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.


Shoulder lengths

Short hair, don't care! Michael Canalé, a sought-after Hollywood colorist who has worked with the always well-coiffed Jennifer Aniston forever and who is the creator of the Canalé hair care line, tells me that damaged hair is ready for a rest. If your hair is looking a bit worse for the wear, this is the look for you. In order to achieve a clean, sleek look, women will be going shorter in order to get rid of those fried 'n' frazzled follicles.

"Due to the more aggressive color techniques over the past four years, such as ombre and balayage, hair is brittle and damaged with over-bleached ends," he said. "You'll start to see a lot of chin and shoulder-length styles."

However, if you are not quite ready to snip, snip, and snip some more, the colorist suggests trying extensions to nurse your hair back to a healthier state, along with taking vitamins.

Undercurrents and more natural looks

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 through out 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.


The shaggy bob


Brandon Martinez, who has styled celebs like Rosario Dawson, Elle Macpherson, and Diane Kruger, and who penned Sex, Hair and Billionaires: Adventures of a Celebrity Hairstylist, predicts the short pixie of 2017, which is a classic cut that is always "in," will be transformed into "a longer, shaggier bob for the spring."

Martinez told me, "Haircuts will have grown out from the short, severe shapes into a sophisticated bob that can be worn straight and sleek, or shaggy and messy." He also nods to the "the versatility that a longer bobs can have," affirming that this cut "can still be pulled back and styled in many different ways."

Heron also thinks that a pixie with a fuller top and bangs will be another major cut of 2018, especially during the usually awkward "growing it out" phase. You can make the most of that growth period with this suggestion.

"If you currently have a pixie cut, growing out the top — just a little— will give you a new 2018 hair cut," Heron explained. "This little bit of length will allow you flexibility with your hairstyle, adding volume." You can also add some texture with a styling tool or some volume with product.

Visible ombre roots

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!


French girl chic

Sorry to all of the beach-wave loving ladies out there, but there's a new style in town! Fred Connors, owner of FRED.nyc, located on Manhattan's Lower East Side, told me that flowing, California Girl waves are going to be less requested by clients next year. "The biggest trend in the salon and on the street is 'French Girl Chic,'" Connors said. "Clients are moving away from beachy blonde lobs and opting for darker-hued, edgier cuts."

A specific cut he speaks of is a bob with bangs. Connors continued, "The ubiquitous hairstyle of the last few seasons (and the most popular style on Pinterest) is being traded in for a sleek bob paired with blunt bangs. French girls have been rocking these looks for decades, and every now and then, they become popular again in the U.S."

A bob with bangs is tres sophisto and allows you to enjoy a dose of instant glam.

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