60 years later, the 60s are back!
With the Met Gala just passed, we all had our fun getting riled up over how hard most celebrities swerved on the theme!
But we can forgive, after all The Gilded Age isn’t as heavily referenced in modern mainstream fashion as say, some of the late 20th century styles we’re seeing replicated today.
What we’re hearing loud and clear on today’s red carpets, runways, and trickling down into our streets and salons, is that 60s styles are back – and bringing fun new twists on some of the most classic hair styles of the decade!
60s hair was all about height, volume, and self-expression – with styles heavily influenced by movies, music, fashion, and the changing political climate of the time.
Icons like Sharon Tate, Jackie Kennedy and Brigid Bardot were at their height of influence, setting beauty milestones and debuting trends that would come to define the decade. Now 60 years on, and we’re seeing a resurgence of some of the most iconic hair styles from the decade – reimagined with modern innovation of course!
THERE WERE COUNTLESS LOOKS BORN FROM THE 1960S, BUT WHICH OF THESE STYLES MADE THE CUT FOR A COMEBACK 60 YEARS LATER?
THE FLIPPED-BOB IS OFFICIALLY BACK!
Flipped out and flipped-under styles dominated in the swinging 60s – Famously popularised by Jackie Kennedy, we’re seeing this timeless look back in all its forms!
The 2021 trend reimagines the style with sleek, often straight hair and less volume at the crown, although we’ve seen the classic volume make an appearance as well. Jane Fonda rocked the Hollywood flipped bob 60 years ago, and we’re seeing modernised versions today on celebs like Zendaya, Keke Palmer, and Megan Thee Stallion. Short and flouncy, the flipped-bob style continues to inspire women looking for a sophisticated, tailored style with a feminine edge.
BEEHIVE YOURSELF!
The Beauty Shop’s magazine cover!
First created by Margaret Vinci Heldt, the beehive saw its debut in 1960 for Modern Beauty Shop’s magazine cover! Audrey Hepburn rocked the beehive on-screen in 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the trend quickly exploded world-wide. Many variations came from the style, including Raquel Welch rocking a looser, more dishevelled beehive with face-framing tendrils.
Today, we’re seeing modern twists on the style on celebs like Zendaya, Dua Lipa, and Miley Cyrus – replicating the height and shape but keeping natural texture intact for a less “precise” retro look, and a more lived-in, contemporary touch. The perfect combination of modern and chic!
BIG N BOUNCY BOMBSHELL!
The 60s brought about social change where taboos were actively being challenged! We saw women increasingly embracing sexuality, reflected in the long, sexy, and voluminous styles worn by legends Raquel Welch, Jane Fonda, Brigitte Bardot, Sharon Tate– you get the point, this was massively popular!
These big n bouncy bombshell curls soon became synonymous with sensuality. Stepping away from the precisely tailored strands, women everywhere began flaunting loose, free-flowing curls cascading down the shoulders.
Known for her contemporary take on 60s styles, Adele stepped out at this year’s NBA All-Star game rocking a modernised bombshell blowout!
The updated rendition of the retro style boasts a new twist, forgoing the volume at the crown while maintaining its classically feminine shape.
Another big name bringing back the bombshell trend is none other than miss Ariana Grande – Keeping it classic and boasting volume from the crown, paired with an iconic padded 60s headband. As Ari would say – ummm “yuh!”
So get your rollers out – Big n bouncy curls are replacing beach waves in 2022!
SIXTIES PIXIES!
In stark contrast to the big bombshell hair, many women chose to forgo the cascading tendrils for a shorter, more demure look.
With women playing around with bold face-framing lengths, the demand for short and chic began, and short hair quickly became a staple of the 60s.
The famous side-part with long, side bangs has been well and truly immortalised since its reign! The pixie started in the 50s, but when Twiggy burst onto the scene wearing a sleek boyish rendition, it was reborn.
The shorter, more rebellious cut was soon replicated by women everywhere, and we still see this style today both in its classic form and with modern twists!
Celebs like Zoe Kravitz, Bella Hadid and Halsey have all rocked the 60s pixie in different styles.
AFROS AND A NEW-FOUND FREEDOM
The 60s were a pivotal time in Black History! The Civil Rights movement was in full swing, women like Naomi Sims and Helen Williams were making fashion history, and artists like the Supremes and Marvin Gaye were dominating the music charts.
The Civil rights movement brought about a new sense of freedom for African American people, from which we saw the rise in embracing natural hair texture for the first time. Before this, African American people were expected to assimilate and replicate white hairstyles.
In 1968, the afro made its debut, quickly becoming a symbol of freedom within the Black community! Natural texture was flaunted by icons such as Cicely Tyson on the silver screen, Marsha Hunt on magazine covers, both on and offstage by Abbey Lincoln, and in the streets by Activist Icons like Angela Davis!
The style then exploded into popularity in the 70s as one of the most prevalent natural styles. Today, we’re seeing celebs everywhere – Viola Davis, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Lupita Nyong’o – rocking their natural texture and serving vastly different modern variations of the timeless Afro.
SO BASICALLY…
The 60s, perhaps more than any other decade, left an indelible mark on the beauty industry!
It was a decade of “firsts” for many styles we know and love today – and we’ve only scraped the surface of 60s influence on modern hair trends!
But before we’ve got an entire dissertation on why the 60s were poppin’, we’ll finish off here with some honourable mentions!
Vidal Sassoon brought us his modern bob with an Avant Garde twist, featuring geometric edges and asymmetry – opening the door for more edgy styles to rise into mainstream.
The iconic mop-top haircut, popularised by the Beatles, acted as a symbol of rebellion against the typically slicked back styles of the previous decade – Quickly breaking into mainstream and translating into women’s styles, the iconic bowl outlived the band that pioneered it and continues to be heavily requested in hair salons in Brisbane today.
Brigitte Bardot introduced us to the classic half-up half-down look, classically paired with a fringe or face framing tendrils – super easy to recreate! Often worn coiffed in a bouffant with a middle part, this style was everywhere in the 60s. And this timeless look is arguably one of the most referred to styles since its inception!
The late 60s saw the counterculture hippie movement bring free-flowing, unkempt styles to mainstream – Think Janis Joplin! We’ve since seen this style reimagined throughout the decades in limitless varieties.
With a modern resurgence of 60s styles, we’re seeing countless new and exciting reprises of the many classic retro looks from the decade. If you are inspired by this resurgence, book with our talented team at Ella&Jade today.
And that brings us to the 70s – Stay tuned!
