Top Knots
Remember when the red carpet was dominated by the same Kardashian-chic top knots? Oh, wait, that's still happening today! Originality really is dead. Women who pile their hair on top of their heads know that hair doesn’t actually contribute to their height, right? Perhaps not. This style can make you feel a little taller, but when the trade-off looks like you’re a citizen from Whoville, is it really worth it?
And let's not forget how painful these tight hairstyles can be. Some are so uncomfortable that they trigger terrible headaches! Instead of wearing your hair in a tight top knot, try pulling your hair back into a loose, low ponytail, especially if you're prone to migranes. It will cause less stress on your hair and keep your hair out of your face for the day.
Super Short Bangs
Why on earth were baby bangs and super short bangs ever a trend to begin with? But for some reason, they cropped up in the last couple of years become the bang of choice. Gross. They accentuate the forehead and honestly look awful. No one wants to look like they have a five-head, right?
The only exception to the no-short-bangs rule this year is if you’re getting a mullet. Oh, yes, you read that right. Mullets are back, but the “short on top” encompasses wearing short baby bangs with it. We hate to be the bearer of bad news for this one, but we don’t make the rules. We just relay them.
Super Long Locks
There's a point that you have to cut your hair. Long hair is heavy and difficult to keep clean. Plus, there's a certain point where it goes from looking beautiful to reminding people of the crazy cat lady. Having the cats is A-okay; the more cats, the better! But when there's a ton of cats and you have crazy hair, that's when things gets weird.
Try a shorter, bouncier haircut instead. Not only will your hair feel healthier, but it will also look healthier. But like getting rid of frizz, just chopping of years worth of growth isn't as simple as it sounds. When you take care of your hair for so long, it becomes a sort of crutch for your personality. The emotional attachment is difficult to break, but there's a reason why people love to chop some bangs after a break up. Change is liberating!
Bouffants
Modern twists on the classic bouffant style look absolutely amazing, no doubt. But the time and effort it takes to achieve such a look just aren’t worth the work. Make this the year of hassle-free hair! Anything that uses an ungodly amoung of hairspray, more bobby pins than should be legal, and teasing your hair on the verge of permanent damage can never be considered "hassle free."
The bouffant really is a more formal hairdo, so it’s best to leave it to the professionals. If you have the time for it, go ahead, but in the name of all things holy, keep it modern and subdued. When the fake bump on the back of your head resembles a swollen basketball, no matter how "well" it's done, you're not going to be taken seriously.
"The Rachel"
“The Rachel” was one of the most iconic haircuts of the '90s, and a few celebs attempted to bring it back this year. Unfortunately, this cut represents the worst trends in '90s hair. Everyone regretted it and continues to regret it. We can acknowledge that something's iconic but not bring it back, like belly button rings. Can't we stick to chokers and denim jackets this year?
If you're desparate for some layers, ask you hair stylist what the best cut for your face shape and dye for your skin tone. Taking inspiration from celebrities or fictional characters is fine, great even! Unfortunately, the concept "one size fits all" is an egregious lie. Because this Friends-inspired haircut is no longer trendy, it’s time to ditch it and find another TV character to inspire our new beauty and hair trends.
Pompadours
Refer back to our comments on the bouffant and keep those in mind. Don't get us wrong, we love a good pompadour. In fact, it's a great way to make your hair look more voluminous. That being said, let's stop with this oversized pompadour look. They phased out for a reason, and there's absolutely no reason to bring them back. It honestly doesn't look that good on anyone.
Flatter, more subdued hairstyles are becoming trendy, including the chic bob. They’re way more flattering, feasible, and fun.You know it's a good style when it can be described with alliteration. English lesson aside, taller hairstyles might give you some height, but it draws attention away from your face, which usually gives an undesirable effect and can even be overwhelming to the eye. Leave the towering bouffants and pompadours for the red carpet.
High Ponytails
Along the worst ponytails are the high, top ponytails. First, we don't really get how it doesn't just hang in your face. Why not just cut some bangs? Second, it doesn't look good on many people for the same reasons as the bouffant and pompadour phenomena. Finally, it pulls your hair pretty tight which could cause damage. Hair loss is already a natural consequence of aging; better to avoid exacerbating things while you're young!
That being said, it’s time to let your hair down—literally. Don’t let that high ponytail damage your hair, obstruct your vision, or distract people from your beautiful, shining face. The eyes are the window to the soul, but high ponytails are the shutters blocking entry. Not a perfect metaphor, but you get the point.
