Coming into autumn of 2023, we are seeing a shift in trends as long, sleek, straight hair is being replaced by big, bouncy, voluminous hair, and I myself am loving it. Here are some trends that you will be seeing in your salons this season:
1. Blunt Bobs have been around for a while now, and looking into my crystal ball, they are here to stay for a while longer. A blunt Bob can do many things for a client; it can give the illusion of thicker hair to someone with very fine hair, make it more manageable for the client who struggles to style their fine hair, or, on the other side of the scale, a long blunt bob or lob can provide weight for someone with thick, dense hair. It will help weigh the hair down, reducing the appearance of it growing outwards. It will still look super stylish, especially for thick hair; however, remember not to go too short. I recommend keeping it below chin level. A blunt Bob needs to be maintained every 6-8 weeks for the cut to look sharp and on point. You will only need to trim the edges during these intervals; don’t get too scissor-happy, as we already have a bad reputation for cutting off more than we are allowed to.
2. The Rachel Cut: Oh, how I love the Rachel Cut. I remember watching “Friends,” and within weeks, the world looked like a bunch of Rachel Green wannabes. Now, we have a new contender in the ring, and her name is Jenna Ortega, recently famous for playing Wednesday in the Netflix series “Wednesday.” This cut is fabulous for clients with finer hair who want to add some oomph at the root area. It features soft layers throughout, allowing the hair to do its own thing. The face-framing feathers provide interest around the face and jawline, creating the illusion of a lifted face. So, actually, it’s a more cost-effective option than a facelift. You’re welcome.
3. Mullets: Now, I am not a huge fan of the business-at-the-front-and-party-at-the-back hairstyle, but on some people, it can look amazing. I am glad, however, that there are softer, longer versions of the mullet these days. For instance, the wolf cut is a perfect example of mixing the styles of a mullet and a shag, putting them into a bowl and creating the wolf cut. To understand the wolf cut, you must take a step into the wild side because that’s precisely what this cut is – wild. The wolf cut consists of disconnected layers throughout the whole head with softer face-framing layers and thinning out the tails of the hair (the ends). This look is supposed to be free and wild, less fuss is better; it’s a real get-up-and-go style, perfect for clients with natural waves or those wanting more volume. The wolf cut will also give the illusion of longer hair due to the many layers cut into the hair.
4. Golden Blondes: Blonde hair has never left us; every spring and summer, most clients want to go lighter and brighter, seeking those beach babe vibes. And if you have clients like myself who tend to tone down with warmer browns or even pillar box reds during autumn and winter, only to want to go platinum white blonde with no warmth in sight when spring returns, you’ll be happy to know that golden blondes are making their mark in our industry. This means you can maybe use less bleach and start using those high-lift colors you’ve been dying to try but were too afraid of in case your client wasn’t happy with the warmth in their hair. The wonderful thing about high-lift colors is that they are constantly changing within the hair. For example, if you put highlights in the hair in the spring, you will notice, eight weeks later when it’s time to refresh the highlights, that those previous highlights are lighter due to environmental factors. This means you will get a tonal hair result every time, and it looks more natural. To warn you, though, you won’t be able to change everyone’s mind to high-lift; some clients will still require bleach. It’s nice to know there are other options now, though.
5. The C Cut: Remember four years ago when everyone wanted just long, straight cuts? Did anyone crave more exciting cuts to walk into the salon with? Well, this is a cut perfect for those long-haired clients wanting a subtle, soft change. The C Cut is created by giving soft, face-framing layers around the face, but remember not to go too short; keep it subtle. By giving soft, longer feathers around the face, it will create a U shape at the back of the hair, adding more interest than just dead straight. You can then style the feathers inwards towards the face or style them backward, creating soft flicks, an adaptation of the 1970s hairstyles. As hair is often finer at the front sections, this will also create thickness in those finer areas.
6. Pixie Cuts: Shout it from the rooftops, dust off those razors because pixie cuts are back. Many stylists struggle with short haircuts; why, you ask? Confidence—it’s all about confidence and practice. I love cutting with my razor to create a short pixie cut. Using a razor to cut a pixie style will give you a choppier, softer look compared to cutting with scissors. You really get to use your creative side when using a razor as it’s all about how the hair lays and feels, rather than the very regimented, uniform layering technique, which can sometimes be slightly boring. My advice to all you hair experts is to get yourself to a razor workshop this spring or buy a practice head and have some fun experimenting with a razor for a free and creative experience.