70s Farrah Fawcett Hair: Why the Iconic Flip Still Matters

It’s 1976. You walk into a hair salon. You don’t even need to open your mouth to tell the stylist what you want. They already know. In fact, everyone in the waiting room wants the exact same thing: the "Farrah."

We're talking about 70s Farrah Fawcett hair, that golden, feathered explosion of volume that defined a decade and eventually sold 12 million posters. It wasn't just a haircut; it was a cultural earthquake. Even now, decades later, when someone says "70s hair," your brain instantly flashes to those sun-kissed wings.

But honestly, most people get the history wrong. They think she just woke up like that. They think it was all natural. It really wasn't.

The Secret Origin of the Flip

Everyone loves a good origin story, and this one has some serious salon drama. While Farrah Fawcett became the face of the look on Charlie’s Angels, she didn’t just invent it in her bathroom.

Two heavy hitters in the hair world, Allen Edwards and José Eber, have spent years essentially duking it out over who gets the credit. Edwards claims he gave her the cut in 1974, two years before she hit the big time. He says long hair wasn’t even popular then—everyone was still doing the blunt, flat thing. He took a pair of shears, went aggressive with the layering, and boom: the first long-layered look was born.

Eber, on the other hand, was Farrah’s close friend and long-time stylist. He claims he was the one who truly refined the "feather." The drama got so real that Edwards once admitted he basically kicked Farrah out of his shop because she kept going back to Eber.

Why 70s Farrah Fawcett Hair Was Actually Revolutionary

Before Farrah, hair was... stiff. Think about the early 70s or the late 60s. You had the Twiggy pixie or the blunt Cher-style straightness. It was all very geometric and controlled.

Then came Farrah. Her hair moved. It bounced. It looked like she’d just spent a day at the beach, even though it actually took an hour and a half with a blow dryer and a round brush to get it to stay that way. It represented a shift toward a "sporty" kind of glamour. It was the era of the California Cool—high-waisted jeans, a red swimsuit, and hair that looked like it was catching a permanent breeze.

👉 See also: Keyshia Cole Red Hair Color: Why This Shade Still Dominates R\&B Fashion

It also changed how we cut hair. Stylists had to learn how to "feather" the ends, cutting at an angle so the hair would naturally flick away from the face. If you get it wrong, you just look like you have a bad mullet. If you get it right, you get that iconic frame that makes your cheekbones pop.

How to Get the Look (The Modern Way)

If you're trying to recreate 70s Farrah Fawcett hair today, you have it way easier than people did in 1977. Back then, they were using massive Vidal Sassoon blow dryers that weighed five pounds and enough Aqua Net to create a localized weather system.

Here is the "real talk" on how to do it without looking like you're wearing a costume:

1. The Cut is Everything. You cannot fake this with a one-length bob. You need heavy, face-framing layers starting around the chin. Ask for a "shag" or a "butterfly cut" if your stylist is Gen Z—it's basically the same thing.
2. Clean Canvas. 70s hair lives and dies by volume. If your hair is oily, it’s going to go flat in twenty minutes. Use a clarifying shampoo first.
3. The "Blow-Curl" Technique. This is what Allen Edwards claims to have invented. You don't just blow dry; you blast the hair while it's wrapped around a medium-sized round brush, then let it cool in that position.
4. Heat is Your Friend. Use a 1.25-inch curling iron if the round brush is too much work. The key? Always curl away from your face. Every single piece.
5. The Flip and Shake. This is the part people skip. Once your hair is curled and cooled, flip your head upside down. Shake it out like you’re at a Van Halen concert. Flip back up. Use your fingers—never a brush—to place the "wings."

Why It Won't Stay in the Past

We see versions of this look every few years. The "Rachel" in the 90s was just a shorter, tamer Farrah. The "TikTok Butterfly Cut" is literally just Farrah hair with better lighting.

The reason 70s Farrah Fawcett hair keeps coming back is simple: it's incredibly flattering. Those outwards-facing "flicks" draw the eye up and out, acting like a non-surgical facelift. It highlights the eyes and defines the jaw.

It also represents a kind of freedom. There’s something deeply satisfying about hair that isn't "perfect." In a world of filtered, ultra-shiny, flat-ironed hair, the messy, voluminous chaos of the 70s feels more human. It's supposed to look a little wild.

Actionable Tips for Keeping the Volume

If you’ve managed to achieve the flip, the next battle is making sure it doesn't collapse by lunchtime.

• Ditch the heavy oils. Use a lightweight volumizing mousse instead.
• Velcro rollers are a cheat code. If you don't have time for a full blowout, put three large Velcro rollers at the top of your head while you do your makeup.
• Dry texture spray > Hairspray. 70s hair needs to move. Traditional hairspray makes it crunchy. A dry texture spray gives it that "grit" to stay up without the stiffness.

If you’re ready to commit, start by booking a consultation with a stylist who understands "internal weight removal." That’s the technical term for thinning out the layers so they actually have the lightness to flip. Don't just show them a picture of Farrah—show them a picture of the "modern shag" to ensure you get a version that works with today's products.

Next Steps:

• Check your layers: If your shortest layer is below your shoulder, the Farrah flip won't work. Get a trim that starts the layering at the jawline.
• Invest in a 1.25-inch curling iron: This is the "Goldilocks" size—not too tight, not too loose.
• Practice the "away from face" motion: It feels counter-intuitive at first, but it’s the only way to get the signature 70s wings.