1960s Hairstyles: 7 Ideas from Beehives to Bubble Cuts

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Hair length decides which of these looks is yours: a pixie cut needs short hair, a bubble cut needs chin length, a flip wants hair near the shoulder, and a long bouffant with bangs needs length past the shoulders.

The range runs from a headband that works on nearly any length and takes minutes, to a teased beehive that is hard on hair and calls for sections of backcomb.

1. Beehive

Woman with a red beehive hairstyle reaching for a bottle in a bathroom.
The bold red beehive adds height and drama, balancing well with her dress. · 📷 @frl_kitty

A beehive is a bouffant pushed higher and rounder, so height decides everything about it. Because the volume sits at the crown, a bold printed dress and statement earrings balance it well.

Backcomb in sections and smooth only the outer layer over the teased base. Skip it on days you can’t spare the time to brush it all out afterward; teasing this much is hard on hair.

2. Flip

Brown medium-length hair styled with ends curled outward in a classic flip.
The outward flick of the flip is a classic, especially on medium-length hair. · 📷 @lapalmabeautyhouse

Medium-length hair with the ends flicked outward is all a flip asks for. That makes the flip the most wearable 1960s shape for a woman who wants the era without a tall silhouette.

Set the ends on large rollers or curl them around a round brush, turning outward instead of under. A flip works best on hair that sits near the shoulder, since shorter lengths won’t have room to curl.

3. Bubble Cut

Woman with a rounded bubble cut hairstyle wearing a pink ruffled dress.
The rounded bubble cut gives a playful, youthful vibe with its deep bangs. · 📷 @laviewithbee

Chin-length and rounded, the bubble cut reads youthful and a little playful. The shape comes from rolling, not from cutting alone.

Split your hair in half through the crown and roll toward your face. That direction gives the deeper bang that sets 1960s versions apart from earlier ones.

I like it with a simple ruffled neckline, since the round shape already supplies the drama.

4. Pixie Cut

Woman with a short blonde pixie cut hairstyle wearing a white collared shirt.
The short pixie cut offers a modern look that requires minimal styling time. · 📷 @alcorn.hair

A short pixie cut is a bolder choice than most things here, and it pairs well with a plain collared shirt. The look is boyish on the surface but reads as modern and feminine.

Short hair leaves nothing to hide behind, so the cut itself has to be good.

Expect regular trims to hold the shape. A pixie also means a morning routine that takes minutes.

5. Ribbons and Bows in Hair

Woman with blonde hair wearing a white satin bow hair accessory and winged eyeliner.
The white satin bow stands out nicely against dark clothing and soft curls. · 📷 @glowbybarbi

Ribbons and bows let you borrow the 1960s without changing your haircut at all. A white satin bow against dark clothing, like a black turtleneck, stands out cleanly.

Soft curls like these come easily from a curling iron, and brushing them out gently keeps them loose enough to hold a ribbon or bow.

Curl in loose sections, let them cool, then tie the bow last so it doesn’t crush the bounce. Winged eyeliner finishes the era nicely.

6. 1960s Headband Hairstyle

Three women with 1960s inspired hairstyles and headbands posing for a portrait.
The headband keeps hair off the face while maintaining volume and style. · 📷 @geena.hunt

A headband is the easiest way into the 1960s, and it works on nearly any length. Pushed back from the forehead, it holds the hair off your face while the rest keeps its volume.

Pick one that sits snugly behind the crown so it stays put. Lift the hair just in front of it with a comb for a little height.

I’d wear it on days when full styling isn’t realistic.

7. Long Bouffant with Bangs

Woman with voluminous 1960s bouffant blonde hair and long waves in black and white.
The voluminous bouffant with bangs creates a soft, high-volume look for long hair. · 📷 @gildedtulip

A long bouffant keeps the teased crown of the beehive but lets the length fall loose past the shoulders, with bangs across the front.

Long length, a teased crown and soft bangs together make this the softest high-volume shape among 1960s styles.

Tease only the crown, smooth the top layer over it, and leave the long lengths in loose waves. Bangs frame the face, so a simple sweater like this one is enough clothing.

Long hair is heavier than a short style, so expect the lift to settle through the day.

Hair Products and Tools

Firm-hold hairspray does the real work in a 1960s set, and it behaves differently from modern light-hold formulas.

Hold the can about 12 inches from your head and spray in sweeping passes. That distance sets the shape without leaving the hair crunchy.

After teasing the crown and shaping the volume, run a brush lightly over the surface of your hair so the outer layer looks polished.

Heated rollers or pin curls give the structured waves.

Roll each section in the direction the curl should fall, then leave the rollers in until the hair has cooled all the way through; pulling them out warm loosens the shape. Brush out gently afterward.

Cultural Influences

The decade started with structure and ended in looseness. The early years moved away from conservative 1950s styles toward cropped cuts, dramatic volume and plenty of hair accessories.

Flower power and free love then pushed hair longer and less polished, with air-dried texture as the point. French New Wave cinema added a third mood: vampy, deliberately undone hair.

That range is useful when you choose a look. Pick structure for a dressed-up evening, or texture for a relaxed day.

Modern takes on these looks relax the rigid structure a bit, though the height and drama stay. Clip-in extensions put these big shapes within reach of anyone, without years of growing or heavy teasing.

Maintenance and Styling

Start with clean hair that has a light coat of product. Totally bare, freshly washed strands tend to slip out of a set, while a little product gives the teasing and spray something to grip.

Most of these styles depend on 3 steps: shape the hair with rollers or a curling iron first, backcomb at the roots for lift, then finish with firm-hold hairspray.

If your own hair lacks the density for a tall or full silhouette, extensions can add the volume. Blend them in before you tease so the lift looks even.

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