these lists counted down to the worst (most votes), they always start out well and get less amusing as you work your way down. I'd much rather find out the winner at the end.
sofacushionfort 1 year ago
“The past is a foreign country: they hairdo things differently there”
Mary Sutherland 1 year ago
Yes. I missed this horror. By 1970, when I turned 15, long, straight hair was the style.
Load More Replies... Richard Graham 1 year ago (edited)
Wow! I graduated high school in 1970. I remember these styles so vividly. There are many pictures in my High School yearbook that would fit right into this collection. (I still have my high school year book - Penn Hills High School class of 1970 - go Panthers!)
Panda McPandaface 1 year ago
It would be so much better if these lists counted down to the worst (most votes), they always start out well and get less amusing as you work your way down. I'd much rather find out the winner at the end.
sofacushionfort 1 year ago
“The past is a foreign country: they hairdo things differently there”
Mary Sutherland 1 year ago
Yes. I missed this horror. By 1970, when I turned 15, long, straight hair was the style.
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