When it comes to hair styles, nothing says I'm up for a good time like a 60s do! Beehives, flips, and re-worked "I Love Lucy" hair styles were among the most popular. In a complete overhaul from the polished pretty locks of the 50's, the 60's showed a true representation of the era within its hairstyles alone. Beehives were simple and elegant, and hair was swished off the face in big sweeps in any direction you fancied. Throughout the 1950's women faced a day to day grueling haircare routine just to keep it in check, so with the swinging sixties arriving with a bang, women wanted to join in and be daring with their hairstyles so as to express the suppressed vixen inside! And a swinging 60's chicks best friend? Hairspray! But first, here are some do's and don'ts!
Rule No. 1: Thou shall not over spray!
Heck, god knows we need a lot of it when it comes to keeping that bouffant in place, but PLEASE refrain from using an entire bottle in the one sitting and gassing your boyfriend! You will only damage your hair and the result will be a sticky horrible mess on top of your head. The trick is to use a high quality spray first of all. TRESemmé, and L'oreal Elnett I have found to be the most consistent and long lasting! Secondly, SPRAY AT THE ROOTS. You have no idea how much of a difference this makes, and you waste less hairspray! Simply lift small sections of hair at the top of your head and spray, rub in with your fingers. If you have some extra cash lying around, head to your local make up shop and get your hands on Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Backcomb In a Bottle, you won't regret it! A few sprays and you have the desired 60s effect, no back combing required!
Rule No.2: Turn Up the Volume!
Hours and hours of work to get some of that Bardot volume and still no cigar? Well luckily there a number of alternative things to create that sex kitten va va voom. Blow dry your hair upside down! This creates height and lift. Use a root-plumping spray on the roots if you have especially flat hair. Lastly, Bumpits! Simple hide one in your beehive and voila, height, lift, and volume in one easy...bump? Saucy. If all else fails? Rollers baby. Sleep with sponge rollers in and then brush out in the morning for a sexy bed head look, or shove in some hot rollers in the morning before school or work for some added sixties glamour. Stack 'em high!
Rule No.3: Use Protection!
Unfortunately for women back then, they didn't have the luxury that we do of heat protection sprays, conditioning treatments, and hair masks that protect our hair day to day, which probably left most of our nans with terrible split ends and discoloring from all the hair spray, monster dryers, and rollers! But fortunately for us lucky ladies we can now protect our hair! So make sure that you do! It takes a lot of styling and messing around until you get into the swing of things and find your own style of 60's do that suits you and your hair, that's a lot of damage that can easily be taken care of! If you are using hot rollers, curling irons, or straighteners make sure you use a heat defence spray. You can pick these up very cheaply nowadays and they really do make a difference! Same goes with hairspray, gels, and treatments: the hair needs a time out from all the chemicals, so pamper your hair with a hair mask or deep conditioning treatment to stop it from becoming brassy or straw like. If you dye, bleach or tint your hair, you should always take extra precautions when styling your hair with heat. Alternatively you can create curls using sponge rollers overnight which give the same effect, but with no heat damage whatsoever!
And finally...some inspiration!
Ann Margret
Britt Ekland
Barbara Brouchet
Ann Margret
Mylene Demongeot
