70s hair -- Am I just being nostalgic?

[turtlelover]

I was just watching old TV shows from the 70s. I was awestruck by some of the beauty of the hair that I saw. Even the less extreme lengths were eye catching. It doesn't seem like most hair nowadays has the same beauty and shine, despite all the "better" products that are out there now. Am I just being overly nostalgic, or do most people today really have much worse hair than people back then?:confused:

[Springlets]

No I love watching movies from the 70s and 80s because the general aesthetic- from make-up to haircare- was a bit more natural than today. You're right, we may think we have "better" products today, but I think we have more superfluous products which are obviously damaging our hair. Our hair today is supposed to be a vibrant color (which doesn't usually exist in nature) and a perfect shape (which also doesn't usually exist).

[thirstylocks]

I stopped using chemicals/products in my hair and its been looking great - especially if I use rollers. I think the fewer chemicals we put in our hair, the better.

[TheHowlingWolf]

I think there is a thread about what people used in the 70's hair wise. I remember that a lot of the time, people only washed their hair once a week with basic shampoo and sometimes a cream rinse. Today, almost every girl has a curling iron and a straightener and I think that was very rare back then. My mom said that the products were very limited and they didn't have much of a selection unlike today. Natural was the style back then so I don't think many people dyed their hair or used that many chemicals on them.

[Kaelee]

My hair is super soft and shiny since I don't use any styling "products", blow dryer, curling/straightening irons, etc.

Modern women are EXPECTED to have tortured hair. Long, natural hair tends to be discouraged and you're supposed to chemically treat/heat style it within an inch of his life. If you want it shiny, there's a PRODUCT for that. /sarcasm

[Iolanthe13]

I just watched The Spy Who Loved Me. I was mesmerised the whole time by the lead female's shiny blonette hair - it was so pretty, and so unlike anything you'd see in Hollywood now.

[Sarahlabyrinth]

I had long hair in the 70's - waist length blonde. The routine for me was wash once a week with shampoo, then condition, detangle in the shower while the conditioner is on it, air dry then wear it up.

End of routine.

Now that I look back on it, it wasn't TOO bad a hair routine.

[JCM]

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/loudwire.com/files/2011/11/Black-Sabbath2.jpg

My mother told me once that she only used to date guys who looked like this back when she was in college. (Early 1970s)
She also said it did not matter if they were in a band or not because back then the guys who were not in bands also looked like this.

[TheHowlingWolf]

I had long hair in the 70's - waist length blonde. The routine for me was wash once a week with shampoo, then condition, detangle in the shower while the conditioner is on it, air dry then wear it up.

End of routine.

Now that I look back on it, it wasn't TOO bad a hair routine.

Do you remember if your hair was healthy back then? Did it look the same (texture wise) as it does now?

[JCM]

http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID1525/images/angels.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lxjNm2SgtLQ/T_2_pPsc0NI/AAAAAAAADZ4/C-n6ytbU_JA/s640/Charlie's_Angels(1).jpg[

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Do you remember if your hair was healthy back then? Did it look the same (texture wise) as it does now?

To be honest, I never took any notice of it in those days :couch:. It was wash it and then put it up so it didn't get in the way....it NEVER even occurred to me to trim or tidy the ends, so I went for years without seeing scissors. I have a distinct feeling that the ends were possibly dry.

But it was still wavy and thick. When I did do a major cut however, to a pixie, my niece said to me "Oh, you cut off all your beautiful hair"...I had never thought of it as beautiful, it was just ...there, hanging off my head, lol. Maybe others saw it differently.

[Libbylou]

I had tbl in the 70's. I used what ever my mother bought. Usually Breck shampoo and cream rinse. I washed 2x week. I didn't own a blow dryer or curling iron until I was a senior in high . I had my hair cut and wore the ziggy startdust style then. My hair is bsl now and that's the longest it's been since. Perms came on the scene around the Saturday Night Fever movie and well into the 80's. That is how I wore my hair until 2011. lol. Now I have returned to basics that I used in high school without the henna.

[Tota]

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/loudwire.com/files/2011/11/Black-Sabbath2.jpg

My mother told me once that she only used to date guys who looked like this back when she was in college. (Early 1970s)
She also said it did not matter if they were in a band or not because back then the guys who were not in bands also looked like this.


Ooooooh :heart: Your mother had excellent taste in men ;) I wasn't lucky enough to live in the seventies, but I also like men like these.


One of my all time favourite movies is Love Story. I think Ali MacGraw was a great example of beauty in the seventies - natural from head to toe. I'm totally in love with her character. Her hairstyle, her clothes, shoes, ... I'm still hoping to find a coat like she wore in the movie.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ycpBdqdNfiQ/Tn6enUMq0II/AAAAAAAAB7I/lVeJWl92Fic/s1600/ali_macgraw5.jpg

[turtlelover]

I was born in 1975, and I STILL remember Nicolette Larson's hair. Sooooo beautiful! There is no way you'd see something like it now.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXfROqR_p1A

[spidermom]

I think someone hit the nail on the head above - back then curling irons, flat irons, blow-dryers, etc, weren't in common use. However, I did straighten my hair occasionally with the iron on the ironing board. Yikes!

[Perididdle]

When I think 70s I think 'floaty hair and center parts'. ;) I think I mostly watch horror movies from the 70s, where everyone's air kind of drives me crazy. It's certainly a defined aesthetic. But aside from that, the hair does always look shiny and happy.

[Dandelion6]

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/loudwire.com/files/2011/11/Black-Sabbath2.jpg

My mother told me once that she only used to date guys who looked like this back when she was in college. (Early 1970s)
She also said it did not matter if they were in a band or not because back then the guys who were not in bands also looked like this.

I love Ozzy's hair from this time period!

[EdG]

The 70s was a great decade for long, natural hair. One can see this in the album covers of the era:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d0/ColorsOfTheDayCollins.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ae/Joni_Roses.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Carly_Simon_-_Hotcakes.jpg/220px-Carly_Simon_-_Hotcakes.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0e/Renaissance_-_Ashes_Are_Burning.jpg

I bought used copies of these albums many years after they first came out. :)
Ed

[LadyTheta]

I was 20 years of age in 1971 ... and a longhaired lady since the later-1960s.

Yes, our hair was lovelier, healthier, stronger, softer ... with far fewer 'products' available.

I grew up shampooing with Breck ... also, White Rain shampoo ... and Tame creme rinse.

The longer my hair grew, I needed "better conditioner" ... and Wella Balsam was our fave.

For infrequent "deep conditioning" (perhaps monthly or every other month?) ... we used Wella Kolestral Concentrate Deep Conditioning Treatment ... slathered it on thickly and wrapped hot towels turbaned around our head for at least an hour.

When we wurlies wanted straight-sleek hair, it was smooth jumbo-pink plastic rollers ... or a "hair-wrap" ... and sitting under the big bonnet hair dryer until dry. (Ah how I miss that!)

There were for us Gals no "blow dryers" even on the scene until around 1974 or 1975.
Blow-drying was a great disappointment to me ... just made my hair frizzy. I never bothered thereafter!

For lightening, we blondes/blondettes used lemon juice and the sun! (Cheaper than Sun-In, back then!)

Yes, even "our guys" had long, beautiful heads of hair, that shone, clean, and healthy ... even with their more-frequent washing of hair, daily!

Whereas, we Gals did wash typically once a week.
And yes, we did brush nightly with natural boar bristle brush ... just as my Grandmother had done, all of her life ... her never-cut hair.

[PinkyCat]

:inlove: Sigh. I love this thread.

[turtlelover]

One of my all time favorite long haired movie scenes.....Katharine Ross had nice hair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VILWkqlQLWk

[spidermom]

Wow - she really does.
I loved Cher's hair in the 70s, too. I think she was my first long hair role model.

[jacqueline101]

I remember my grandma saying products were limited in all aspects of personal care like you said people liked the natural look. I think people hair was healthier back then due to being natural and having a simple routine.

[TheHowlingWolf]

Ah, I want pretty, long 70's hair!!! But I am a product junkie kind of lol. I do the Dr. George Michael method but I'm really tempted to buy a new leave in conditioner, but I'm trying to do the whole "less is more" thing. & since my ends are soft, there isn't much of a need for a LIC anyways.
Did people dye their hair back then? My mom said no but she said she used henna...was henna common?

[Chromis]

I think someone hit the nail on the head above - back then curling irons, flat irons, blow-dryers, etc, weren't in common use. However, I did straighten my hair occasionally with the iron on the ironing board. Yikes!

I was going to point out the ironing hair thing too!

Also, long hair with a centre part...that is totally my hair. :D

[spidermom]

Not many people dyed their hair in the 70s. There was kind of a negative connotation to it, at least in my social circle.
I bleached mine, however, with a product called Summer Blonde. It lightened my hair only a shade or two. Then I would use Sun-In on the roots.

[chen bao jun]

I also think the 70's hair might have looked better because of nutrition. Mothers still cooked back then and we did not get snacks, fast food or soda and rarely ate out. If you watch 70's movies and t.v. shows you will notice how much more slender everyone was and you can see this in real life too in old photographs. Food was not fancy--meat and potatoes and (very overcooked) vegetables, with desserts rare except (in my family at least) on Sunday night but it was balanced and nutritious and not too much of it (way smaller servings). People also exercised much more. You HAD to walk to get places. I think the hair might have looked better in part not only because of less washing and less heat and products but also because of better eating and the exercise.

[TheHowlingWolf]

I also think the 70's hair might have looked better because of nutrition. Mothers still cooked back then and we did not get snacks, fast food or soda and rarely ate out. If you watch 70's movies and t.v. shows you will notice how much more slender everyone was and you can see this in real life too in old photographs. Food was not fancy--meat and potatoes and (very overcooked) vegetables, with desserts rare except (in my family at least) on Sunday night but it was balanced and nutritious and not too much of it (way smaller servings). People also exercised much more. You HAD to walk to get places. I think the hair might have looked better in part not only because of less washing and less heat and products but also because of better eating and the exercise.

Yeah when I ask my mom how she had such pretty hair back then, her first response was "Because I ate really healthy back then" so I think that has a lot to do with it too! She said she got most of her food at farmers markets and a Co-Op and said she only ate when she was hungry.

[Juanita]

I had past tailbone hair back then, washed weekly and the old bristle brush. Was nice and thick and healthy. Wish it was like that now but it is thin and fine. Age and medications take their toll.

[JCM]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_whbxFROIyPA/S6tEr9z7G2I/AAAAAAAAAP8/MCG9ZWD_tcg/s1600/sister+sledge+we+are+family+a.jpg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-GcL1Cd5b4

[jeanniet]

I dunno--I was a freshman in college in 1976 and one of my roommates permed and curled her hair all the time. Once the disco era hit (and Charlie's Angels), natural kind of went out the door.

