Hippie Hair

An outfit, no matter how good looking it is, will never “doo” without the proper hair if you want to successfully recreate the look of a certain person or the style of a different era. Other things, like jewelry, shoes, hairstyle and make-up have a significant contribution to the overall success of the disguise. This is why, when choosing a hippie costume for Halloween or other theme parties you will also have to pay great attention to details. By far the most important accessory of the hippie era was the hair (hey, they made a musical from it!), so let’s see how you can style your coiffure to complement your hippie costume.

For women

Long hair was the main characteristic of hippie looks, so if you have long hair it will be easier for you to get the hippie look in a few minutes, using the hairstyling products you have in your home. There are at least three main directions in which you can go when choosing a hippie style.

The neglected look – It is not a secret to anyone that hippies washed their hair and left it to dry naturally, without using styling products or heat. Thus, you can simply wash your hair and leave it to dry without any further interference. You will have fuzzy hair that will help you acquire a neglected, careless look, perfect for a hippie. While this is the simplest alternative, it is also one of the rarely used ones (partly because women love complicated hairstyling processes and partly because many women feel like they should look good even when trying to look neglected – you know who you are!)

Wavy hair – Another hippie hair direction you can take is the wave hair. You need a waving iron and some hair clips to keep your hair in place while dealing with small locks of hair. Just apply the waving iron on each and every lock of hair, starting with the ones on the bottom and ending with the ones on top. Then make a part in the center of your head and add a tie-dye scarf or bandana for a complete hippie look. Apply some hairspray if you want the look to last longer. This is a more polished look that will help you achieve that carefully planned “neglected” look that will highlight all your best features.

Braided hair - The third direction to go is styling your hair in braids. You can part your hair in two and make two symmetrical braids or you can make smaller braids and combine them with one of the above described hairstyles. Use beads, flowers and leather straps to add a more hippie feel to your braids, and do not forget about the hippie headbands.

Of course, if you have short hair, you can easily don one of many hippie wigs.

For men

Long hair is also a must for hippie men. Yet, this may be a little difficult as there are not as many men with long hair as women. If you still have the intention to become a hippie for Halloween, then you have two alternatives: either let your hair grow as soon as you can and transform your look until the party, or simply buy a wig. There is also the third option: to wear extensions, but I do not think there will be too many men willing to spend so much time in a hair saloon, not even for a party! So, the long wig will certainly be the best alternative for men with short hair.

The good part with the wig is that you can style the hair in almost any way you want without worrying about burning the hair strands or damage the hair follicles in any way. Here’s a couple styles:

Long mop-top – the mop top, famous due to the Beatles’ haircut, gradually grew longer as the 60′s wore on.

Long unkempt – Grow it as long as possible, part it in the middle, and you’re done! Add a bandana too.

Bowl-style – Put a bowl on your head and cut around, leaving long bangs and the hair in the back untouched. This look was made famous by Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones.

Afro – Afros may look more like a 70′s symbol, but they actually “grew out” of hippie culture. Jimi Hendrix was one of the first musicians to grow his hair out.

Braids, headbands, leather straps and beads were also common for men, so let your imagination go wild for this hairstyle. Don’t forget to grow a beard or mustache!

So, remember: beads, headbands, flowers (especially for women) and long hair are a must if you want to have a perfect hippie hairstyle that will perfectly complement your flower power outfit!