While some hairstyles are making a welcome comeback – disco curls, we’re looking at you! – there are many others from the 1960s, 1970s, and hair’s most unforgiving decade, the 1980s, that we hope to never see again!
We’re talking about everything from the hair-destroying gravity-defying beehive of the 1960s, to the poodle perms from the 1980s that we can’t believe were ever seen as a good idea, to everything else in-between. Take a look at 17 of the most tragic hairstyles from the 60s, 70s and 80s below, and try not to cry when remembering that you may have sported some of them in the past…
1. 60s Conical Beehive
Hair health was not a thing in the 60s, as an endless amount of teasing was needed to create ultimate volume for the conical beehive. It was made popular by The Ronettes and Brigitte Bardot, who you can see here rocking a slightly more modest version for the decade, but we're shuddering at the thought of needing that much teasing and hairspray to achieve this gravity-defying look!
2. 60s Bouffant
Similar to the beehive, the bouffant also required a lot of back-combing. It's a wider and puffier shape to the beehive, partly achieved through blow drying with a large round brush and an abundance of hairspray; and one which we hope to never see again. (Jackie Kennedy did rock hers quite well, we must say, but we don't think many other women in this current decade would be able to pull it off.)
3. 60s Flicks
Anyone who has watched any one of the Hairspray movies or Broadway shows will be familiar with these upwards or downwards flicks, as will anyone who was an Angie Dickinson fan. It was a great way to add some volume to the hair without going down the aforementioned beehive and bouffant looks; but as it's so synonymous with the 60s, doesn't really have much place in 2024.
4. 60s Five-Point Cut/The Bowl Cut
Dubbed the Vidal Sassoon cut, this five-point cut was loved by the likes of Nancy Kwan, Mary Quant, and Mia Farrow, among others. Similar styles were also referred to as the bowl cut, or even more cruelly, the mushroom cut, especially when performed by amateur hair stylists or even parents. There are much more modern alternatives to this cut that are far more flattering and in keeping with the times.
5. 60s Long And Straight Style
While sleek, straight, face-scraping locks haunt 90s kids – especially as many of them had to create such styles with irons – they were actually made popular at the end of the 60s. Cher was one of the first A-listers to start the super-long, super-straight and silky down do trend, which we have since grown tired of, opting for less flat, more natural, and less heat-reliant styles instead.
6. 60s Mop Top
This was undoubtedly the number one hairstyle for boys and men in this decade thanks to The Beatles, but many women favored it too, including Julie Driscoll. Sadly, it's not for us in 2024!
7. 70s Spiky Punk Hair
Another hairstyle that musicians made popular was the spiky punky style made popular by Siouxsie Sioux, among others. Spiky hair was of course synonymous with punk musicians and their fans, and it came in all sorts of heights and even colors. We don't want to see this trend come back any time soon!
8. 70s Style Shaggy Style With Long Bangs
Shags were very popular in the seventies, with many variations being created throughout the decade. Joan Jett's razored style was quite iconic at the time (we think the styling team did an excellent job on Kristen Stewart's hair when she portrayed Joan Jett in The Runaways) but we feel it would look quite out of place in 2024. Luckily, there are more modern, flattering, and en-vogue versions to choose from if you still like a shaggy style.
9. 70s Feathered Bangs
The 50s and 60s gave us baby bangs, but in the 70s it was all about Farrah Fawcett's feathered bangs. While Farrah's hairstyle will always be iconic, there's something quite dated about the voluminous, fluffy look now, not to mention it requiring a lot of bravery to cut that many layers into your hair. A more modern variation is now making a comeback, however, and can be achieved through rounded layers styled away from the face.
10. 70s And 80s Frizzy Hair
Frizzy hair came in all sorts of styles in the 1970s, and unfortunately, we can't get behind any of it. Stevie Nicks sported frizzy somewhat straight hair with face framing bangs at one point in this decade, while many other musicians went for frizzy waves, perhaps hoping for curls. In a world of hair straighteners and serums, we hope to never live through this much frizz!
11. 80s Mohawk
Another hairstyle the punks adopted in the 80s was the Mohawk, which we don't think belongs in 2024 or any other decade.
12. 80s Crimped Hair
Another style that lived in the 70s, 80s and even 90s we can't really get behind is crimped hair, as rocked by Demi Moore in the 80s classic, St. Elmo's Fire. While it can be fun for a one-off party, it's not the sort of style we can wear off-duty or to glamorous events without being mocked.
13. 80s Poodle Perm
Another outrageous hairstyle from this decade was the poodle perm, which was all about creating volume. Synonymous with the 80s, as displayed here by Barbra Streisand, we are happy to leave this style in the past!
14. 80s Mullet
Perhaps one of the most offensive hairstyles on this list is the mullet. Its business in the front and party in the back reputation still haunts those who braved it back in the 80s. Even though Cher was and always will be considered a style icon, this particular hairstyle is one best left in the past. (We much prefer the long, glossy wigs she is favoring these days!)
15. 80s Backcombed Mullet
The only thing more 80s than the mullet was the backcombed mullet, as it was even more confusing and indecisive. Although we adore Joe Keery, above, and his role in Stranger Things, which was of course set in the 80s, we pray this style will never come back in fashion in 2024 and beyond.
16. 80s High Side Ponytail
The super-high side ponytail style from the 80s, secured with a printed hair scrunchie for good measure, is a style we are thankful hasn't returned yet. Beyoncé did try to bring it back in 2015, but we don't think it was her best hairstyle. If Queen Bey can't pull off the side pony, there's no hope for anyone, so let's leave it in the past where it belongs!
17. 80s Headbands
While we do love a hair accessory, head bands that went across one's forehead isn't one of them. There was no reason for men or women to be sporting headbands across their foreheads in this decade.
