The 1960s were a decisive shift in silhouette. Where 1950s glamour often focused on smooth polish and rounded softness, 1960s hair pushed upward: height at the crown, structured shape, and a deliberately “styled” outline that read clearly from a distance. That lift could be elegant and architectural (bouffants and beehives), or more relaxed and sensual (the Brigitte Bardot–style high crown), but the decade’s signature is unmistakable: volume moved higher, and the whole head shape became part of the look.
At the same time, the 1960s also contained a strong counter-movement toward simplicity and natural texture. Youth culture brought playful, easy styles like bobs, ponytails, and flips, while late-decade fashion embraced long, straight hair. And as the decade progressed, natural hair and the Afro became a powerful, era-defining statement—proof that the 1960s weren’t one “look,” but a tug-of-war between precision, freedom, and identity.
The Defining 1960s Looks
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High Crown Volume
Brigitte Bardot, 1960 — Height at the crown gives this style its presence, while the rest of the hair is left loose and lightly tousled, to move and fall naturally. Usually worn with a centre or softly off-centre part, it feels relaxed and sensual rather than formal—an instantly recognisable 1960s look that sits between constructed shape and effortless glamour.
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Beehive (The 1960s Updo)
Aretha Franklin, Beehive updo, 1960 — The beehive is the most “architectural” 1960s hairstyle: a tall, tapered updo built with teasing, smoothing, and often a little padding to hold the shape. Because it’s constructed rather than texture-dependent, it could be adapted to many hair types and lengths, from sleek and polished to softer versions with a few face-framing pieces left out. More than almost any other 60s look, the beehive is defined by its silhouette—instantly recognisable, confidently modern, and designed to be seen.
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The Flip (Flicked-Up Ends)
Jean Shrimpton, 1962 — Few shapes read “1960s” faster than ends that kick upward. The flip could be worn on a short bob, a shoulder-length cut, or even as the finishing detail on a ponytail. It looks neat and playful at once—youthful, styled, and very easy to recognise in photographs. Compared to earlier decades’ waves and curls, the flip is about the outline: smooth through the length, with the drama saved for the ends.
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Ponytails (High, Swingy, and Youthful)
The flipped ponytail — Ponytails didn’t just continue into the 1960s—they became a defining “everyday” style. Worn higher and with more bounce than earlier versions, the 1960s ponytail often leaned into motion: ends curled under or flipped out, sometimes with extra crown lift to keep the head shape feeling tall and modern. It’s simple, practical, and unmistakably tied to the decade’s youthful energy.
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The Bob Returns
Twiggy, 1967— Short hair in the 1960s became a statement of modernism. Pixie cuts stripped hair back to its essentials—short, deliberate, and designed to frame the eyes and cheekbones—shifting attention to lashes, liner, brows, and a crisp outline around the face. Alongside this, the bob returned with a new energy: smoother, rounder, and more consciously “designed” than its 1920s predecessor. Whether worn with or without a fringe, 1960s bobs favoured controlled shape over visible texture, aligning naturally with the decade’s mod influence, sharper fashion lines, and increasingly graphic approach to style.
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Long and Straight
Cher, 1968 — By the late 1960s, hair could swing the other way: longer, straighter, and less visibly “set.” Center parts and straight fringes with smooth lengths signalled a new kind of cool—more natural, less sculpted, and more aligned with the decade’s cultural shift. This look is also a bridge into the 1970s, when long hair becomes even more dominant.
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Shop the Era
1960s hair is a decade of contrasts: towering crown volume and beehive influence on one side, and late-decade straightness and natural texture on the other. From Bardot lift to flicked ends, sharp pixies, sleek bobs, and the Afro’s cultural impact, the 1960s are instantly recognisable in silhouette alone.