18 Most Popular 70s Men’s Hairstyles

Men’s hair was rocked long until the mid-’70s when everything changed following the hippie lifestyle. As opposed to the shaggy haircuts of the ’60s, most ’70s men’s haircuts were styled with soft and long layers. For instance, in most states in America, the tousled blond and surfer haircuts were considered quite stylish and popular among little boys and young men. Sideburns were also very popular but were mostly worn by grown-up guys.

The conclusion of the matter is that guys in the ‘70s were not limited when it came to hairstyling. Whether the haircut was curled, straight, side-combed, messy, or afro, men always felt the same since the hippie style influenced all these hairstyles, and they almost wore the same styles. As such, men appeared fashionable, modern, and hippie-adorable way.

Those ’70s men’s haircuts never went anywhere, and they are still here with us but with some modifications to add some vibe and make them appropriate for different occasions, both casual and formal. So, you can effortlessly rock any ’70s men’s haircuts and still fit the theme of the 21^st century.

I hope after going through this list of the best ‘70s men’s hairstyles, you will find one or more hairstyles that fit you. Some of them you will wish were back in the hairstyling industry. Maybe, you will start seeing them now or sometimes in the future. We hope so!

1. The Afro

African American culture was a big driving force on fashion, culture, and the ‘70s men’s hairstyles, which implies it impacted men’s hairstyling so much. The African-American started rocking an afro hairdo in the late ‘60s when it was first sported. The afro was an ideal haircut for the African-American guys to flaunt their high, and textured huge hair. This hairstyle is quite popular among the black guys up to date.

2. Shoulder Length Hairstyle

Long and flowing locks mostly characterized the 1960s hairstyles. However, in the late ’60s, that started to change, and in the mid-70s, men were rocking shoulder length hairstyles.

Artists were forefront in popularizing shoulder length hairstyles, especially the Beatles that maintained their locks long and flowing. With this popularity from artists, more and more men started wearing shoulder-length hair, and in the late 70s, it had gained a lot of traction across the whole of the United States.

3. Long and Natural

In the early 70s, men decided to ditch the use of oils to style their hair and decided to let their locks be. The hair grew naturally to long dimensions.  This hairstyle was a unique look compared to the mainstream haircuts such as afros.

Some men even decided not to brush their hair to keep it as natural as possible. This allowed their hair to hang loosely and flow without any inhibitions. It was a fashionable style at the time that was worth stealing the show.

4. River Phoenix AZ’s Extended Textured Hairstyle

Let’s forget about the rise of disco men’s haircuts and bell-bottoms; the 1970s was the year when men’s hairstyling changed completely. Some fashionistas say it was the year when men ceased being ‘men’ by embracing long hairdos for the first time.

And if you thought this trend never lasted for a long time, you are wrong as the long hairstyles stayed until the 1980s, when their popularity reached climax by being rocked by River Phoenix young stars. This is the right time to take this hairstyle inspiration and rock one of the coolest hairstyle of the time.

To rock this look, you will want to trim the layers in order to add softness and make the cut more suitable to your face shape. There is one principle rule you should always bear in mind; long hairstyles always need layers. It is all about uncovering the right balance so that you don’t end up wearing two hairdos in one.

5. Side-Combed Hairstyle

This was a trendy hairstyle in the 1970s. To wear this hairstyle, hair was combed backward and then bangs added on top to add volume.  Men could choose the direction to comb the long hair on top, either to the left or right. Either way, it was and still an elegant haircut for men.

6. The Classic Mullet

In the 1970s, it was very unusual to see men wearing long locks. However, at the end of the ’60s and dawn of ’70s, there was a complete change in how men styled their hair. Afros, sideburns, and ponytails became the order of the day for men.

Mullet was an excellent way to rock long hair. It was during this time when mustaches and beards became so prevalent. It was surely time to be yourself. Everything in men’s hairstyling was let loose!

7. Greaser Haircut

For professional guys, the tidily brushed sleek haircut is still very fashionable. This ’70s short hairstyle is short and tidily brushed backward to give it a smooth shape. If you wish, you can also wear a hat on top for a more casual look.

8. Mustaches

While the mustaches cannot be termed as a 70s haircut in itself, we cannot ignore its popularity in the industry of hairstyling. It was mostly paired with long locks, and it seemed to complete the look perfectly in those days. It is still rocked nowadays by pairing it with different hairstyles.

9. Shaggy Haircut

You don’t need rocket science to understand how this haircut is styled. It is all about leaving top hair shaggy. The shagginess looks great if you have mid-length hair. It was, and still, it is a low maintenance haircut that resonates well with men who don’t have time to spend on hair maintenance.

10. Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Short Dreads

Though the hairstyling profession of Jean-Michel Basquiat didn’t last for long, his impact in the hairstyling industry is still felt today.

Jean-Michel Basquiat’s short dreads remain to aspire ‘70s haircuts to now, sported my most red-carpet regulars. However, note that this is not a haircut you can create within a short time. It is time-consuming, and you need to be patient if you want the best results.

Crating dreads need commitment and time. You need to twist strands and lock the locks. Ideal, it is not something you can DIY at home, and as such, you will want to look for an experienced barber who understands how to create dreads.

Fortunately, when it comes to maintenance, this you can do at home. To keep your dreads clean and appealing, you want to keep twisting them. Remember that you are not supposed to shampoo your hair, but rather wash it. You will also need to utilize the gel to tame the split hair.

11. Long Geometrical Haircut

This is a classic example of the ‘70s geometrical haircuts for those who were brave and wanting to go extreme when it came to hairstyling. In this haircut, the locks at the back are cut at the shoulder-length. It is styled to create triangular shapes around the ears. Further, the voluminous bangs are trimmed straight and thick slightly above the eyebrows.

12. Dreadlocks

One of the definitive haircut from the ‘70s. Like many hairstyles of the time that were popularized by actors, singers, and actresses, dreadlocks were no exception.

The dreadlocks were popularized by reggae musicians in the ‘70s when reggae music was gaining mainstream popularity. It was mainly due to Bob Marley’s impact on culture, fashion, and music that the dreadlocks became so popular as men’s hairstyles.

Styling dreadlocks is not everyone’s cup of tea. If you want to rock this radical look, you want to look for an expert barber who knows how to style dreads. Fortunately, you can maintain your locks at home. Make sure to keep them always clean for a respectable look.

13. The Shag

This is yet another ‘70s men’s haircut that was brought to light by actors. It is a universal hairstyle for both men and women. It came to limelight in the early 1970s.  The unisex haircut incorporates a lot of evenly-cut layers with a voluminous fringe. The layers on top are maintained short and gradually get extended on the sides and back.

Some guys wore this hairstyle with graduated hair on sides, which was then rolled under to create a pageboy look. However, there is a myriad of ways you can rock your shag. You can opt for spiked up top layers or choose a sleeked look.

My personal opinion is that this hairstyle is making a comeback, though with some modifications.

14. 70s Man Perm

For those who remember the popular T.V series, which was called Brandy Bunch, then it will be easier for you to picture this haircut since one of the actors, Mike Brandy, wore it. After that T.V series, the popularity of this hairstyle spread like bush fires. You should try one of these days, especially if you have curly hair as the style is still very popular to-date.

15. The Beatles Moptop Hairstyle

The Beatles had a huge impact on the men’s hairstyling in the 1960s. One of the haircuts attributed to them is the ‘moptop’ which was quite popular until the late ’70s. It was after that when they influenced guys to let their hair grow out and rock long styles. This was a phenomenal change in the men’s hairstyling industry.

16. Jheri Curl

This sleek, loosely curled hairstyle was quite common in the African American society in the mid-1970s and into the 1980s. For instance, it was rocked by Michael Jackson.

To create Jheri curls, you had to follow two steps. First, you needed to soften and loosen the tight curls. This first step was intended to make the curls loose and easy to re-set new and permanent curls.

The hairstyle was Jheri Redding’s creation in the 1970s. A chemist and a hairdresser, Jheri Redding used chemicals to create curls, and one disadvantage of that is the hair left a greasy residue on the surface of anything it came into contact with.

17. Rude Boys and Skinheads

The 70s men’s hairstyle wasn’t all about long hair. Short hair had their share too. This sharply cut short haircut was created by Jamaican immigrant and reggae musician Desmond Dekker.

This hairstyle originated in the late 1960s, and its popularity continued until the late 1970s due to the revival of bands such as The Specials and The Selecter.

It was the rude boy hairstyles that motivated the short styles, and skinhead look, especially rocked by working-class white men of the ’70s.

18. The Grown Out Mullet

One incredible haircut is the grown out mullet. It seems like a simple hairstyle to achieve, but you will be proved wrong if you try styling it since you won’t get the desired look. It is not the type to DIY.

The top layers of this early ‘70s haircut for guys are left shorter compared to the rest of the tresses. The layers at the bottom are straightened and kept medium length, reaching to the shoulder. The tops layers are maintained wavy and middle-parted.