"This '60s mod look is timeless," says Hollywood, Calif,-based hair expert, Philip B. "The drawback to this retro hairstyle is that you have to commit to constant touchups — a trim every two weeks and you can't have any frizz." The stylist says it's best for those with medium-to-thick straight hair.
Keep it modern: "It's sculpted to play up a beautiful neck and cheekbones. It's also right in step with the revival of the color-blocking look in fashion." For the modern update, the cut has less volume than the original inspiration, which "makes the hairstyle sleeker and a little more gamine, I think," says Philip B. He adds that it's fun to pair this look with feminine clothes and makeup.
How to: Use a great conditioner, like Philip B. Oud Royal Forever Shine Conditioner, $85, to make the hair really soft and shiny. Blow dry with a paddle brush and then smooth on a touch of anti-frizz serum to keep the style looking really glossy and smooth.
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High ponytail bound twice
"This timeless, sexy look is really practical," says Philip B. Anyone can do it with a hair elastic and a couple of bobby pins." Even better, it's a very neutral and versatile style — it's equally great for work, the beach, or a big night out. Bonus? This retro pony works beautifully on unwashed hair."
Keep it modern: "Stick to minimal makeup and minimalist clothing," says Philip B.
How to: Brush your hair and pull it into a high ponytail. Smooth hair with a touch of gel and secure with an elastic. Brush out the ponytail, and add another elastic two inches down, and brush out the ponytail again. Finish by rubbing a dab of finishing cream between your palms and smoothing it over the ponytail to give it extra shine.
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Soft wavy bob with a low side part
This young Julie Christie or Charlotte Rampling hairstyle is "so romantic and kind of innocent," says Philip B. "It frames the face in a lovely way that draws attention to the mouth."
Keep it modern: Go for less structured waves by using hot rollers. "This is a terrific look if you're in your early 20s and wear minimal makeup," he says. "The side part is more extreme than how it used to be worn in order to create the lovely side-swept bangs. And again, this look is very touchable; the hair looks really healthy and glossy, not sprayed or helmet-like."
How to: Spray each 1-inch section of hair with two to three mists of hairspray and put it into a hair roller. When the rollers feel cool, let your hair down. Spray some dry shampoo at the crown, let it dry for a minute, then brush your hair out and shape it with your fingers.
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Long, Bardot-esque waves
Philip B. says these voluminous waves are flattering for all women — but especially for more petite types, which he says almost need big hair. "You need that volume and height at the crown to balance a small frame. It's a very sexy look."
Keep it modern: "Make sure your hair doesn't look sprayed. Use hot rollers and some dry shampoo at the crown to gently pump up the hair instead of teasing it. The touchable texture is the modern upgrade of this Brigitte Bardot blowout," says Philip B.
How to: The trick with this style is to use dry shampoo. Curl your hair with hot rollers. Then use the dry shampoo at the crown for lift and to make the style more manageable. Finish with a touch of hairspray for soft, touchable hold.
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Super short bangs
We loved them on Audrey Tautou in "Amelie" and Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday," and these cropped bangs are coming back into style with celebrities like Michelle Williams, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Penelope Cruz wearing them so well.
Keep it modern: Instead of wearing the fringe à la Audrey Hepburn with tailored, feminine clothes, Philip B. recommends pairing the bold fringe "with the '60s color-blocking and Edie Sedgwick trends that are also back in style."
How to: "This is a wonderful cut for playing up a beautiful face and swanlike neck. You can wear the bangs soft and piecey, sweep them to one side, or even secure them with a pretty little clip or bobby pin," says Philip B. A skinny headband can look really flattering and chic, too, like Michelle Williams did at the 2012 Golden Globes.
Let's play a little game: What comes to mind when you think of the 1920s, 1940s, and 1960s? If you think sleek bobs, pin curls, and bouncy blowouts, then you're just like us: hair-obsessed.
Sure we did great things in those decades, like winning World War II and landing on the moon. But it's the fabulous retro hairstyles that really stick in our heads. The bold geometric haircuts, scarf-tied updos, and finger-waves are timeless -- and to prove it, they're currently making a huge comeback.
Just as the '60s color-blocking trend and bug-eyed sunglasses are circling back into our fashion, the Bardot-esque curls and finger-wave updos are getting another go in the limelight -- with some gorgeous updates. Gone are the stiff, helmet-like ringlets and gravity-defying beehives. Instead we have touchable waves, romantic texture, and piecey bangs.
So, try these styles before the trend becomes history (again). We grabbed the most stunning retro hairstyles from Pinterest and asked experts to weigh in on how to wear them without looking like we got caught in a bad time warp. See how to update the prettiest retro styles to look chic and trendy now.
