Few haircuts are as iconic as Farrah Fawcett‘s ’70s flip. When she first debuted the cut for a swimsuit campaign in 1976, the poster broke records, selling over 12 million copies. It made her hairstylist, Allan Edwards, famous and it helped her land the role as one of Charlie’s Angels.
Not bad for a haircut, right?
Her cut set the trend for millions of women at the time, with hair stylists inundated by requests for the feathery, voluminous cut. And… it’s doing the same again, nearly 50 years on.
Over on TikTok #70shair has 72.1 million views, mainly of of Gen Zers recreating flipped waves, while #FarrahFawcett has 24.7 million views all to herself – almost all of which relate to her hair.
Top celebs have been jumping on the trend, too. Actress Brie Larson lived out her ’70s dreams with a silky gravity defying flip.
And Ella Balinska – who’s incidentally one of the most recent actresses to don her wings as a Charlie’s Angel – shared her voluminous curls in an Insta post.
We asked experienced stylist, Nicole Cain at Toni & Guy Edinburgh, what all the fuss is about and how to recreate the style ourselves.
What makes the Farrah Fawcett flip so iconic?
Aside from the fact that this offers oomf, volume and sexy texture in spades, the style is pretty simple, says Nicole. “It’s actually a low-maintenance haircut because once the shape is cut into hair, it’s easy to style,” she says. Plus, big beautiful hair is always a good confidence boost.
What should you ask for in the salon if you want this cut?
“The Fawcett flicky bangs and layered cut is a simple cutting technique, called uniform layering, which we still use a lot in the salon today,” says Nicole. “We use this technique to create even layers throughout the haircut,” she adds.
“If your hair is fine, ask for a lightly layered haircut with a blunt bottom to create thickness and volume. For thick hair you’ll want more weight removed to soften the haircut and show off the texture,” says Nicole. To keep it sleek, “you want the layers to blend into the hair with no harsh lines,” she says. For something more rebellious, you can go a little more choppy.
“The perfect face-framing, swoopy bangs should be versatile so they can be worn in any parting. If the Fawcett bang is cut too short, it starts to look more like a full fringe, so be careful with the length,” says Nicole.
And, if you’re unsure about committing to swept bangs, you can trial the style first with some clip in bangs. “They can be cut in for you by your stylist and applied/removed with just a clip,” explains Nicole.
What are your top tips for styling the ’70s flip at home?
“Always use heat protector before drying or using any hot tools,” says Nicole who recommends Label M Protein Spray (£13.93) which can be used on wet or dry hair.
“In the salon we use a round brush and blowdryer to achieve the Fawcett look. But as a stylist myself even I struggle to blow-dry my own hair at home,” admits Nicole. “Heated rollers were the ultimate hot tool of the ’70s, and are making a come back,” she says, but for a modern update, “using a hot brush will give you the best results for a ’70s inspired look. A hot brush dries and styles at the same time and is like having your own personal hairstylist at home. Babyliss Big Hair hot brush (£45) or GHD Rise hot brush (£143.65) are very good.”
And, if you’re pushed for time, “the quickest method, if you want results fast, is to curl your hair away from your face more tightly than usual with your straighteners or tong. Leave out your bangs and turn them under towards you. Flip Your hair back and forward and find your parting. Take a large paddle brush and brush through to break up the ends,” says Nicole.
Last but not least, add volume. Nicole recommends Label M’s Volumising Texture Spray (£15.50) – “this is both a hairspray and dry shampoo all-in-one,” she says. “It’s a dry spray so it won’t make your hair look wet. Apply it through the roots and ends – this is when you can manipulate your bangs and decide how severe you want your flick to be.”
And remember, “this style is all about movement. So shake your hair and get your fingers in your roots to zhoosh it up and flick that hair!”
For more from GLAMOUR’s Deputy Beauty Editor, Elle Turner follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk.