The 1960s saw the onset of a counterculture revolution, with accepted social norms in every realm from music to film to fashion being challenged and re-written. Slowly, the bouffants, pompadours and poodle cuts that reigned over the previous decade were replaced by more exaggerated, edgier hairstyles.

Hairstyles of American students in the 1960s

Hair became a symbolic representation of social change as women opted for shorter cuts and men grew out their hair to lengths previously considered unacceptable. Variety encompassed the decade, with a whole host of styles moving swiftly in and out of fashion over the years.

Take a look at these lovely portrait photos from PatricksMercy to see what hairstyles of American students looked like in the 1960s.

Central high senior with short sassy haircut, 1962

Stylish haircut in 1962 at Mercy High School in Red Bluff, California

Beautiful beehive hairstyle on student, St. Benedict High School in Chicago, 1964

Beautiful beehive hairstyle on student, St. Benedict High School in Chicago, 1964

Hairstyle fashion at Immaculate Heart High School, Los Angeles, CA, 1964

Immaculate Heart High School, Los Angeles, CA student with glamor hair in 1964

Immaculate Heart HS, Los Angeles, CA student with stylish hair design, 1964

Lovely beehive set hairstyle, St. Benedict High School in Chicago, 1964

Providence High School senior with modern teen hair design with a flip, 1964

Providence High School, Burbank, CA senior with a fabulous flip hairdo, 1964

Beehive hairstyle design on graduate of Mount Saint Mary’s College in Los Angeles, CA 1965

Student senior with beautiful hair design in 1965

Student senior with fine hair design beehive with a fall in 1965

Student senior with latest hairstyle in 1965

Student senior with stylish hair design fabulous flip in 1965

Beautiful hairstyle on graduate of Mount Saint Mary’s College in Los Angeles, CA, 1966

Fancy hairstyle on Central Catholic senior, 1966

Student with glamor bob haircut, Seattle, WA, 1966

Student with her mod hair design, 1966

Student with pretty hairstyle and pretty eyes, 1966

Student with short and sassy hair, Seattle, WA, 1966

1967 flip hairdo on a student of Sacred Heart High School

Beautiful hair design on student at Archbishop Walsh High School, Irvington, New Jersey, 1967

High school senior with her big hair back combed, 1967

Lovely haircut on student at Archbishop Walsh High School, Irvington, New Jersey, 1967

Student with 1967 hairdo at Nazareth Academy, 1967

Student with a 1967 hairstyle at Assumption High school

Student with beautiful short haircut with braids on top at Archbishop Walsh High School, Irvington, New Jersey, 1967

Student with beehive hair design, San Diego, CA, 1967

Student with lovely bubble haircut at Archbishop Walsh High School, Irvington, New Jersey, 1967

Student with Sassoon style undercut bob hair design at Archbishop Walsh High School, Irvington, New Jersey, 1967

Student with short sassy hair at Archbishop Walsh High School, Irvington, New Jersey, 1967

Holy Names High School, Oakland, CA student with 1968 hairdo

Lovely student with flip hairstyle in 1968

Student with beehive hairstyle at Bishop Conaty High School, Los Angeles, CA, 1968

Student with flip hairstyle in 1968

Student with her Sassoon type haircut at Bishop Conaty, Los Angeles, CA, 1968

1969 senior portrait with a flip hairstyle

High school senior at Mount Assisi Academy with back combed hair, 1969

Lovely student with short bob hairstyle in 1969