Why did Loni Anderson’s hair look like a helmet?

Exhibit A

She came of age in the 60's. You either had long, straight "flower child" hair back then, or went the Aquanet, cocktail waitress route.

Interesting that she didn't hit it big til her mid-thirties:

"Her acting debut came with a bit part in the film Nevada Smith (1966), starring Steve McQueen. After that, she went virtually unemployed as an actress for nearly a decade, before she finally began achieving guest roles on episodic television series in the mid-1970s. She appeared in two episodes of S.W.A.T., and later appeared on the sitcom Phyllis, as well as the detective series Police Woman and Harry O. In 1978, she guest-starred as Susan Walters on a season two episode of the popular sitcom Three's Company, after auditioning well but not winning the role of Chrissy at the start of the series. Her appearance on the show brought her to the attention of the ABC network.

Anderson's most famous acting role came as the sultry receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982)."

I liked her character on WKRP but only because she seemed in on the joke that she portrayed. When she continued on that way, I thought she must have either had no forehead or that she had such a terrible scar it couldn't be improved with plastic surgery.

I always thought Jan Smithers was far more attractive.

OP, 40-50 years ago hair styles were different for women and men. Today's styles don't look much better. I see many that I want to offer to buy them a brush.

R4 Jan was beautiful.

Farrah didn’t have helmet hair!

Okay fine.

Jan Smithers was much prettier than Loni Anderson. Loni Anderson hasn’t changed her hairstyle since the 1970s. She’s now plugging “Life Alert”for the elderly. Her next gig might be Depends diapers...

Jan was married to James Brolin before Babs got her hands on him. She must have received a sweet divorce settlement because I don't think she ever worked again.