[turtlelover]

Yeah, I could definitely do without the feathered hair trend. Yuck! LOL

[In2wishin]

My 70's hair:

1973-74 school year (probably didn't do anything to it):
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk315/eclctcmnd/me2.jpg

Graduation banquet, Spring 1974 (I curled it somehow. Probably used hot rollers):
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk315/eclctcmnd/seniorbanquet.jpg

I do remember curling irons and hot rollers in High School and college but didn't use either of them often. My routine was basic wash, condition, air dry (funny enough, that is my typical routine now)

ETA: when we did curl our hair, it was just to get big bouncy waves

[turtlelover]

I am really enjoying everyone's personal photos from that time period! So much fun! I just stumbled upon another classic long hair video from youtube. Now Paul Davis had some SERIOUS hair!!! Seeing him w/ Crystal Gayle just kind of cracked me up....they seem well matched! Can you imagine if they had fallen in love and gotten married, what kind of hair their children might have had? That might have been some really crazy hair! :taz:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApilTbncyDQ

[Zesty]

Funny, my aunt keeps insisting that DBF and I are a throwback to the '70s. He looks kind of like the gentlemen in JCM's photo, with a full beard and past-shoulder-length shaggy hair, and of course I have hip length straight hair without bangs. Looking at my Facebook profile picture, I do see it. And after seeing the posts in this thread, I think I'll take it as a compliment rather than just a comment.

[TheHowlingWolf]

Were bangs not common in the 70's? Or was it about equal, some people had them some didn't?

[Kat]

Today, almost every girl has a curling iron and a straightener and I think that was very rare back then.

Back in the 60s and 70s they tended to use an actual clothes iron. My mum tells me many stories of she and her sisters ironing their hair. I cringe.

[JCM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvKF3WQYADk

[ravenreed]

I didn't like the 70's fashions at all. I was so much happier with the 80's forward. FWIW, we used a hair dryer back in the 70's. It was this old box-like thing that had a hose that lead to a bonnet. I remember being so impressed when I got my first hand dryer in the 80's. I recently got a bonnet like attachment for my hair dryer so I can sit under the heat when I use Elumen dye on my hair but it doesn't actually dry my hair at all.

[JCM]

http://bargainbinreview.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/JimKellyisBlackBeltJones.jpg

[RileyJane]

"Better" products from now wont protect what almost ALL my friends ( and i at one time) do to their hair: they dye it once every 2 months, maybe get a set of highlights/lowlights in between then, straighten it everyday( products might be questionable if used at all) and then there are the days they like to just experiment with their hair and take 3 hours hot curling it and such. and thats just the norm for them. that being said, my mom grew up in the 70s and always had classic length hair (hence my always long hair) and she never used anything on it ever (she never straightened or anything to it) and in all of her photos up until she started using flat irons it was always this shiny, glossy, flowing hair. THAT is what my goal is; i feel like it is so rare now a days, and i was right when all my guy friends made a big deal about my hair the other day b/c they dont know ANY girl with their natural color :P

[JCM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFm9McIvXdw

[JCM]

http://padresteve.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/the_carpenters_-_horizon_-_frontblog.jpg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__VQX2Xn7tI

When almost everybody at my school was listening to gangster rap, I was listening to this. :)

[TooShort]

Ali MacGraw Awesome.

[Bambi]

Oh!! What a great thread!

[spidermom]

Here's my 70s hair:
Shag haircut rolled up tight on sponge rollers, wig over the top:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/afromom2.jpg

My own tightly curled shag picked out:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/afromom.jpg

Yup, loved the Afro with all my heart (and head).

[Bambi]

Here's my 70s hair:
Shag haircut rolled up tight on sponge rollers, wig over the top:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/afromom2.jpg

My own tightly curled shag picked out:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/afromom.jpg


Yup, loved the Afro with all my heart (and head).

All I can say is just woooow!!!

[spidermom]

Thanks Bambi (I think).

[Bambi]

Thanks Bambi (I think).

It was a positive comment for sure:)! A friend of mine would love to wear her hair like that. I've always been fascinated by fro's ever since I was a child.

[Mya]

Here's my 70s hair:
Shag haircut rolled up tight on sponge rollers, wig over the top:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/afromom2.jpg

My own tightly curled shag picked out:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/afromom.jpg

Yup, loved the Afro with all my heart (and head).

Beautiful! :heartbeat

[Rosetta]

70's hair is (was) generally gorgeous, in long and natural hair being way more popular than these days. But curling irons as well as hair rollers were still used then by many, for example my mother used both ;) Straighteners are of course a much later craze. But in contrast to the 70's, 80's hair to me is/was much less natural, I remember it was then that all these styling products started to come out, and all these not-very-natural styles like mullets were in fashion :)



I also think the 70's hair might have looked better because of nutrition. Mothers still cooked back then and we did not get snacks, fast food or soda and rarely ate out. If you watch 70's movies and t.v. shows you will notice how much more slender everyone was and you can see this in real life too in old photographs. Food was not fancy--meat and potatoes and (very overcooked) vegetables, with desserts rare except (in my family at least) on Sunday night but it was balanced and nutritious and not too much of it (way smaller servings). People also exercised much more. You HAD to walk to get places. I think the hair might have looked better in part not only because of less washing and less heat and products but also because of better eating and the exercise.
Hmm, a couple of things struck me here; "mothers still cooked back then" - are there mothers who don't cook (at all)..? And "you had to walk to get to places" - well, for some of us this is still the case (or use public transport) ;)

[JCM]

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash3/c0.32.180.180/s160x160/28102_402795928865_6291158_a.jpg

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120323084516/lyricwiki/images/6/6f/Charly_McClain_-_Here's_Charly_McClain.jpg

http://npknet.com/images/Jackvynil/1221albums083.jpg

Anybody else on here a fan of Charly McClain? She has always been one of my favorite country singers.

