12 Worst 70s Beauty Trends to Never Revive
While some vintage 70s beauty trends are staging a subtle comeback, many shocking fads from that era deserve to remain buried in history. The 1970s exploded with bold experimentation in fashion and beauty, featuring glitter-packed makeup, vibrant colors, and daring hairstyles. Icons like Farrah Fawcett inspired millions, but not every look landed perfectly. Some created shimmery disasters or high-maintenance nightmares. Join us on a nostalgic yet cautionary trip through the weirdest 70s beauty trends that highlight why subtlety often wins. Have you spotted any of these in old photos?
1. Frosted eye shadow and metallic lips
Frosted eyeshadow popped up across decades, but the 70s version amplified its issues. Unlike today's smooth, subtle shades, these icy formulas creased quickly, puffed up eyelids, and gave a shimmery alien vibe. Metallic lipsticks aimed for futuristic flair yet often dried out lips, creating a cracked, unflattering finish. Beauty experts at Byrdie note that modern matte alternatives avoid these pitfalls while keeping the shine (byrdie.com/70s-makeup-trends). Tip: Opt for cream shadows for longevity without the frost fail.
2. Feathered hair
Not everyone could channel Farrah Fawcett's iconic feathered wings, but 70s folks tried relentlessly with curling irons, teasing, and heavy hairspray. Fresh from the salon, it flipped cutely, but humidity or time flattened it fast into a limp mess. According to Vogue's retro analysis, this high-effort style suited few face shapes and aged poorly (vogue.com/article/70s-hairstyles). Question: Would you endure the styling routine for that fleeting bounce?
3. Pencil-thin brows
Before thick, natural brows ruled, the 70s embraced ultra-thin arches plucked to near-nothingness. Seen as elegant then, over-plucking caused permanent sparse patches for many, as dermatologists warn today. Allure highlights how this trend led to tattoo fixes decades later (allure.com/story/thin-brows-70s). Pro tip: Use brow pencils to fill gaps gently—never tweeze beyond your natural line.
4. Mismatched lip liner
Lip liner had its moment, but 70s overuse meant dark outlines with pale lipstick for a jarring, unfinished contrast. Intended to plump lips, poor blending made mouths look harsh. Makeup artists recommend matching tones now for seamless fullness. Blend outward for that fuller pout without the shock value.
5. Shag haircuts
From rock stars to everyday wearers, the shag haircut promised messy-chic layers and bedhead coolness. Reality? Without constant products and styling, it turned frizzy and unflattering on most. Vogue archives confirm shags worked best on fine, straight hair (vogue.com/article/shag-haircut-history).
6. Glitter everywhere
Disco fever meant glitter bombed hair, lids, lips, cheeks, and outfits. Meant for glam, it stuck everywhere, creating a chaotic explosion over fairy dust. Byrdie advises setting sprays for controlled sparkle today (byrdie.com/disco-glitter-makeup).
7. Heavy blush
Unblended blush streaks in vivid pinks turned cheeks clownish, like a toddler's handiwork. The 70s skipped diffusion for drama, but experts stress blending upward for natural flush. Allure's tutorials fix this forever (allure.com/gallery/blush-mistakes).
8. Perms
Perms promised bouncy volume, but harsh chemicals fried hair into dry, frizzy disasters with uneven texture. Not universal, they damaged many ends permanently. Modern at-home kits are gentler, per Vogue (vogue.com/article/perm-trends-return).
9. Twiggy lashes
Twiggy's 60s lashes lingered into the 70s as clumpy mascara overload—spider-leg terror over doe-eyed charm. Layer lightly with mascara primer now to avoid clumps.
10. Headbands on the forehead
Boho low-slung headbands aimed for hippie ease but flattened roots, creased skin, and screamed forced. Higher placement keeps it carefree today.
11. Matching your eye shadow to your outfit
Exact color-matching eyeshadow to dresses in neon greens or blues screamed costume party, not chic. Subtle coordination flatters without overkill.
(yes the stray hair bothers me too 🫣) Yellow + Purple makeup inspo with a 70s nod 💛💜#70smakeup#70smakeuplook#cutemakeuplook
12. Bowl cut hair
Bowl cuts helmeted heads in the 70s as "low-maintenance modern," but they evoked awkward kid pics over style peaks. Face-framing layers redeem it slightly now—what's your take on reviving these 70s beauty trends?
