h a i r

a h i s t o r y

The hairstyles of the 60s were the antithesis of those of the 50s. 1950s hair was sculpted, sprayed, teased, and styled at the salon every week into a helmet of perfectly-formed curls, waves, and bouffants. Wigs and switches of false hair were often used to create the illusion of "bigger, better, more". Older women were especially guilty of such crimes against hair, while younger women preferred the relatively hip "flip" - shoulder-length hair backcombed slightly at the top and then curled out at the ends. In 1961 girls started to tame their hair not with spray, but with barettes and ribbons. Instead of keeping it atop the head in a beehive, it was curled into a bun or a coil and tied or pinned in place. Often a short fringe accompanied this look...

The revolutionary of 1960s hair was Vidal Sassoon, who, in 1963, introduced the geometric, asymmetric, 5-point, and (most famous of all) the bob cut. Instead of taming the hair, he let it swing free and cut the style into the hair, eliminating the need for an hour in front of the mirror armed with false hair, hairspray, and pins. The bob proved very popular with young women, especially in London, and is still one of the most prevalent haircuts.

In the mid-60s Swinging London era, teenage hair was either very short (i.e Mary Quant’s 5-point cut by Vidal Sassoon) or very long and worn fallen over one eye, styles which both complemented the clothing and attitude of the time.

6 0 s h a i r f o r a 9 0 s g i r l

Most of the simple styles from the 60s are still quite common today, particularly the bob, and won’t look very out of place. Any good hairdresser can cut you hair to your specs, and if you bring along a photo from an old magazine they can recreate a perfect 60s cut. For a simple updo a little bit of backcombing, hairpins, and some hairspray (non-aerosol in a can is the best - it goes on very well) comes in handy - invest in a backcombing comb (two lengths of teeth) and get your hairdresser or somebody who used to tease their hair to show you what to do. If you want to go for a full-out bouffant, god forbid, it’s done by setting the hair to dry in large rollers (i.e pop can diameter), gumming it up with hairspray followed by vigorous teasing, and is finished by brushing the top layer into a smooth barrel or bubble shape. For added cuteness, wear your sunglasses in your hair rather than on your eyes. An interesting pair of frames (cat’s-eye or oval, for example) in a colour that contrasts your hair is a good choice.

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