Learn the Biggest Trends in Hair This Year – And What to Look For in 2023
2022 was a big year for hair, as runway designers, stylists, Hollywood stars, and TikTok influencers moved away from simple, dressed-down pandemic vibes, and came back outside into the world in style. Those who follow beauty and fashion will forever remember this year for its culture-changing attitudes and trends for hair.
Here are the most popular hairstyles of 2022, and an analysis of what this will mean heading into 2023 – will styles stay the same? Will there be another tectonic shift in the coming year? Find out below as we explore what was hot this year in hair.
The Most Popular Short Hairstyles in 2022
To curate a list of the most popular short and long hairstyles of 2022, our research led us to an analysis of what’s being taught at cosmetology schools, what’s appearing on Insta and TikTok, and what’s being showcased in the most important fashion magazines to get a broad sense of what’s been consistently popular throughout the year.
- The Carved Bob: One of the most iconic and timeless hairstyles is the bob, which is now over a century old as an exceptionally popular style. The carved bob sculpts this haircut a bit more intentionally to give it a sophisticated French vibe with a different emphasis on volume than the traditional bob.
- The Buzz Cut: Once a practical cut, this has become a trend because of its edginess as well as this cut’s ability to show off and accentuate your natural features. The sleekness of the modern buzz cut, accomplished by applying a pomade, modernizes this look. Also consider a unique color, and you’ll make a statement that defies convention in more ways than one.
The Most Popular Long Hairstyles in 2022
As you can see in our selection of the most popular short cuts, expectations are being subverted in favor of new twists on classic cuts. The bob and the buzz were both once considered fairly traditional cuts. However, when these cuts are slightly modified they can transform into something extraordinary and even a little subversive. The same can be said for these two highly popular long cuts.
- Balayage Waves: While you may be surprised to see a balayage on our 2022 list, keep in mind that the pandemic hit the pause button on many of the styles we’d been seeing in 2019 and early 2020, and then revealing them again as people returned to crowded, in-person events including runway shows, fashion week parties, or – if you’re like us – the office! The long, wavy layers of this kind of balayage tastefully accentuates length while adding a bit of needed color and flair to a more traditional cut.
- Feature-Framing Pieces: Much like the buzz cut’s ability to accentuate natural features, framing the face with pieces is sort of the buzz cut’s opposite – but with the same idea in mind. Here, you have a no-frills trim on a longer cut while texturizing some shorter pieces to bring out the beauty in you that doesn’t require hair scissors. This cut is the least revolutionary of the four we’ve listed for 2022, but we’re not too surprised. Find out why in an analysis of what’s to come in 2023 below.
Some Thoughts on 2022’s Most Popular Cuts Leading Into 2023
As you can see, 2022 was all about flipping conventions on their head. Many of us stayed indoors and kept our hair up and off our face, and we certainly kept it messy and even longer than normal during the pandemic. However, there’s something about stepping back out into the public eye that screams “defy expectations,” and that’s what many stylists – and their clients – did in 2022. Whether it’s an edgy buzz cut or wavy highlights, 2022 was all about sending a public message.
A Prediction for 2023’s Hair Trends
In 2023, the simpler long cut we mentioned is an indicator that trends may shift to something more conservative and understated. When radical changes in hairstyles become popular, there’s often something traditional right around the corner.
However, we think that this means something different than what you might expect in 2023: somehow the styles this coming year will find a way to take that more conservative approach and add a twist. This begs the question: what hairstyles that were previously deemed too “simple” or “traditional” in the past might have a lively comeback as something hot in the future?
Look for a continued emphasis on tradition and originality at once in 2023. Remember, being on trend is usually about looking back at what’s been ignored for a little while, and bringing it back with a twist. This never seems to fail designers, and it might just work for you too.