Wet Hair
The wet hair trend had a big moment last year, but more and more, people are starting to realize that it looks more sloppy than chic. Let’s make a deal: choose whatever hairstyle you want as long as it’s dry, okay? The only time it makes sense is at the pool. Or the beach. Or the lake. You know, water-related activities.
The time you’ll save by styling your hair without water or heavy hair products will change your life. The occassional bad hair day will crop up and you'll show up to work with a dripping messy bun. It happens. But the intentional slicking of strands to make you look like you just finished showering in the girls locker room after varsity volleyball practice isn't a "look."
Poodle Perms
What's the deal with poodle perms? The tightly, wrapped ringlets look unbecoming (we're reminded of a Chia Pet) and can cause damage to your hair. After a poodle perm, your hair is weaker, dull, and dried out. We're not criticizing those with natural curls because that's an entirely different matter. They were born with it so they can rock it well.
Remember that it’s not 1985 anymore (thank goodness), which means it’s officially time to say goodbye to perms. They’re not a good idea so avoid them at all costs, no matter what those "hair experts" on Facebook say about the top trends of the season. Your hair will be so damaged afterward, and for what? Some mediocre curls that don't fit your face shape? Too bad you can't return it...
Long in the Front, Short in the Back
Thanks to internet memes, this will forever be known as the “I want to speak to a manager” haircut. But even if you ignore its bad reputation, this style doesn’t look fresh or modern at all. It looks like the countermovement to the "business in the front, party in the back" mantra for the infamous country-boy mullet. Neither party is very successful, to say the least.
It’s a super outdated cut that should be left in the early 2000s. If you want to rock a pixie cut, make sure your bangs are shorter than the rest of the cut. They can be super cute and flattering, especially for those with heart shaped and round faces. Plus, the "bangs" on this asymmetrical cut isn't practical at all for busy mornings. The layers have to be cut just right and styled with expensive products to look "right."
Repetitive Ponytails
We don't hate ponytails. The issue is when you wear the same slick, pulled back ponytail every day. It's convenient, sure, but it can lead to serious damage. How many times do we have to say this? It pulls at your hair and can hurt the hair follicle and, over time, you may notice thinning, breakage, and split ends.
Don’t get us wrong, ponytails are fine every now and then, but try to wear your hair down the majority of the time. It’s so much better for your locks. It'll prevent the annoying breakage that forces you to spend more money on repairing hair products, extentsion, oil, and even wigs. Your personality shouldn't be tied directly to one hairstyle or you'll be a static character from cartoons come to life.
Neon Streaks
If you wanted a bold pop of color without dyeing your whole head, you probably went for neon streaks. While this style looks right at home at Lollapalooza, it doesn’t work out quite as well in the real world. We love originality and pops of color, but there's a time and place for everything. If your industry is makeup, hair, artistic pursuit, et cetera, then do what you want. But for the rest of us, the privilege of multicolored hair isn't available.
So, just don’t. If you’re a fan of bold hues, reinvent your wardrobe, not your hairstyle. Keep your hair neutral for your own sake—and for the sake of your wallet. Not only is it expensive, but the upkeep is nearly constant. Think of your roots and you'll decide that a full head of rainbow color just isn't worth the blood, sweat, or inevitable tears.
Slicked-Back Bobs
Bobs and lobs were the two biggest haircuts last year, and we love them… mostly! Pretty much our only qualm is with the slicked-back bob. This style tends to look dated, greasy, and uptight. Plus, it calls us back to the "wet look" trend that Kim K. unfortunately made mainstream fasthion. Let your bob roam free next year!
Keeping your bob loose and unruly will majorly update your look. It’s the playful version of the slicked-back bob, takes significantly less time to style, and is on trend for the upcoming seasons. Middle parts and texturized looks are at the top of the haircut leaderboards, which are perfeclty achievable with the right bob. Do some quick research on what kind of short cut will complement your face shape, and you're set!
Rainbow Hues
Over the last few years, many celebrities have dyed their hair an unusual color. While we understand that shades of blonde, brown, and red can get boring, definitely think before committing to a bold new hue. Like we've said time and time again, do your research or suffer the consequences. Mis-matched hair colors that don't meld with your skin tone, root color, haircut, or makeup preferences are a recipe for a trip back to the salon to fix the mess you've made.