[spirals]

:inlove: Sigh. I love this thread.
Me, too. I was just a little kid in the 70s. I had long wurly hair that my mom blowdried straight. She's a 1b, so she just didn't know how to deal with mine. When I was 5 she made me get the Dorothy because it was easier for her. When I was 10 it had grown out and I begged for a Farrah cut. She gave in and listened to me scream and cry because the curling iron kept getting stuck in my hair. I threw a fit once and broke the curling iron. At that point I started getting perms given by Mom. I don't think either of us realized I actually had loose curls. I got into hot rollers after that. I experimented with sponge rollers and crimp irons and teasing in high school, but by the second half of HS my hair was mostly natural, often in a half-up or single french braid. My hair was really fried from the heat styling and perming of the previous years, though. It was the 80s. I don't even remember all the products I used, but I remember Rave hairspray, and Aqua Net ("Quick--spray it before it falls!"), Dippity-Do gel, Tresemme shampoo and conditioner, St. Ives jojoba conditioner [best stuff ever, and it's discontinued :( ], L'Oreal products, Citre Shine, just a bunch of stuff. Anyway, the late 80s was my romantic period, so I did braids and pouffy half-ups and buns. Kind of like now.

[renia22]

I've always loved 70s hair, ever since I was a little girl (I was born in the 70s). Does anyone remember Elizabeth from "Eight is Enough"? Her hair was my dream hair. The shampoos from the 70s/ early 80s were great, too (maybe not by today's standards lol)...Agree, Wella, Flex, Breck, Faberge Wheat germ Oil & Honey. I also remember when Finesse was introduced in the early 80s and there was one called "Dimension" that I used to like as well.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4610313248376652&pid=15.1.jpg

[chen bao jun]

@Rosetta,
Finland may be very different. Here in the US families who eat out or have takeout every single night are quite common in many areas. Many many mothers not only don't cook, but actually do not know how. My church is always giving cooking lessons because there is such a need in this area. Takeout and restaurant food is pretty much always high fat, high sugar, high carb and high salt, so nutrition does suffer.
In the suburban US, there are many places where there is no public transportation and actually where there are no sidewalks, so it is actually impossible to walk even if you want to. In the cities it is different, but where I live, you have to make an enormous effort to get exercise.
In the US it was different in the 70's, in my experience, so I was just putting that out there as something else to consider.

[Eirelin]

I was born in 1972, so of course my hair was natural in the 70's ;P

What I love is hair like Suzy Parker's in an episode of Rod Serling's Night Gallery called "The Housekeeper." This is the only photo I can find of it, but maybe you can get the general idea:

http://basementrejects.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/night-gallery-season-1-1-the-housekeeper-larry-hagman.jpg

[Piyo]

I've always loved everything about 70's hair; the afros, the feathered look, the overall more "natural" vibe, especially with the long haired ladies. I also loved that the guys had long hair too! When I think of 70's hair, I think of healthy sunkissed hair in natural shades.

I did not live through the decade, but it has always been a hair inspiration for me, even when I was preteen.

[JCM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gFUzreR0xc

Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves and having lots and lots of fun back then.

[Rosetta]

@Rosetta,
Finland may be very different. Here in the US families who eat out or have takeout every single night are quite common in many areas. Many many mothers not only don't cook, but actually do not know how. My church is always giving cooking lessons because there is such a need in this area. Takeout and restaurant food is pretty much always high fat, high sugar, high carb and high salt, so nutrition does suffer.
In the suburban US, there are many places where there is no public transportation and actually where there are no sidewalks, so it is actually impossible to walk even if you want to. In the cities it is different, but where I live, you have to make an enormous effort to get exercise.
In the US it was different in the 70's, in my experience, so I was just putting that out there as something else to consider.
Ok. I've heard such things about the US, but thought they were (mainly) just negative stereotypes... :?


Since people have been posting their favourite images of 70's hair, here are a couple of mine: :)

http://www.helgeoveras.com/images/thin_lizzy_1977_03_400x626.jpg


http://www.eurovisionary.com/files/images/Al%20Bano%20&%20Romina%20Power.jpg


(The first is Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy, the second is Romina Power representing Italy with Al Bano in Eurovision Song Contest 1976.)

[Peggy E.]

I had a couple of friends in the '70's who slept on oj cans in order to get that big - though more straight than curled - look. Imagine how great their sleep must have been....

There was plenty of hairspray around. You couldn't do that Farrah fringe without glue, and people would put lemon juice or peroxide on their hair and then go sit in the sun to get the blonde streaks they wanted.

We were coming off the Peace & Love Hippy movement, where everything was natural (even the drugs?), so there was that attitude carried over into the '70's.

Actually, it seems to me that the mid-to-late '60's were more natural than were the '70's. My entire perspective on that period is one of civil strife and protesting. A very, very depressing period in history.... But with nice hair.

