Seventies hair is all the rage in 2022 August 3, 2021 15:09
Trend alert: ’70s inspired hair is making a comeback this spring summer.
It seems that every year we take a retrospective look at the fashion of the past and this season thats exactly what we are doing, taking cues from a golden era in which haircuts were a thing. From Donna Summer to Farrah Fawcett, Jerry Hall, Debbie Harry to Jane Birkin, you name the muse, and 2022 has seen us covertly stealing their hair.
“The modern way to do it – without looking too retro – is to nod to the feeling of the style, such as the shag, without being too ‘fancy dress’ and literal about it,” says Morgan & Morgan Salon Owner Jennifer
Let's have a look at the ’70s hair trends and their modern interpretation
The Mullet
Born in the 70s, the mullet was first modelled by rock stars such as Rod Stewart and David Bowie Like it or not, the mullet is gaining popularity thanks to TikTok’s one minute mullet challenge, and the likes of Miley Cyrus and Rihanna have sported the style. OG mullet adopters include Joan Jett, whose gravity-defying jet-black haircut is still referenced backstage at fashion shows regularly today.
The Shag
The shag cut will be everywhere this year as the best thing about this style is this versatility. Depending on your hair texture, the shag is a cut that can be worn extremely messy or seamlessly straight
Defined by its choppy layers and wavy texture, Goldie Hawn, Stevie Nicks and Jane Fonda wore excellent examples of the look back then. Now? Billie Eilish, Selena Gomez and models like Mica Argañaraz have all recently sported the shag.
Another take on the shag is the "wolf cut", which is essentially a shag haircut that’s filled with wispy layers and volume and is currently taking TikTok by storm.
Layered Hair
A little more wholesome than the shag, the mullet or the wolf was the feathered flicks, as exaggerated as they were voluminous. Farrah Fawcett was the poster girl for the look, with her swathes of golden layers and million-dollar smile, as well as Olivia Newton-John. In the 1970‘s, everyone went crazy for Farrah Fawcett’s feathered, flippy ‘do, and with a few small tweaks you can also achieve the Charlie’s Angel’s sexiness! A modern take on this look has long layers and is all about big volume waves curled away from the face and curtain style bangs.
Disco Hair
When it comes to ’70s hair icons, Jerry Hall’s bouncy curls have to be one of the most sought-after styles. Her highlighted tresses would look picture perfect whether she was working the catwalk, spread across the pages of a magazine or leaving the legendary Studio 54
Bring a touch of 70s glamour movement to your hair by creating dancefloor-worthy disco curls.Inspired by the divas of the dancefloor, disco curly hairstyles will epitomise everything about a night out, from the big bouncy curls to a shimmering chic embellishment in your hair to complete your look.
French-Girl Hair
There are few people in this world that don’t want a Jane Birkin-esque fringe. What does it mean to have French girl hair? Natural windswept tresses and eyebrow-skimming bangs are all hallmarks for this look.
A French favourite, it remains as chic now as it was then, and everyone – from Margot Robbie to Daisy Edgar-Jones, Alexa Chung to make-up artist Violette – is a ’70s fringe fan. Look back at old photographs of Birkin and Joni Mitchell for inspiration.
The Full Afro
The era of disco saw hair get bigger and better. Afro textured hair was fluffy and full – see Diana Ross and Pam Grier. With so many embracing their natural textures over lockdown, the full ’fro has come back in a big way – Amandla Stenberg was just one star to show hers off.
Whether they are beautifully natural, achieved with curling irons, big curls have continued to dominate the runways.
The Bob
With the popularity of the bob showing no signs of waning in 2021, it was also a big hitting hairstyle in the ’70s. There was Debbie Harry’s unforgettable blunt-cut style; Donna Summer’s sleek look, complete with choppy fringe; and not forgetting Bianca Jagger’s insouciantly chic side-parted number. The beauty of the bob is that there’s an iteration to suit everyone.
Mermaid-Length Hair
The muse for many current day icons, Cher’s long poker straight raven locks are often replicated by the likes of Demi Lovato, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj.
Whether it’s thanks to lockdown and the inability to see our hairdressers or not, ultra long mermaid hair has become increasingly popular over the past year. From Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande to Jennifer Lopez, it’s a look reminiscent of Cher and Ali MacGraw’s long, sleek locks.
