2024 is coming to a close, which is leaving us feeling reflective. This year has been a whirlwind of excitement: from exciting new product launches to growing educational opportunities for pros to expand their skill sets and emerging new hair trends that celebrate embracing your inner beauty. We want to particularly focus on the latter here. Trends are a vital part of the industry. It’s important to keep up with what looks everyone is asking for and where their inspiration is coming from, so you can speak your clients’ language and be able to provide them the services they are asking for. As we bid farewell to 2024 and look forward to 2025, let’s recap the top 10 cut, color and style trends of the year, with beauty pros providing their tutorials for creating the look!
Log in to view the full article
2024 is coming to a close, which is leaving us feeling reflective. This year has been a whirlwind of excitement: from exciting new product launches to growing educational opportunities for pros to expand their skill sets and emerging new hair trends that celebrate embracing your inner beauty. We want to particularly focus on the latter here. Trends are a vital part of the industry. It’s important to keep up with what looks everyone is asking for and where their inspiration is coming from, so you can speak your clients’ language and be able to provide them the services they are asking for. As we bid farewell to 2024 and look forward to 2025, let’s recap the top 10 cut, color and style trends of the year, with beauty pros providing their tutorials for creating the look!
CUT
1. Bangs
Sabrina Carpenter is the next big pop starlet. This year, the singer opened up for Taylor Swift on The Eras Tour, released her smash hit album “Short n’ Sweet” and joined on with Redken as the brand’s first global ambassador. It’s no surprise with the big year she’s had that clients are using her for a source of hair inspo, particularly for her fringe bangs.
Here’s how Jamie McDaniel (@jamiemcdhair) created Carpenter’s bangs for her clients.
Sabrina Carpenter fringe bangs by Jamie McDaniel (@jamiemcdhair)Courtesy of Jamie McDaniel (@jamiemcdhair)
How-To:
1. Create a triangle section where the fringe lives from the outside corner of each eye.
2. Divide left from right.
3. Overdirect left to right and right to left with no elevation and a horizontal finger position.
4. Point cut with slide cutting shears for a soft finish on the ends.
While Carpenter’s fringe bangs have been a big hit this year, we’ve also seen a resurgence in curtain bangs, birkin bangs and micro bangs! Clients are looking for an easy way to accessorize their hair looks, and bangs have been the way to go.
2. Short Cuts
2024 is the year of the short cuts. Whether it’s pixies, bobs, lobs or shags, clients are embracing the big chop. Actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld, who’s been known for her long locks, is even hopping on the trend by sporting a bob. We’ve noticed that these shorter cuts are becoming sleeker, smoother and shinier, which isn’t a surprise with hair gloss also trending this year.
Here’s Kylie Walker’s (@kyliemariehair_) take on a trendy bob!
A short razor bob by Kylie Walker (@kyliemariehair_)Courtesy of Kylie Walker
How-To:
1. I always start my bobs in the nape, so I used my Jatai Feather Detail Styling Razor to build my line with horizontal partings at 0 elevation.
2. Once I had more space from the neck, I switched over to my Jatai Feather Plier Razor to continue the cut with a combination of open and closed strokes. I continued the remainder of the length removal with no elevation, carving weight out vertically through the last 2-3" of the hair to encourage soft movement when she wears her hair natural.
3. After I had the initial shape in, I went back into the occipital and below, carving weight out at a 45 to build shape internally. In zone two, I carved weight out horizontally and on top I pulled everything up to remove the weight and add a soft layer. For her bangs, I cut my center guide with the flat of my razor to create the guide. Then, I created a short-to-long cut, over-directing towards the face to frame the bangs to her eyes.
4. For the finish, I dried her hair with a paddle brush, fine-tuned the cut and finished with some texture spray.
3. Layered Cuts
Clients are loving hair with dimension and volume, which means layered haircuts have been all the rage! There’s plenty of options for every client, but one that we’ve noticed making lots of waves is the butterfly cut. A layered cut parted in the middle or to one side, the butterfly cut features top layers done around the face and the bottom section falling below the shoulders. The style ends up resembling butterfly wings, fluttering in the wind.
“The combination of short layers in the front with long layers in the back are a perfect pairing for lovers of the classic '90s blowout. It’s good for all hair types and can be modified to any client’s style," shares Myrtle Beach, SC-based hairstylist Amanda Short (@saltymanes) of the butterfly cut.
A butterfly cut by Amanda Short (@saltymanes)Courtesy of Amanda Short
You can check out Short's tutorial for the cut in our November/December 2023 issue and on our website!
COLOR
4. Lived-in Color
When it comes to color trends, lived-in looks have been trendy because they offer clients an option that saves them time and money. Whether you are a blonde, brunette, copper, etc., lived-in color can suit anyone who wants a more relaxed look that lasts longer. Particularly, we’ve seen a rise in lived-in blondes this year, as traditional bright blondes or platinums require a lot of upkeep that can be pricey to maintain.
A lived-in blonde hair color creation by Haley Clapp (@live2dyebyhaley)Courtesy of Haley Clapp
DFW-based hairstylist Haley Clapp (@live2dyebyhaley) created a gorgeous lived-in blonde and shares her tutorial for creating the color.
"Lived in color never stops trending in my chair, so I’ve had to perfect my techniques and placements to provide my clients with the most longevity," Clapp shares.
1. For this specific look, I split the hair into 4 quadrants with a zig zag down the middle in the back. I utilized natural weaves with a slight tease & painted my lightener all the way up to the tease for the entire placement.
2. I worked up the back 2 quadrants with diagonal backs, connecting them to the points on the zigzag, until I reached the top of the crown - then I switched to horizontals to finish it out.