[Peggy E.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gFUzreR0xc

Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves and having lots and lots of fun back then.

I must have been living in a parallel universe, or something, for I don't recall everybody enjoying themselves. The Viet Nam War didn't end until the early '70's, so there was that horror and the protests it launched continuing.

I was finishing high school and we were picking our colleges based on which ones had the fewest on-campus demonstrations. My high school student council burned the American flag on the front lawn of the school during sprinig break, for godsakes.

Which brings on the business of the fight for women's rights, which is now taking a dash back into caveman days. Let's not forget Watergate and the fall of Nixon.

There was a lot of burning going on back there: flags, bras and draft notices.

Hair sort of seemed a secondary minor diversion. I washed mine every morning with Prell - what the family used - it dried naturally and I pretty much ignored it. It was hip length.

Guess I was overly sensitive, or something, but I don't recall the everybody having fun... :o(

[JCM]

I had a couple of friends in the '70's who slept on oj cans in order to get that big - though more straight than curled - look. Imagine how great their sleep must have been....

There was plenty of hairspray around. You couldn't do that Farrah fringe without glue, and people would put lemon juice or peroxide on their hair and then go sit in the sun to get the blonde streaks they wanted.

We were coming off the Peace & Love Hippy movement, where everything was natural (even the drugs?), so there was that attitude carried over into the '70's.

Actually, it seems to me that the mid-to-late '60's were more natural than were the '70's. My entire perspective on that period is one of civil strife and protesting. A very, very depressing period in history.... But with nice hair.

http://www.imcdb.org/i026097.jpg

In addition to nice hair there were also some nice cars too. :)

[JCM]

I must have been living in a parallel universe, or something, for I don't recall everybody enjoying themselves. The Viet Nam War didn't end until the early '70's, so there was that horror and the protests it launched continuing.

I was finishing high school and we were picking our colleges based on which ones had the fewest on-campus demonstrations. My high school student council burned the American flag on the front lawn of the school during sprinig break, for godsakes.

Which brings on the business of the fight for women's rights, which is now taking a dash back into caveman days. Let's not forget Watergate and the fall of Nixon.

There was a lot of burning going on back there: flags, bras and draft notices.

Hair sort of seemed a secondary minor diversion. I washed mine every morning with Prell - what the family used - it dried naturally and I pretty much ignored it. It was hip length.

Guess I was overly sensitive, or something, but I don't recall the everybody having fun... :o(

Well I was not born yet so I guess I simply may be just a little too nostalgic.
Most of my favorite movies, music and tv shows are from the 1970s.

[Peggy E.]

I also think the 70's hair might have looked better because of nutrition. Mothers still cooked back then and we did not get snacks, fast food or soda and rarely ate out. If you watch 70's movies and t.v. shows you will notice how much more slender everyone was and you can see this in real life too in old photographs. Food was not fancy--meat and potatoes and (very overcooked) vegetables, with desserts rare except (in my family at least) on Sunday night but it was balanced and nutritious and not too much of it (way smaller servings). People also exercised much more. You HAD to walk to get places. I think the hair might have looked better in part not only because of less washing and less heat and products but also because of better eating and the exercise.

Can you say "Twiggy?!" People had "real" bodies until she became an icon. Then we all had to lose weight. I used to go to bed at night with the idea in my head that I was one of those "starving children" we kept hearing about and could not find food.

Our slenderness was not due to our good eating habits, but more to the discovery of severe dieting. Anorexia and bulimia began to become common during this period, as well.

I was 5'6" and weighed 100# and still thought I was fat - we became walking skeletons.

Also, there were more mothers at home during that period, so homecooked meals had a tendency to appear on the table and were also more complete and better balanced because the women had the time.

Now there are more mothers working - either out of necessity or desire - and they don't have the time or energy to spend hours in the kitchen having put in 8-10 hours on an outside job all day. The kids are all involved in their activities, there's really no one to help out that much at home, so parents do what they can to provide a good family home life.

We don't have sidewalks in many parts of this town, but everyone still walks to do shopping, library, or just plain exercise. It's beautiful here, people get out to enjoy it.

[In2wishin]

I had a couple of friends in the '70's who slept on oj cans in order to get that big - though more straight than curled - look. Imagine how great their sleep must have been....

There was plenty of hairspray around. You couldn't do that Farrah fringe without glue, and people would put lemon juice or peroxide on their hair and then go sit in the sun to get the blonde streaks they wanted.

We were coming off the Peace & Love Hippy movement, where everything was natural (even the drugs?), so there was that attitude carried over into the '70's.

Actually, it seems to me that the mid-to-late '60's were more natural than were the '70's. My entire perspective on that period is one of civil strife and protesting. A very, very depressing period in history.... But with nice hair.

It seems that our decades are really 5 years off. "The 60's" were really mid 60's to mid 70's. The early 60's was still beehive sprayed hair, Dippity Do (remember that stuff?) pageboys and flips, etc. Late 70's ushered in the disco hair. In between was the mostly natural long hippy hair.

[In2wishin]

I must have been living in a parallel universe, or something, for I don't recall everybody enjoying themselves. The Viet Nam War didn't end until the early '70's, so there was that horror and the protests it launched continuing.

I was finishing high school and we were picking our colleges based on which ones had the fewest on-campus demonstrations. My high school student council burned the American flag on the front lawn of the school during sprinig break, for godsakes.

