The Most Popular Hairstyles from the Last 50 Years

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1970: Soft and Teased

When Susan Dey burst onto the scene in 1970 with her role as Laurie on The Partridge Family, so did her lightly teased, soft-brown hair.

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1971: Voluminous Curls

With the ’70s came a new era of Diana Ross and a whole lot of iconic hairstyles along with it, like these glam curls.

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1972: Simple Middle Part

By 1972, Marcia Brady (played by Maureen McCormick) was a household favorite, and so were her silky, beach-blonde hair and sharp middle part.

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1973: Long, Straight Hair

Cher’s ultra-long, straight hair was as well known and loved as her singing (and acting, and styling). Her looks even continue to inspire a certain Kardashian (*ahem* Kim).

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1974: Natural Curls

In the ’70s, actress Pam Grier regularly rocked an afro and made everyone else want to embrace their natural texture too.

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1975: The Choppy Shag

Before the ’80s mullet, there was the ’70s shag. The mid-to-late ’70s were all about rock and roll vibes, and no one embodied that look more than Joan Jett.

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1976: The Wedge

Ever heard of the wedge cut? You have American figure skater Dorothy Hamill to thank for this popular short style with its many stacked layers.

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1977: Big, Big Hair

Before she got together with Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall had already made a name for herself as a successful model known for her signature big, blown-out, Texas hair.

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1978: Disco Hair

In the late ’70s, no one was more glam than the queen of disco herself, Donna Summer, with her soft, brushed-out curls.

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1979: Platinum Blonde

You can’t discuss ’70s blondes without bringing up rocker Debbie Harry. Instead of the usual allover color, Debbie was known for her two-tone look with blonde on top and dark brown underneath.

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1980: The Flattop

Few styles are as iconic as Grace Jones’s flattop haircut—perfectly shaped with a razor-sharp structure, Grace’s hair is just as talked about as she is.

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1981: Fluffed and Feathered

In the ’80s, shaggy layers weren’t just for rock stars—even the royals were into them. Princess Diana was a big fan of this fluffed, feathered crop and, most likely, so was your mom.

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1982: Feathered Bangs

If Michelle Pfeiffer’s layered, fanned-out bangs don’t give you serious Grease 2 vibes, nothing will.

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1983: The Bigger, the Better

Voluminous hair had a different meaning in the early ’80s. Not only do Brooke Shields’s waves stretch up high, but they also reach out wide.

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1984: Big Bows

Flash back to this year, and you can find Madonna (and her fans) sporting fabric bow headbands in just about every shape and size.

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1985: The Perm

Long before Carrie Bradshaw hit the streets of NYC, Sarah Jessica Parker was just a girl who wanted to have fun. And what’s more fun than endless curls?

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1986: Crimps for Days

You might have every size of curling iron and know your way around a flat iron, but Vanessa Williams owns the crimping iron.

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1987: Curly Bangs

No one puts Jennifer Grey’s bangs in the corner (sorry!). They’re front and center, blending right in with her luscious curls.

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1988: Curly Bob

Whitney Houston’s bob is almost as big and powerful as her vocal range (almost!).

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1989: Mall Bangs

In the late ’80s, if your bangs didn’t closely resemble an ocean wave (like Molly Ringwald’s), did you really even have bangs?

Maddie Aberman is the beauty editor at Women's Health and has been covering skincare, makeup, hair, and wellness for more than five years. When she's not thinking about beauty, she's dreaming of getting a puppy (all dog mom advice is welcome). 

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