70’s Hairstyles: 15 Iconic Ideas Worth Bringing Back

The 70s had something that modern hair trends keep trying to recreate.

That effortless, lived-in, full-of-life energy.

Here are 15 styles that bring it back without feeling like a costume.

Classic Feathered Layers

Long layers blown outward away from the face with curtain bangs that blend seamlessly into the sides.

It is one of those haircuts that looks polished and professional but still has that warm, nostalgic softness to it.

The honey blonde tones make the feathered layers catch the light beautifully, which is really the whole point of this style.

Best for: Medium to thick straight or slightly wavy hair.

How to style it: A round brush and blow dryer or a hot air styler sweep the layers outward. It is a salon level finish but very much doable at home with a bit of practice.

Retro Roller Waves

Big, dramatic, rounded waves with serious root volume and that bouncy inward curl around the neck.

It is the kind of hair that looks like you just stepped out of a 1975 road trip and we mean that as a compliment.

Golden blonde hair in this style has an almost luminous quality, especially in natural daylight.

Best for: Thick or coarse hair that holds a curl well without dropping.

At home: Large velcro rollers or a wide barrel curling wand get you there. Set it, leave it, brush it out gently.

Farrah Fawcett Feathered Wings

The one that started it all.

Heavy curtain bangs and cascading side layers blown completely outward away from the face with maximal root lift, in a vibrant copper auburn that just screams 1970s.

There is a reason this look still gets referenced fifty years later. It is that good.

Best for: Medium to thick hair with shorter face framing layers already in the cut.

How to get it: A large round ceramic brush and a powerful blow dryer. Wrap each section outward and hold the heat until it sets. It takes practice but the result is worth every minute.

Soft Curtain Bangs with Waves

A gentle center part, curtain bangs that flip outward at the cheekbones, and loose unstructured waves through the length.

It is romantic without trying too hard, which makes it one of the most wearable 70s styles on this list.

Creamy blonde tones give it that soft, dreamy quality that suits a casual date or a relaxed brunch perfectly.

Best for: Fine to medium hair with a naturally soft texture.

Heat free option: Set your curtain bangs on a single roller overnight and let the rest air dry for an easy morning version of this look.

Shag Cut with Full Bangs

Thick eyebrow grazing bangs, short choppy disconnected layers through the sides and back, and a rich chestnut brown colour that makes every layer stand out.

It is rock and roll. It is artistic. And it is much lower maintenance than it looks.

A little texturizing spray and you are done.

Best for: Straight or wavy brown hair that air dries with natural movement.

Good to know: This cut actually looks better a few days after washing when the natural oils give it that perfectly undone texture.

Messy Voluminous Shag

Heavily layered, choppy, piecey fringe falling softly over the forehead, and that intentional messiness that the 70s did so well.

Deep dark brown hair in this cut has a matte, effortless quality that just works.

It does not need much. That is actually the whole point of it.

Best for: Medium to thick hair types that have natural wave or texture.

Completely heat free: Air dry it, hit it with texturizing spray, and you are there. It also handles humidity really well which is a bonus.

Retro Feathered Blonde

A soft middle part with long curtain layers brushed and blown back away from the face in that fluid feathered wave pattern that defined the mid 70s.

Paired with vintage style glasses it has this studious, retro-chic energy that feels very current right now.

Clear golden blonde hair makes those outward flipping layers look really airy and light.

Best for: Naturally straight or fine blonde hair.

How to get it: A round brush or blow dryer wand shapes those outward flipping front layers. The rest of the hair pretty much falls into place on its own.

Deep Roller Waves

Deep, dramatic, wide set waves with exceptional root lift and that thick prominent vintage wave pattern curving around the neck.

The mustard yellow blonde tones make this one feel very intentionally retro, in the best way.

Paired with retro glasses and a few accessories it becomes a full look, not just a hairstyle.

Best for: Thick or coarse hair that can carry real volume and structure.

Needs: Hot rollers or a wide curling iron to set those dense waves properly. This one is more of a special occasion style than an everyday one.

Salt and Pepper Shag

A blunt eyebrow grazing fringe, sharp wispy layers framing the cheeks, and that striking contrast of deep dark roots meeting crisp white and silver tones through the length.

This one does not try to hide the grey. It makes it the whole point.

Worn with a black dress and statement earrings it is genuinely stunning.

Best for: Anyone embracing their natural grey or silver tones with straight to wavy hair.

Worth knowing: A purple or silver toning shampoo keeps those white tones bright and prevents any yellowing over time.

Windswept Casual Layers

Long wispy layers left completely free to move, no rigid parting, front pieces falling naturally across the face.

It is the most effortless style on this list and honestly one of the most charming.

Soft medium brown hair in this style has a very natural, easy-going quality that suits a casual summer day perfectly.

Best for: Fine or medium hair with a slight natural movement.

Heat free and water friendly: Just air dry it and let it do its thing. No product needed unless you want a little extra texture.

Polished Curtain Bangs

A crisp center part opening into classic 70s curtain bangs that flip out elegantly at brow level, the rest of the length brushed straight with subtly turned in ends.

It is neat, it is preppy, and it has that put together quality that works really well for an office setting or an upscale daytime outing.

Bright dimensional blonde makes those flipped bangs look very clean and polished.

Best for: Naturally straight or fine to medium hair.

Needs: A hair straightener or round brush blow dry to shape the bangs and smooth the ends. Worth the effort for how clean it looks.

Bouncy Roller Curls Brushed Out

Large sections curled with a thick barrel wand, then thoroughly brushed out with a paddle brush until tight curls transform into smooth cascading vintage waves.

Chestnut brown blending into golden caramel ombré tips makes those brushed out waves look incredibly dimensional and warm.

It is elegant, it is retro chic, and it is the kind of hair that turns heads at a dinner or a dressed up summer evening.

Best for: Naturally straight or fine to medium hair that needs an injection of retro volume.

The secret: Do not brush the curls out too soon. Let them cool completely first and the waves will hold much longer through the evening.

Long Choppy Layered Cut

Heavily feathered disconnected layers starting at the jawline and cascading down, with long relaxed strands falling loosely across the face.

Deep dark brown hair in this cut has a moody, effortlessly cool quality that is hard to replicate with anything else.

Low key and laid back but still very much a style.

Best for: Straight or wavy coarse hair that air dries with natural texture.

Easy to maintain: Sea salt spray and air drying is all this cut really needs. It actually looks better the less you do to it.

Vintage Glamour Headband

Heavily teased crown for that classic 70s height, large structured curls bouncing outward around the shoulders, and a thick white headscarf wrapped around the crown pulling the whole look together.

Platinum blonde hair in this style looks genuinely cinematic, like something straight off a 1970s film set.

It is dramatic, it is glamorous, and it is absolutely a statement.

Best for: Thick hair that can handle heavy backcombing and hold volume.

Keep in mind: This one needs hairspray, hot rollers, and some serious teasing to achieve. Save it for a themed party or a retro photoshoot where it can really shine.

Full Volume Afro

Dense coily hair picked out evenly from the roots into a beautifully balanced, full round silhouette.

Against a dark studio backdrop the shape of this hairstyle becomes everything, and it is genuinely iconic.

It celebrates natural texture in its purest form and that is exactly what made the 70s Afro so powerful and timeless.

Best for: Type 4 coily and curly natural hair textures.

Heat free: A hair pick and a good moisturizing cream are all you need. The key is picking from the roots upward for even, rounded volume.