Which brings on the business of the fight for women's rights, which is now taking a dash back into caveman days. Let's not forget Watergate and the fall of Nixon.

There was a lot of burning going on back there: flags, bras and draft notices.

Hair sort of seemed a secondary minor diversion. I washed mine every morning with Prell - what the family used - it dried naturally and I pretty much ignored it. It was hip length.

Guess I was overly sensitive, or something, but I don't recall the everybody having fun... :o(

I grew up in small town Wisconsin, 30 minutes north of Madison, and we had fun. Even with so much bad happening, there was a sense that the individual had a voice and could change things; and that a large group of individuals could be a powerful force. We had a sit-in protest in 6th grade ('67-'68 school year) and it actually worked! The school didn't make the change they proposed. The University of Wisconsin in Madison was one of the national hotbeds of the antiwar protests so we felt inspired.

It seems like the mid 70's (end of the war, Watergate, etc) started a period of burnout where the superficial became important (how else can we explain disco?)

[JCM]

http://chipsreunion.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/officialreunionphoto1.jpg

In somewhat related 1970s news...
Recently there was a 35th reunion for the CHiPs tv show and guess who was a no show?
The reunion was planned several months in advance and that person still did not take some time out of their schedule to attend.
This missing person was a very integral part of the original program.
I guess he had more important things on his agenda.

[Kyaatje]

LOL I was reading this thread out of curiosity not thinking it would be something I could relate to .... and then you mention CHIPs !
Well as I was born in '68 I did manage to pick up some 70s vibes apparently LOL

[spidermom]

I remember it as a time of innocence in a way - we actually thought that love and music could change the world.

[Kyaatje]

I think it depends on your environment and your age though. I remember my mom looking a bit down on 'hippies' although she was 23 when I was born, so she should have had a bit of the vibe. But she took the clothing and the hairstyle, but she was brought up in an environment where people were supposed to take responsibility and so on. But my husband is slightly younger then my mother (7 years I think) and he remembers it as a time of protest and roaming around with a backpack and so on.
I always had the impression that the 60s where everybody is referencing to was actually '68 till '74 or something and then the 70s starting also around 75 or so.
For me I remember the bellpipe jeans and the indian inspired tops, my hair was long until I was 6 I think, with the typical hippy look (cute in a 6 year old LOL).
But I remember the 80s more since I was 12 when they started and I remember the short punky hair with colours and soap in my hair to keep the look and then later on the perms ! (shudder LOL)

[gonzobird]

Meryl Streep in Manhattan. thats all I have to say.

Bak then, you only colored your hair if it was going grey. Not all the time like people do now. It will be a year in March since Ive colored my hair, and omg. Its grown crazy fast, its thicker and stronger and shiner then ever and very Meryl Streep. 70's people did have better hair. Less is more.

[ravenreed]

I am fairly certain that bleach blond was a thing, even then...


Meryl Streep in Manhattan. thats all I have to say.

Bak then, you only colored your hair if it was going grey. Not all the time like people do now. It will be a year in March since Ive colored my hair, and omg. Its grown crazy fast, its thicker and stronger and shiner then ever and very Meryl Streep. 70's people did have better hair. Less is more.

[chen bao jun]

I had a couple of friends in the '70's who slept on oj cans in order to get that big - though more straight than curled - look. Imagine how great their sleep must have been....

There was plenty of hairspray around. You couldn't do that Farrah fringe without glue, and people would put lemon juice or peroxide on their hair and then go sit in the sun to get the blonde streaks they wanted.

We were coming off the Peace & Love Hippy movement, where everything was natural (even the drugs?), so there was that attitude carried over into the '70's.

Actually, it seems to me that the mid-to-late '60's were more natural than were the '70's. My entire perspective on that period is one of civil strife and protesting. A very, very depressing period in history.... But with nice hair.

The last two paragraphs here sum up my general memories of from about 1968-1975. I had a good time in those years because I was a teenager with no cares other than getting good grades in school. But even as a teenager I felt it was a pretty scary period. Like most, I was not a hippy nor involved in protests and had a general sort of feeling that the world was coming apart at the seams, because things had seemed so stable and quiet pre-Kennedy assassination. Anyway, I don't want to go on about politics and history, just to say that what I agreed with about thread is that the hair was great then, because it was natural and healthy. And the movies look great because of the same reason--little makeup and natural good looks. I tend to like natural beauty, which is probably why I like this forum. I would be somewhere else if I admired the very manipulated and artificial and enhanced look which seems more prevalent now. Though its everyone's right to look the way they want, I think it's also my right to (privately) prefer natural looks, which are very seventies.

[MermaidTresses]

My hair is super soft and shiny since I don't use any styling "products", blow dryer, curling/straightening irons, etc.

Modern women are EXPECTED to have tortured hair. Long, natural hair tends to be discouraged and you're supposed to chemically treat/heat style it within an inch of his life. If you want it shiny, there's a PRODUCT for that. /sarcasm

**this is so true and I couldn't agree more!**

[AnqeIicDemise]

http://chipsreunion.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/officialreunionphoto1.jpg

In somewhat related 1970s news...
Recently there was a 35th reunion for the CHiPs tv show and guess who was a no show?
The reunion was planned several months in advance and that person still did not take some time out of their schedule to attend.
This missing person was a very integral part of the original program.
I guess he had more important things on his agenda.

