The 50 Biggest Hair Trends of 2021, According to Celebrity Stylists

The 50 Biggest Hair Trends of 2021, According to Celebrity Stylists

 We'll be honest: 2020 wasn't exactly a banner year for hair. Salons were shuttered. Red carpet events cancelled. And keeping your hairs pressed and laid was the furthest thing from your mind. But the pandemic wore on. And on. And most of us slowly came to realize that good hair can, at times, help usher in a good mood. Good hair days are a thing for a reason. Which is, after all, why you've likely clicked this link in the first place. Welcome: We are happy to share that 2021 hair forecasts are sunny, with plenty of good hair days on the horizon.

We checked in with all our favorite celebrity hairstylists who have been, in spite of it all, bringing their clients COVID-safe waves, blowouts, cuts and trims. And what do they think the new year holds? Flattering haircuts that can grow out effortlessly, requiring very few in-between touch-ups. Waves that don't fall into any particular category. Hair color that's more natural than not. And of course, as always in the twilight of international turmoil, there's a little whimsy in there too. Retro styles with a costume-y wink. Updos with plenty of pomp and circumstance. And hair color that makes a statement (of caring or not caring—you get to choose). And in the end, that's what the joy of hair is all about: Choice, agency, beauty, and freedom. Ahead, 19 of the most on-trend hairstyles for 2021.

60s Styles

The '60s were a time of revolution and reinvention, and so too will be 2021. This time around, expect styles to be less crisped with hairspray, more geometric, and all-around more fun. (Peep the black ribbon in this look just behind the front layers.)

Blunt Ends

Maybe it's because nobody got a haircut in 2020, but there's something about precision ends that hairstylists like Kahh Spence find deeply appealing—and we couldn't agree more.

Crimped Waves

Call it what you want to call it, waves that were definitely created by a curling iron but do not look like they were created by a curling iron are and will continue to be all the rage.

Purposeful Roots

Here's one thing the pandemic taught us: Roots are fine, desirable even, and shouldn't be hidden away. Here, hairstylist Clayton Hawkins parted Kiernan Shipka's strands deep and on the side—all the better to show off those cool roots.

Long Layers

If you didn't get your haircut for the better part of a calendar year, chances are you're sitting on some seriously long strands. One trip to the stylist can clean that up into something with shape and structure—and plenty of grow-out potential.

Natural Curls

Today. Tomorrow. Always. Natural curls that have been quenched with oil and diffused into springiness are having a moment for eternity.

Instagram Waves

I used to call these deep sets Hollywood waves, but I'm rebranding. Tumbling, shiny, and purposeful waves aren't going anywhere, and I for one am here for it.

Natural Hair Color

The way Mother Nature intended...is very likely a very good idea. Here, bleached-out tips from a hypothetical summer in the sun melt seamlessly into cool brown roots.

The 11 Biggest Haircut Trends of 2021

The 11 Biggest Haircut Trends of 2021

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Believe it or not, 2020 was a big year for haircuts — COVID-19 be damned. In the spring, we witnessed countless folks use salon closures as an excuse to play hairstylist, giving themselves bangs, layers, and buzz cuts. And once businesses were back open, people sprinted to their beloved stylists for both touch-ups and full-blown transformations. The bob was super popular, as was the pixie cut and shaved heads. On the flip side though, low-maintenance looks — like long bangs and the one-length cut — were seen everywhere, too. 

Despite the obvious hurdles of the pandemic, our favorite celebrities still managed to serve up haircut inspiration all year long. Even during lockdown, many A-listers got creative and did their own cuts and dye jobs at home (looking at you, Bella Hadid), and when salons re-opened, many were quick to see their hairstylists for a post-quarantine cut. Due to the standstill the world has been under for nearly a year, a lot of haircut trends from last year are pouring into 2021, though there are some new ones that have emerged. So, enough chit chat: To find out which haircuts reign supreme, just keep on scrolling.

Mullet

We've been seeing mullets everywhere lately. The modern-day version of the cut that defined the '80s is a little more chill, though. "[We're getting] a lot more of these, especially in slightly longer, less severe versions," says hairstylist Bryce Scarlett. Look to Barbie Ferreira's mullet, which has a soft wave that frames her face beautifully. 

Mullet

Like many mullets, Zendaya's has a ton of texture, but it is brought out through the actual cut of the hair, as opposed to a natural pattern. Here, the hair in the back flows straight down, instead of bending or curling. "For a more full face, the modern mullet is the way to go," notes hairstylist Sally Hershberger. "The hair framed around the face will perfectly compliment this face shape."

Mullet

No one pulls off any hairstyle better than Rihanna can, and that includes a mullet. Hers is done with baby bangs, which in themselves can be tricky to wear. If you're thinking of getting this type of look, heed the words of hairstylist Derek Yuen. "I generally like to cut short bangs after the hair has been dried straight down," he previously told Allure. 

Short, Swoopy Bob

Short bobs do require a decent degree of maintenance, but we're still seeing cropped cuts like this trending right now. One version of the bob hairstylist Sunnie Brook Jones says will dominate the season are "blunt and bouncy with a deep sweep. This can hit at the jaw or longest mid-neck depending on how brave you are and the texture and density of your hair."

Hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein is partial to a particular iteration of this style. "I love it around chin length," she says. "Also make sure there is a heavy weight line around the perimeter of the cut — it should be nice and blunt at the bottom."

Short, Swoopy Bob

Another version of this style includes "lots of messy texture and fringe bangs," according to hairstylist Sally Hershberger — even better if you've got some natural texture, as we see here on this model. Her bangs, which fall just above her eyes, are cut right after the first two bends in her curl pattern, which creates that bouncy, body-full look.