3. For the front two quadrants, I started with diagonal backs and pivoted up to a horizontal. I used 3 back to back natural weaves, without a tease, for her money piece!
"This client is a natural level 7 and always lifts like a dream, so we never alter her raw lift - because it’s beautiful as is," Clapp adds. "Just a clear gloss, and we’re good to go on her color for the next 4 months!"
5. Vivids
On the completely opposite end of the spectrum from lived-in color, we’ve also seen a rise in vivids! For clients that want to be bold and make a statement, creative color has offered plenty of opportunities for experimentation. While rainbow hair and solid vivid colors have been trending, we’ve also noticed a rise in pastels, particularly peach and rose gold shades, likely as a nod to Pantone’s Color of the Year: Peach Fuzz.
Here's PRAVANA Global Artistic Mentor George Blanco (@georgeeblancoo) shares his tutorial for creating the peachy keen color!
Peach-colored hair by George Blanco (@georgeeblancoo)Courtesy of George Blanco
How-To:
1. Section clients hair for retouch service.
2. Begin retouch application (I utilized PRAVANA Pure Light Ultra Lightener w/ 20 volume).
3. Process for up to 55 mins.
4. Bring client back to chair, blow dry and prepare the hair for vivid application.
5. Mix custom vivids formula (All PRAVANA vivids: 3 parts clear dilute to 1 part Sunstone).
6. Process for 30 mins at room temperature, then wash color out.
6. Finish with deep conditioning mask.
7. Wash and style to choice.
6. Coppers/Reds/Strawberry Blondes
Last year, Cowboy Copper was a dominant hair trend for fall, and the love for copper and red shades hasn’t stopped yet. We’ve seen red and copper shades like Cherry Cola and Strawberry Blonde also making a resurgence. Both copper and reds are the perfect shade for fall and offer plenty of options for customization depending on what will best suit your client’s skin tone.
Copper hair color by Kristeena Van Cleave (@thatrebelstylist)Courtesy of Kristeena Van Cleave
For more on reds, coppers and strawberry blondes, check out our September/October issue for expert education from William Whatley, Liz Roberts and Kristeena Van Cleave.
STYLE
7. Coquette/Balletcore Styles
It’s no surprise that the latest trends in fashion also influence and impact what hair looks will be trending. This year, balletcore and coquette aesthetics made their way to the runway during Fashion Week, with pearls, ribbons, ballet flats, lace and corsets all being a part of the look. So how does this translate to hair?
We’ve seen buns make a comeback. Whether it’s ballet buns, space buns or a messy bun, this style has been getting lots of love. Chicago Bridal Hairstylist Kim Nguyen (@elegancebykim) shares her tutorial for a polished updo.
PREP
- Crimp hair with a micro-crimper to create texture.
- Add airiness by applying a dry texture spray from roots to mids.
- Light tease roots for soft volume.
- Apply a light cream over the crown to control frizz and add shine.
STYLE
- Separate out the face-framing, and gather the rest of the hair into a low ponytail by the nape.
- Pinch and pull the crown to create effortless texture. Spray with a flexible working hairspray to control frizz.
- Curl the face framing away from the face with a 1.25” curling iron, and comb through to soften the curls. Lock in with a strong hold hairspray.
- To create the bun, divide the ponytail into two sections and apply cream to each section for frizz control.
- Wrap one section to the right of the nape, and wrap the other section to the left of the nape.
- Tuck in the ends under the bun.
- Use bobby pins to secure the bun to the scalp.
FINISH
- Check for balance, and make sure the shape is proportional.
- Use a strong hold finishing hairspray for an all day hold.
"Remember to control frizz with a medium hold hairspray as you style," Nguyen shares. "When you’re happy with the results, lock in with a strong finishing hairspray."
A ballet bun by Kim Nguyen @elegancebykimCourtesy of Kim Nguyen
8. Braids
One of my favorite parts of the year is festival season! As an avid concert-goer, I always look forward to putting together my concert outfit and hair look. This year, we saw braided styles getting lots of love for special events, whether that be something more fun and playful like bubble braids or corset braids, which harken back to the trending balletcore aesthetic.
Pink festival braids by Stefania Glamour (@stefaniaglamour)Courtesy of Stefania Glamour
"Braids are a fun way to play with colors, patterns and lengths that will make your client feel amazing when dancing all day," shares Stefania Glamour (@stefaniaglamour).
Glamour specializes in braiding and shared her tutorial for creating colorful festival braids that are perfect to rock at your next concert. You can read our May/June issue to get the full tutorial, as well as Glamour’s tips for prepping your festival braids.
9. Big Blowouts and Waves
This year has been the year of big, bouncy hair. Miley Cyrus got everyone talking with her voluminous, larger than life hairstyle at the Grammy Awards earlier this year. Since then, we’ve seen thick, full waves and blowouts make a full force comeback. We love that this style can be given more of an edge or be worn on the softer side to create timeless waves reminiscent of Old Hollywood.
Vintage Hollywood Waves by Drew Noreen (@drewjonobeauty)Courtesy of Drew Noreen
If you love Vintage Hollywood waves like we do, check out Drew Noreen’s (@drewjonobeauty) tutorial for creating the style in our May/June issue or on our website! You can also learn more about what's inspiring Drew behind the chair in this issue's The Must List.
BONUS
10. Natural Texture
Cut, color and style trends aside, one important change we’ve noticed in the industry is hairstylists helping clients embrace their natural hair texture. In alignment with this shift, pro brands are debuting products to help clients maintain their texture, and the industry is pushing for mandatory texture education. Trends are fleeting, but loving your natural texture is not!
OLAPLEX's Regional Education Manager Coko Taft (@cokothenatural) demos the brand's new Bond Shaper Curl Rebuilding Treatment.Courtesy of OLAPLEX