If your'e referring to Eric Estrada he's even alienated the Latin American fans after his most famous Mexican Drama, Dos Mujeres, Un Camino. From what I understand he was a major diva too. Kind of sad, because I had a crush on the dude in the early 90s (I watched a lot of CHIPS. I adore the uniform and am sort of glad that the LAPD has kept the style pretty in tact to this day.)

[long&blonde]

I was 16 in 1970.
I was 15 when I first started lightening my golden brown hair with sun-in, both out in the sun, where I'd lay out to tan, and indoors with the hairdryer.
My hair went to complete platinum blonde, with nothing but sun-in.
My whole family went grey early, I recall seeing an occasional natural snow white root at 19.
Maybe that's why Just sun-in so easily took my brown hair platinum.
I discovered nice & easy permanent hair dye, and was trying all of the blonde shades, dying my hair at the least once a month, throughout the 70s.
I washed my hair and blew it dry daily. I wouldn't touch hairspray.
I did have a thing for the "crimping iron" when it was out.
I had thick long bangs, and would blow my bsl hair dry straight,all falling forward around my face, I had face framing layers too.
I never got into makeup.
I really feel that is my real heritage from the 70s,my feeling women look better without makeup, and my love for long hair.
I was a "flower child."
Now gone to seed, lol.

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Here is my 70's hair:

http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh582/Sarahlabyrinth/hairphotosAug2012030.jpg

[JCM]

LOL I was reading this thread out of curiosity not thinking it would be something I could relate to .... and then you mention CHIPs !
Well as I was born in '68 I did manage to pick up some 70s vibes apparently LOL

CHiPs was shown on tv in Belgium?

[Kyaatje]

Yes it was :-)
But I think it was early 80s ? Not to sure I'm not to good with dates and ages ;-)

[JCM]

If your'e referring to Eric Estrada he's even alienated the Latin American fans after his most famous Mexican Drama, Dos Mujeres, Un Camino. From what I understand he was a major diva too. Kind of sad, because I had a crush on the dude in the early 90s (I watched a lot of CHIPS. I adore the uniform and am sort of glad that the LAPD has kept the style pretty in tact to this day.)

Are you Latin American?
The reason I ask is because most people do not know he was on a television show in Mexico.
Most people know him from his acting work in the United States.

[JCM]

http://img1.findthebest.com/sites/default/files/478/media/images/MTVs_The_70s_House_1.jpg

A few years ago there was a reality show on Mtv where the participants had to style their hair, wear clothing, listen to music, drive cars and use electronic/appliance technology from the 1970s. Nothing past 1979 was allowed.

[AnqeIicDemise]

Si señorita! :D I really got irritated wit his character in that novela and I got even more irritated with him as an actor when he started that stupid feud with one of the co stars then decided to do no-shows at several appearances. Stupid. -.-

But, but.. u.. 70s hair, Daniela Romo and Lucero had amazing hair, well into the 80s and even 2000s. I dont' know what Lucero did but I know Daniela cut a bit of hair off but its still long. -pause- oh, bummer, Lucero went shoulder length at some point!

Now that I think about it, she's more 80s than anything else, but still. Here's a shot of her in 1979

http://lareinadecorazones.com/wp-content/gallery/cache/6261__568x428_lucero42dp7.png

And while I know this is from 1983, Daniela was an adult by then. I'm sure she was stuck on a 70s routine

http://files.myopera.com/DavidRosas/albums/961542/thumbs/3.jpg_thumb.jpg

[TheHowlingWolf]

http://img1.findthebest.com/sites/default/files/478/media/images/MTVs_The_70s_House_1.jpg

A few years ago there was a reality show on Mtv where the participants had to style their hair, wear clothing, listen to music, drive cars and use electronic/appliance technology from the 1970s. Nothing past 1979 was allowed.

Woah that would be way cool!!!!! lol I would totally be on that show!

[JCM]

Si señorita! :D I really got irritated wit his character in that novela and I got even more irritated with him as an actor when he started that stupid feud with one of the co stars then decided to do no-shows at several appearances. Stupid. -.-

But, but.. u.. 70s hair, Daniela Romo and Lucero had amazing hair, well into the 80s and even 2000s. I dont' know what Lucero did but I know Daniela cut a bit of hair off but its still long. -pause- oh, bummer, Lucero went shoulder length at some point!

Now that I think about it, she's more 80s than anything else, but still. Here's a shot of her in 1979

http://lareinadecorazones.com/wp-content/gallery/cache/6261__568x428_lucero42dp7.png

And while I know this is from 1983, Daniela was an adult by then. I'm sure she was stuck on a 70s routine

http://files.myopera.com/DavidRosas/albums/961542/thumbs/3.jpg_thumb.jpg

Yes I have heard Eric is quite a difficult person to get along with.
My father was a huge Daniela fan and my mother did not like that at all.
I think my mother is still bitter about that.

I am not a senorita. I am a guy. LOL

[JCM]

Woah that would be way cool!!!!! lol I would totally be on that show!

The inside of the house was like stepping into a real life time machine. I think there are still some pictures of it on Mtv's website.

[AnqeIicDemise]

Woops! Color me confused! I've been accustomed to seeing women with long hair. Darned social conditioning. On the plus side, that means you have an amazing head of hair. (eta, not that men don't, let alone men of LHC. swear to the gods, some of the men in this forum have me green with envy. )

ps: my mom was jealous of Daniela too for a while...then she got won over by the woman's sweet charms. She's such a sweetie.

