Who's stoked to finally be free of the dumpster fire that was 2020? Okay, that was harsh, but let's make this a safe space to admit that after a long, hard year of unprecedented times and one sucky circumstance after another, it feels good to have arrived at what feels like a fresh start. After such a wild 365 days, I have no doubt that our beauty choices will soon begin to exhibit our collective desire to shake off any residual bad vibes and adopt a brighter outlook, especially where our hair is concerned.
Last year's hair trends started out on one road but were quickly rerouted amid the mid-year lockdown that saw the entire populace going for extended periods between salon visits. What we thought would be a year of chic bobs, wispy bangs, and bold colors quickly descended into an era of scraggly lengths and more box dye than we care to admit. Super yikes.
It wasn't all bad, though, because caring for our own hair without the help of our trusted professionals inspired a lot of natural-texture acceptance and more low-maintenance routines in general. But as we transition into 2021, there's a whole lot more on the hair menu. To get the tea on the trends poised to dominate the year ahead, we went straight to the source to find out which looks top celebrity hairstylists expect to see most. Keep scrolling to find out the 10 biggest hair trends they're predicting will be huge in 2021.
If we learned anything in 2020, it's that being stuck in quarantine with a finicky haircut and no recourse for maintaining it is the absolute pits. Instead, Hounkpatin foresees women taking the path of least resistance when it comes to cuts, at least for a while. "If you want your hair to look effortless, you need to have a base. To me, that means a good haircut," he says. "When you have a beautifully shaped haircut that frames your face, honestly, you don’t need to do anything more no matter what texture you have." Yes, please.
In the event that you do find yourself dealing with an awkward cut or color grow-out, there are tons of trending hair accessories that will simply look like a fashion statement and not like a last-ditch effort to conceal foot-long roots. From the headscarves popping off on the cottagecore scene to '90s-inspired claw clips and more, there's a chic solution for everyone.