'Sabrina Carpenter Bangs' and 6 Other 2024 Hair Trends, Explained
In a fast-moving culture that feels overrun by TikTok trends, staying abreast of the trending haircuts, styles and colors can feel overwhelming — impossible, even. The constant stream of content might even make you consider returning to your natural roots as a rebellion against these evolving fads. At the same time, it's also an exciting, uninhibited era for beauty enthusiasts.
As hairstylist Lacy Redway puts it: "2024 feels like a year for self-expression. People are looking for new ways to showcase their personality and step outside of these 'aesthetics' and showcase their feelings through their style, play on their textures and color play."
To spare your eyes (and mind) from the endless stream of photos and videos on your feed, we've condensed seven manageable hair trends to consider before your next salon visit. It's far less daunting than hours of TikTok scrolling, promise. Discover the hairstyles and hair colors likely to dominate this year, below.
Sabrina Carpenter Bangs
Pop star Sabrina Carpenter's tour performances are making waves on TikTok, but so is her signature beauty look, punctuated by fluffy curtain bangs, which evoke a retro-glam vibe. Her hairstylist Scott King tells Fashionista that the secret to copping her fringe is to "make sure the shortest piece is right in the middle, just above the bridge of your nose — about where the bottom of your eyebrow is — and that it gradually gets longer on each side to about the top of the cheekbones."
As for styling the bangs once you've cut them, jot this down: "We blow-dry the bangs first side-to-side with a medium-sized round brush," explains King. "After it's dry and still warm, we take a medium-sized Velcro roller, roll it toward the face, and secure it while styling the rest of the hair for about 10 minutes." (It needs to be velcro, he emphasizes, adding, "that's what makes it fluffy.") King jokingly warns that you might temporarily resemble George Washington when you remove the roller, but a simple brush-through with a comb or fingers will perfect the look.
Cowboy Copper
"Cowboy Copper" is currently one of the most sought-after hair colors and it's "all about vibrancy and uniqueness," says Michelle Hong, colorist and founder of NYC The Team Hair Salon in New York City. "This tone is a customized blend between gold, copper and brown," she says. It's "universally flattering because the warm tones bring out the glow of your skin tone."
Just note that your hair colorist must tailor the exact cowboy copper color formula to suit your complexion, so the final look might vary from your initial inspiration photo. Trust the process.
Kitty Cut
According to celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons, the kitty cut is the "more refined cousin of the wolf cut." He says the length of it tends to land "somewhere between a bob and the iconic Rachel Green style, with long layers that maintain structure while providing movement."
"The Kitty Cut is so popular because it works on every texture, from straight to curly," Fitzsimons continues. "It's also versatile in styling and effort; you can wear it air-dried and natural or blown out." And if you're in the mood to customize it even more, he recommends amping up the look with face-framing layers or curtain bangs.
Cherry Red
If you're leaning toward a more daring choice, consider going cherry red. Hong says this hair color isn't defined by a single hue, but spans various shades of vibrant, deep red tones. ("Think of ruby, garnet and Bordeaux," she says.)
Cherry red is "mostly flattering with skin tones that are cool or tan, though that's not to say you can't pull it off if you have pale or warmer skin tones. In that case, Hong recommends going for a brighter cherry hue. "This color has less orange and deeper reds that give off a nice auburn hue."
Dirty Blonde
Dirty blonde is perfect for "people who want the lowest maintenance possible," says Hong. "Think Hailey Bieber post-Covid."
The color expert noticed the dirty blonde trend picking up speed in 2022, but the modern version boasts more dimension, with baby balayage for a natural-looking glow.
Invisible Locs
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"Invisible locs mimic real locs," says Jada Morris, a faux loc stylist based in Brooklyn. "Although they look like locs from far away, when you get closer to this style, they are twists that are then wrapped together," adds Redway.
"The popularity of this style has grown thanks to TikTok's quest for new protective looks, but it has been around for decades and is a great way to try out locs without having to fully commit to the style," she adds.
French Roll
A French roll is a type of updo in which the hair is gathered and pinned up vertically. Fitzsimons calls it "a more laid-back version of the french twist," and says "it's so popular right now because it's romantic and playful, which is the main theme of 2024 — plus, it's easy to achieve. Where the French twist is expertly polished, the French roll offers a little more wiggle room. Many people choose to leave the ends out of their roll for a softer look."
The essential tools for creating the look at home are lots of bobby pins, a strong-hold hairspray and a boar bristle brush to help smooth out the hair and create the roll shape. "Don't be frustrated if it doesn't come out perfectly on the first try," he says. "Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect."
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