[AnqeIicDemise]

Oooh.. 'Men of LHC'.. I now smell a fundraiser focusing on the most attractive heads of masculine hair about these forums. While most fundraiser calendars are about pin up ladies and their frontal goods, this calendar would be all about the back of men's heads.. rawr!

[spirals]

In honor of this thread, I'm watching Dazed and Confused. Rory Cochrane with waist-length hair, BTW.

[HikerTrash]

I was in elementary school in the early 70s. I had great hair then. Long, thick, wavy, blond. Then I got the Dorothy Hamil haircut. Didn't work out so good for me. Then Farah became popular so I got feathers and a curling iron. I ended up with these rolls down the side of my face that looked ridiculous and then would stick out straight by the time I rode my bike to Jr. High in the fog. So humiliating. I grew it back out long again in High School and turned it blond with salt water at the beach. We did lemon juice and sun-in sometimes too. By then it was the 80s and hair had to be big. I permed my long hair once and it was awesome. It never took a perm ever again after that, though. Now it won't even take a curl from hot rollers and even braid waves will disappear in a couple of hours.

[EdG]

Oooh.. 'Men of LHC'.. I now smell a fundraiser focusing on the most attractive heads of masculine hair about these forums. While most fundraiser calendars are about pin up ladies and their frontal goods, this calendar would be all about the back of men's heads.. rawr!I jokingly suggested that one of our past meet photos could be titled "Men of LHC". :silly:

The calendar idea is intriguing because it breaks several gender stereotypes, all at once. Add the caption "We're not here to decorate your world!" and we'll have 99% of the population (outside of this board) utterly perplexed. :lol:
Ed

[Wildcat Diva]

LOL (characters)

[Astraea]

Sarahlabyrinth and Spidermom, your 70s pictures are simply divine!:heart: They brought back a lot of fond childhood and teen memories for me, thank you...

[Kelli Kat]

I had BSL hair in the mid-70's and short disco hair in the late 70's. I remember using two different shampoos back then, Body On Tap, which supposedly had beer in it and Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific. I don't remember if I used a creme rinse.

[AnqeIicDemise]

I jokingly suggested that one of our past meet photos could be titled "Men of LHC". :silly:

The calendar idea is intriguing because it breaks several gender stereotypes, all at once. Add the caption "We're not here to decorate your world!" and we'll have 99% of the population (outside of this board) utterly perplexed. :lol:
Ed


I like this plan! I'd volunteer to photograph but I am not a professional.

[Fethenwen]

Loving this thread!

I have also wondered why people in the 60-70's had such gorgeous thick and shiny hair :) Now I know!

[catamonica]

The 60's & 70's hair was beautiful. I think women did use less product. I only use olive oil & stopped dyeing my hair.

[dollyfish]

I jokingly suggested that one of our past meet photos could be titled "Men of LHC". :silly:

The calendar idea is intriguing because it breaks several gender stereotypes, all at once. Add the caption "We're not here to decorate your world!" and we'll have 99% of the population (outside of this board) utterly perplexed. :lol:
Ed


Just jumping in to say that a "Men of LHC" calendar would be AMAZING. Maybe a site fundraiser or something?? I don't know. *I* would buy one :)

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Hey, we SHOULD have an LHC calendar! I would buy one!

[EdG]

Just jumping in to say that a "Men of LHC" calendar would be AMAZING. Maybe a site fundraiser or something?? I don't know. *I* would buy one :)
Hey, we SHOULD have an LHC calendar! I would buy one!It's a fun idea, but it won't happen because even a G-rated calendar would be bought for the wrong reasons (by people who aren't members of this board).
Ed

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Then couldn't we restrict sales to members only? Or wouldn't there be some way to just have LHC'ers buy them?
ETA: If the subjects of the photos didn't feel comfortable with possible uses of said calendar, they could opt out of being in the calendar...There must be SOME way to work things, I think an LHC calendar is a FAB idea!

ETA again: Certainly I am thinking only of back - of - head shots of fully clothed people, no one would be identifiable....

ETA yet again: I don't think we would need a professional photographer either, we are all pretty practised at doing hair photos, lol.

[EdG]

Maybe the best way to do this is to start a "Men and Women of LHC" thread on the meet reports board. Every month, people could add their photos along with the month's calendar.

I used to make calendars every year back when computer calendars were novel. They featured computer-generated art. :D
Ed

[Sarahlabyrinth]

This sounds pretty interesting, can you explain more about how it would work, EdG?

[AnqeIicDemise]

Heads of lhc then? Bwuahaha

[EdG]

We need a calendar template (I see several on-line). It has to be freely distributable without copyright restrictions. I can always make a template if we can't find a suitable one.

A member adds his/her photo to the template and posts it to the thread.

That's it!

Normal LHC rules apply. This is similar to the "Hairstyle of the Month" thread, except that it includes a calendar and pokes a bit of fun at another type of pin-up calendar by being completely G-rated. :D
Ed

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Well it sounds like a lot of fun and I think we should do it :)

[EdG]

I think this is a good idea and wouldn't be very different from the other photo threads.

Plus, I'll be able to joke that I once was "Mr. October." :bigeyes:
Ed

[ArienEllariel]

lol that sounds great!

[EdG]

I started the thread. We'll see how it goes. http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=109788
Ed

[bobaerose]

When i click of the link it does not allow me to see ?

[Siiri]

When i click of the link it does not allow me to see ?

That's because you need to have more than 100 posts to be able to view the community meet section:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=68519