Haircuts You'll Be Asking For In 2018

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If 2017 was anything for the hair world, it was the year of multi-colored unicorn hair and loose, delightfully lazy lobs, courtesy of the awesome advancements in color technology, as well as the prominent desire to have a fun, not-quite-short, not-quite-long style. Braids were also everywhere, as were pixie cuts adopted by usually long-haired celeb lovelies like Cara Delevingne, Kristen Stewart, and Katie Holmes. To put it simply, 2017 was the year of bold change.

But those looks are all in the rearview. What's on deck for hair in 2018? What picture will you be ripping out of a fashion mag or saving to your phone while browsing Pinterest or Instagram so that you can show it to your stylist at the salon and say "Give me that!" next time you sit in their chair? What hues, textures, and lengths will reign supreme over the next 365 days? Here are the haircuts you'll be asking for in 2018.

According to Canalé, a more natural look will eclipse the aforementioned wild, crazy, and ultimately daring styles and hues that defined 2017. "The trends for 2018 will focus on enhancing natural beauty," he predicted. "As we move away from aggressive hair colors, you will see more natural blending, using paper-thin highlights to create a gradual blonde, instead of sun-drenched blonde." 

Wild colors may fall by the wayside in favor of the natural looks that were described by Canalé, but also for something known as "undercurrents." Steve Lococo, master stylist and co-owner of B2V Salon in West Hollywood, told me, "Surprisingly, clients want to tone it down with multi-dimensional colors woven throughout their hair." It's surprisingly easy to get this depth of color, so hair "moves" beautifully and bouncily!

Lococo continued, "Remember that honey blonde with highlights that you liked? Infuse that blonde with some copper, blush pink, or soft mint. We call these tones 'undercurrents.' They help move the overall haircut and hair color." A cut and color being in synch is important for a pulled together coif in 2018.

While visible, contrasted, or graying roots are often the main reason that you book an appointment with your colorist, don't be so hasty to cover up those babies up in 2018. That's right, roots are in! Be honest, this is the trend we've been waiting for our entire adult lives.

Martinez foresees the once-popular white and gray trend, which was rocked by everyone from Rihanna to Kylie Jenner, giving way to "a more natural ombre look, as roots are making a comeback."

So go ahead and let those roots show, especially if they are part of an overall ombre look where hair color gets progressively lighter as you go down the shaft. As an added bonus, you won't have to book hair appointments as frequently, which means more money staying in your wallet and more time to do things other than sit in your colorist's chair for hours on end. Win-win!

Shaun SureThing, co-owner and lead stylist at Seagull hair salon in NYC's West Village, told me, "2018 will be the year of cutting it all off. Bowl haircuts and strong geometry will dominate styles, as we trend out of the retro-1990s looks that have been making the hair scene for the last few years." 

A geometric cut with an unusual shape is super sexy but it can be high maintenance, since you can't simply toss it into a ponytail on lazy Sundays and when you don't have time to deal with doing your hair. Quiles and Fishman also told me that these "modern, geometric haircuts wear like wigs," which also contributes to the commitment factor and having to maintain the cut on the regular.

Shannon Combs, owner/operator of Acorn Hill Salon and Spa, further revealed that "asymmetrical styles with many vivid colors" are also going to make a play for dominance in 2018. An asymmetrical cut is long on one side, shorter on the other and when paired with a bright shade, it's really one of the most beautiful things you can do with your strands. 

But know this: Like the geometric cuts, an asymmetrical cut is one that requires commitment and maintenance, so go into it with that in mind and ready to invest the necessary time to keep it in tip-top shape.

Not everyone thinks bold colors will be relegated to the back burner in 2018. Pastel hair emerged in 2017 and this look is one whose popularity will continue to grow in 2018, according to Global Redken Artist Lindsey Olson.

"There is a common misconception that you have to be platinum blonde in order to pull off the pastel look," Olson told me. "However, it looks just as gorgeous when done subtly on a brunette. We'll be seeing a lot of pinks and blues in 2018. What's best is that we'll be seeing it on people of all ages!"

If you have dark locks and have been wanting to play with blue and pink, now is your chance thanks to lots of advancements in the chemistry of hair color. That said, color in general will be big in 2018, no matter the cut or the shape. "To incorporate the color with haircuts, it can be from short texture haircut all the way to have a beautiful long hair with layers, creating a perfect sexy Victoria's Secret model look," Celso Enrique, Senior Designer at Salon Eva Michelle, told me. 

This includes multi-tones in highlights, such as neutral blondes mixing light brown with golden blonde flourishes. Medium brown paired with pale blonde, as well as a red base with blonde highlights, also make for a stunning end result.

Side swept bangs, as well as blunt, short bangs, are also in the rearview in favor of drama and length. "Long, soft bangs, where they're past the stage of growing out by the cheekbone, will make a real statement in 2018," said Lococo. So stop tucking your bangs behind your ears and let those gorgeous locks say center stage.

Don't despair or worry about your bangs becoming annoying by grazing your eyes, making it hard to see. Lococo suggests you can part them in the middle for the "curtain bangs" look, which is very "right now" and prevents you from having to constantly blow them out of your eyes. 

The "curtain" styling also allows a longer, more dramatic bang to be more versatile, so you can change up your look daily without having to go under the scissors. Plus, you'll be able to pull off a mysterious look whenever you want.

Celebrity hairstylist Keka Heron, who has worked with Diddy, Jasmine Sullivan, and Jessica White, is calling it — the classic Vidal Sassoon bob will once again assert itself in salons as it did years ago. She tells me, "The return of the 'Vidal Sassoon' — the clean, blunt bob. It's a chic haircut that looks great on all hair textures, face shapes, and ages." This style can be worn with or without bangs, as well. If worn with bangs, well, it drifts right into the French girl chic territory, as previously mentioned.

Heron points out that you can wear this 'do straight or switch it up by adding add some waves or sweeping it into a messy updo. You can also play with the location of the part. The VS bob may be short and structured, but it avails itself of so many styling possibilities. That's why it has long endured and always comes back into play.