How To Style Groovy ‘70s Disco Hair for Your Next Halloween Costume

What You’ll Need for ‘70s Halloween Costume Hair

A disco diva hairstyle is easy to achieve with the right tools and styling products on hand. You’ll typically need:

• A large paddle brush
• Bobby pins or duckbill clips
• A two-inch curling iron
• A clip-in hairpiece (optional)
• Styling products, like mousse, hairspray, and heat protectant

How To Style ‘70s Disco Hair in 5 Easy Steps

Step 1: Prep your hair

First, you’ll want to wash your hair before styling. Since XXL volume is the goal of this look, we recommend prepping damp hair with a hair mousse to help hold your style without weighing it down. Among our favorite formulas is Redken’s Stay High Mousse, which boasts the holding power of a gel with the thickening power of a mousse. It also provides up to 24 hours of volume with maximum hold, which is exactly what you need to pull off disco hair.

Dispense the recommended amount of mousse per the packaging label, then emulsify it in your hands until the clear gel turns into a cushiony foam. Apply it section by section to damp hair, focusing on the roots, then comb through to distribute before blow-drying with a round brush.

If you need to style your ‘70s costume hair on an unwashed mane, that’s okay, too—natural oils actually create grip, which can help your hair better hold a curl. Just refresh your roots with a few spritzes of Redken Deep Clean Dry Shampoo, then mist Redken One United Leave-In Conditioner through your lengths to help detangle your hair and protect it from heat. Brush through your mane with a large paddle brush to help remove any knots before you start curling.

Step 2: Curl your hair

Once you’ve prepped your hair, it’s time to create your voluminous curls. As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the barrel, the larger the curl, which is why we suggest opting for a wider, two-inch curling iron. Wrap one-inch sections of hair around the barrel as you twirl the tool up and away from your face. Try getting as close to the root as possible with your curling iron without burning your scalp.

Step 3: Let your curls cool

Release each section of hair from the iron, then roll the curl back up to the top of your head and pin it in place. This trick helps shape and hold your curls while you finish styling the rest of your hair. Once you curl and pin your hair, let your strands cool completely before moving on to the next step.

Step 4: Set and perfect your curls

Release your curls from the pins and gently brush through them for a looser finish. Flip your head upside down, then liberally mist Matrix’s Vavoom Triple Freeze Extra Dry throughout your hair, paying extra attention to your roots. This high-hold, fast-drying hairspray works to give tremendous volume, body, and manageability to your style. You can also spray the formula onto a large paddle brush and gently sweep it through each curl to help tame flyaways. For added shine and humidity protection, finish your ‘do with Mizani Thermasmooth Shine Extend Anti-Humidity Spritz.

Credits: @Redken and @seangodard

Step 5: Add the perfect ‘70s touches

It wouldn’t be a true ‘70s hairstyle without feathered bangs. Head to our article, Feathered Hair Is Back: How To Make The Trend Work For You, to learn how to style chic, windswept curtain bangs. If you’re not ready to commit to feathered bangs for the long haul, clip-in extensions are a great way to add a temporary fringe to your look.

Now that you’ve mastered 1970s disco diva hair, perfect your costume with a long, sparkly dress and hoop earrings before heading out the door.

Next Up: These 10 Halloween Hair Accessories Transform Any Outfit Into a Spooky Costume

Looking for more personalized Halloween styling advice? Use our salon locator to book an appointment at a salon near you.

Header photo credits: @redken and @seangodard