The 1960s were a decade of revolution in fashion, in culture and especially in beauty. It was the era of Twiggy lashes, Brigitte Bardot eyeliner, Jackie Kennedy polish, and the rise of youth culture. But behind the iconic looks were real beauty tricks women used every day were clever, some questionable, all of which were un-forgettable.
Check out the 25 beauty secrets women actually used in the 1960s, some were extremely popular tricks, while others were not quite as popular but were still used.
1. White eyeliner to make eyes look bigger
Women lined their waterlines with stark white pencil to mimic the wide‑eyed mod look.
2. Vaseline as highlighter
Before highlighter existed, women dabbed Vaseline on cheekbones for a glossy glow.
3. Sleeping in rollers every night
Beauty sleep may have meant no sleep, women wore hard plastic rollers to bed for volume.
4. Teasing hair until it defied gravity
Backcombing was essential for bouffants, beehives, and Bardot volume.
5. Hairspray as the final step and the first
Women sprayed each layer of hair as they styled it. You may have heard of helmet hair? It was real.
6. Using baby powder as dry shampoo
An elevation to previous decades, baby powder became the new “it” product to be used as dry shampoo. A lifesaver between washes especially for teased hair that couldn’t get wet.
7. Drawing lower lashes with eyeliner
Inspired by Twiggy, women literally drew lashes under their eyes. If they weren’t applying false lashes on the bottom lash line as well as the top lash line. When Twiggy came onto the scene, she was the one to emulate.
8. Frosted lipstick in pale pinks and nudes
With the baby doll eyes trend exploding, the only natural thing that makes sense it to pair this bold eye look with 60s nude lips. As lips in the 1960s were icy, pastel and matte. Revlon’s “Pink Lightning” was iconic. Talk about the Mod era!
9. Blue eyeshadow for every occasion
From sky blue to turquoise, it was the decade’s most universal shade.
10. Liquid eyeliner flicks inspired by Brigitte Bardot
Women practiced their cat‑eye wings in the mirror like it was an Olympic sport. All thanks to Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra (1963) film that had exploded globally, except Ms. Taylor opted for khol pencil as opposed to liquid liner, simply because she didn’t like liquid liner; she hated it. Catch the full breakdown of Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra’s cat eye look here!
11. Sleeping with hair wrapped in toilet paper
By now, are you really surprised by women’s cleverness? To preserve a salon set, women wrapped curls in tissue overnight.
12. Using beer as a hair rinse
This hair rinse had become popular again as it was in the 1940s, the only difference is that this time around, skip the olive oil and lemon juice and go straight for the beer for a hair rinse. The proteins added shine and volume or so magazines promised.
13. Cold cream for everything
Cold cream remains as popular as it has ever been in previous decades. Using cold cream, such as Pond’s, specifically had remained the popular choice of brand. Make-up remover, moisturizer, cleanser — it’s a miracle in one jar!
14. Setting lotion before rollers
A sticky liquid combed through hair to help curls last for days.
15. False lashes for daytime
No longer were false lashes only to be worn at night, women wore full strips to the office, the grocery store, practically everywhere.
16. Lipstick as blush
A quick swipe on the cheeks blended into a rosy flush.
17. Sleeping on satin pillowcases
To protect teased hair and prevent frizz.
18. Using eyebrow pencils to create a straight,
mod brow
The 60s brow was flat, soft and youthful, the exact opposite of the 50s arch.
19. Homemade face masks with egg whites
For instant tightening before a date or party.
20. Lemon juice to lighten hair
Sun‑activated highlights, talk about the the original homemade balayage.
21. Pressing lashes between a spoon to curl them
Before lash curlers were common, women resorted to improvisation.
22. Using foundation several shades lighter
To create the pale, doll‑like complexion from actual dolls of the 60s, acting as inspiration in all aspects of the make-up design of the Mod 19´60s, which so happened to be popularized by Mod models.
23. Spraying perfume in hair, not on skin
Spray perfume on skin? That is so last decade! Scent lasted longer on teased, sprayed hair, after all.
24. Using sugar water as brow gel
A sticky but effective way to keep brows in place, since brow gel had not yet been invented.
25. Sleeping in full make-up
Before we knew that sleeping in full make-up caused dehydrated skin, immensely, amongst other skin issues, Sleeping in full make-up in the 1960s, when this knowledge and not yet reached the women of this decade, many women slept in their make-up to preserve their eyeliner and lashes.
The 1960s were the first decade where beauty became youth‑driven, experimental and accessible. Women weren’t just following rules, oh no, they were creating them. These tricks did not only serve as trends; they were part of a cultural shift toward self‑expression.
And many of those trends included but not limited to cat‑eye liner; dry shampoo (even though dry shampoo technically got its start in the 1940s wartime as practical option, it was in the 1960s when dry shampoo had elevated and exploded on to the scene; and glossy skin — all of which have been revised and sustained today. How many of you have used or still use any of these popular beauty trends today?
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading. Until next time!
do you feel fabulous today?
Face by Stace 