You’ve seen the photos. Maybe it’s a grainy Polaroid of your mom or a high-res shot of a Coachella influencer. The hair is always the first thing you notice. It’s big, it’s flowing, and it’s unapologetically long. We’re talking about long hair 70s hairstyles, a vibe that honestly hasn't left the building since the Ford administration. It’s weird, really. Most trends die out, get buried, and stay there. Not this one.
The 1970s was a decade of transition. We moved from the stiff, hairsprayed helmets of the 60s into something... looser. Freakier. It was the era of the "shag," the "feather," and the "natural look," though anyone who has tried to recreate these knows they aren't exactly low-maintenance. People wanted to look like they’d just stepped off a trail in Topanga Canyon, even if they spent two hours with a round brush to get there. It was about rebellion through length.
The Shag: Not Just for Rockstars Anymore
If you want to understand long hair 70s hairstyles, you have to start with the Shag. Paul McGregor originally cut it for Jane Fonda in 1971 for the movie Klute. It changed everything. Before that, long hair was mostly one length. McGregor chopped in these aggressive, choppy layers that created volume at the crown and thinned out toward the ends. It was messy. It was gender-neutral. It looked cool.
The beauty of the 70s shag is its versatility. You’ve got these short layers framing the face, which basically act like a built-in contour. It’s perfect for people with thin hair who want to look like they have a mane, but it’s also a godsend for thick-haired folks who need to lose some weight so they don't get headaches. It’s a haircut that relies on "texture," which is just a fancy way of saying it looks better when it’s a bit lived-in.
Think about Mick Jagger or David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust phase. They weren't using Moroccan oil and silk pillowcases. They were using friction and probably a lot of grit. Modern stylists like Sal Salcedo or Anh Co Tran have built entire careers on "lived-in hair" that is effectively just a 2020s remix of what McGregor was doing in a smoky New York salon fifty years ago.
The Farrah Flip and the Birth of the "Feather"
Then came Charlie's Angels. In 1976, Farrah Fawcett stepped onto the screen and every hair salon in America immediately became a factory for "The Farrah." This is the pinnacle of long hair 70s hairstyles for many people. It wasn't just long; it was architectural.
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The secret to the Farrah look wasn't just the cut; it was the technique. You had to blow-dry the hair away from the face. This created those iconic wings. Stylist Allen Edwards, the man responsible for the cut, used a specific layering technique that allowed the hair to "flip" back without losing its length. If you didn't have the right layers, you just had flat hair with curled ends. You needed that structural support.
But here’s the thing: it’s hard to do. You need a big round brush. You need a lot of heat. You probably need a set of hot rollers if you really want to commit to the bit. It’s the opposite of the "natural" hippie look that dominated the early part of the decade. It was glamorous, high-octane, and sort of intimidating.
Hippie Hair and the Return to Nature
While Farrah was flipping her hair in Hollywood, a whole other movement was happening in the streets. Long, center-parted, bone-straight hair. Think Joni Mitchell or Cher. This was the "anti-style."
It represented a rejection of the establishment. If the 1950s was about control and the 1960s was about artifice, the 1970s "natural" look was about freedom. Or at least the appearance of it. Women would literally iron their hair with clothes irons to get it that straight. Dangerous? Yeah. Effective? Totally.
This look often featured "curtain bangs." These are long, wispy bangs that part down the middle and blend into the rest of your hair. They frame the eyes perfectly. Unlike the blunt fringe of the 60s, curtain bangs are forgiving. They grow out beautifully. You don’t have to run to the salon every two weeks for a trim.
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Why the 70s Aesthetic Is Dominating 2026
You might wonder why we're still talking about this. Well, fashion is cyclical, but the 70s is a circle that never quite closes. Look at Instagram or TikTok right now. The "Wolf Cut" is just a shag with a better PR team. The "Butterfly Cut" is literally just Farrah Fawcett layers for the Gen Z crowd.
We love these long hair 70s hairstyles because they prioritize movement. In a world of filtered, static photos, hair that moves feels real. It feels alive.
- The Wolf Cut: High-volume crown, heavy fringe, wispy ends.
- Curtain Bangs: The ultimate gateway drug to 70s style.
- The Disco Blowout: Big, bouncy, and unapologetically extra.
- The Braided Headband: Real 70s kids used their own hair to create headbands, a look that’s back in a big way at music festivals.
There’s also a sense of nostalgia for a time that felt—rightly or wrongly—more tactile. We spend all day looking at glass screens. Having hair that feels like it belongs on a rock album cover from 1975 is a way to reclaim some of that analog energy.
Mastering the Look: Technical Realities
If you’re going to go for one of these long hair 70s hairstyles, you need to talk to your stylist about "point cutting." This is where they cut into the hair vertically rather than horizontally. It removes bulk and creates that feathered, airy feel. Without it, your 70s layers will look like a 90s "Rachel" cut, which is a whole different vibe.
Products matter, too. The 70s weren't big on heavy waxes. They liked volume. You need a good mousse or a volumizing spray. If you’re doing the "natural" hippie look, you need a high-quality shine serum to avoid looking like you actually lived in the woods for three months.
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Don't forget the tools. The Dyson Airwrap and similar multi-stylers are basically designed for the 70s revival. They make that "away from the face" flip much easier for people who aren't professional stylists.
Common Misconceptions About 70s Hair
People think 70s hair was all about being dirty or unkempt. Honestly, it was the opposite. Even the "messy" looks were carefully orchestrated. Another myth: you need super thick hair for these styles. Not true. The shag was actually invented to give thin hair more life.
There’s also this idea that 70s hair only works for a specific face shape. That's nonsense. Because the 70s was so big on face-framing layers, a skilled stylist can adjust the "start" of the layers to highlight your cheekbones or soften your jawline. It’s a very democratic era of hair.
Actionable Steps for Your 70s Transformation
If you are ready to take the plunge into the world of long hair 70s hairstyles, don't just walk into a salon and ask for "70s hair." You'll end up with something you hate.
- Collect Visuals: Don't just show one photo. Show three. One of the bangs, one of the length, and one of the overall volume you want.
- Define Your Maintenance Level: Be honest. If you won't spend 20 minutes blow-drying, don't get the Farrah layers. Go for the Stevie Nicks shag instead.
- Invest in a Round Brush: A large ceramic round brush is non-negotiable for that 70s "flick."
- Embrace the Center Part: 70s styles almost always rely on a middle part to maintain symmetry and that specific "boho" flow.
- Talk About Your Hair Texture: If you have curly hair, a 70s shag will look like a disco afro (which is amazing, by the way), but it won't look like Joni Mitchell's straight locks. Work with what you have.
The 1970s was a decade of "more is more." More hair, more volume, more personality. Whether you're going for the rockstar edge of the shag or the breezy coolness of curtain bangs, these styles offer a way to express yourself that feels both vintage and completely modern. It’s about the movement. It’s about the attitude. Mostly, it’s about having hair that looks like it’s having a better time than you are.
To maintain the health of these long styles, prioritize regular "dusting" trims every eight weeks. This removes split ends without sacrificing the length you’ve worked so hard to grow. Use a heat protectant every single time you style, as the "feathered" look requires a lot of thermal manipulation. Finally, swap your heavy conditioners for lightweight, volumizing formulas to keep your layers from falling flat by noon.