You may love the look of Kylie Jenner, Katy Perry, or Bella Thorne's locks, but looking to the rainbow for inspiration isn't always the best option. Celebrities have access to the best stylists in the world and usually opt for temporary wigs instead of actually dyeing their locks. They don't wanna risk the damage and they have the funds to avoid it. Unfortunately, that's not a common reality.
Glittery Hair
Remember the monstrosity that was the "glitter beards" trend that took over social media around Christmas time a few years back? Why is the combination of glitter and hair ever a trend? Glitter in your hair looks childish and makes us think about kids who got into the art supplies. Not to mention, the glue required to make the glitter stick is nearly impossible to get out.
If you’re wanting to add a little sparkle, invest in a pack of studded barrettes. Between pearls, rhinestones, and tortoiseshells, there are numerous hair accessory options. Gold accessories are perfect for summer, and neutral pearls for the colder months. If you're still intrigued by glitter, get some sparkly eyeshadow. Be careful! If you drop a pack of glitter on the floor, that stuff ain't ever going away.
Space Buns
Khloe Kardashian and Miley Cyrus popularized space buns (most likely inspired by afro puffs), and they did look kind of cute in their Instagram posts and on tour, but the look doesn't quite fit their hair types. Also, in real life, space buns tend to look immature on thin hair or unmaintained hair. So, please don’t try rocking this style to your next business meeting unless you know what you're doing.
They’re usually not professional and definitely should not be worn on a regular basis. They’re only acceptable for themed parties and events if you're dressed like an alien or Princess Leia from Star Wars. All we're saying is to check your privilege. If you don't have the hair to rock it, better not try to cop it.
Bowl Cuts
Somehow bowl cuts came back, and we're honestly baffled by it. Just like mullets, bowl cuts didn't look good when they first popped up, but someone decided that it was worth bringing back. It only gets worse if you pair it with super short bangs, and you already know what we think about those...
Our advice to you is this—just don’t. Bowl cuts will never be a good idea. Choose a haircut that is universally flattering. They've been the butt of jokes for years — decades, even. This isn't an underdog moment that finally gets it's time in the spotlight. Sorry, not sorry, but there's not one face shape that can maintain this hairstyle past the one-time photoshoot.
Undershaves
At one time, the undershave looked cool and punk rock. But at this point, so many stars, celebrities, and everyday people have sported it that it’s begun to lose its edge. Rihanna and Miley Cyrus made the style a wildfire phenomenon, but think about how painful that growing-out process will be. The "awkward stage" is very real and shouldn't be challenged because it can always get worse.
There are plenty of other bold hairstyles to try before majorly transforming your hair. Don’t shave any part of your head without talking to a stylist first (obviously) unless you want to suffer a terrible Britney 2007 moment. But Britney actually didn't look that bad. Us? Better to not tempt fate...
Grey Dye
There’s nothing wrong with going grey. In fact, we have plenty of advice and encouragement to offer for those wanting to make the transition as smooth as possible. But dyeing your hair that color just seems like a waste. What's the point? Be patient and mother nature will do the work for you. So many colors to choose from... and you picked grey? Uhm, okay?
An alternative to the dyed grey trend is to dye your hair a light blonde hue. It’s fresh, fun, and way easier to maintain. Also, time spent out in the sun will naturally lighten your locks, so upkeep will primarily focus on the roots. Needless to say, the going-grey trend among Millennials was a weirdly distasteful fad that most of us probably scoff at now.
Finger-Wave Bob
The finger-wave bob is absolutely the perfect haircut for the '20s - the 1920s that is. But just because we are in the 2020 decade now, doesn't mean that we have to go back to hairstyles from 100 years ago. This hairstyle is totally out of place for anyone that isn't walking the red carpet.
The finger-wave bob requires a ton of prep work and maintenance to get just right. Nobody's hair naturally waves like that and pinning it just right takes some effort. Sure, if you are going to go to a '20s theme costume party, go for it but ain't nobody got like for that in the morning or even before a date.
Beehive
The beehive has to be one of the worst hairstyles of the 20th century and it doesn't look any better now. This old '60s hairstyle is totally ridiculous and doesn't belong in any time period, let alone in a contemporary setting. We are just saying that nobody needs to have hair that big.
Even if you go for something more subtle and less Marge Simpson-y, you are bound to look out of place. How this even became a look is beyond us. Honestly, it just looks like you are hiding a strangely shaped head which makes us wonder what Marge would look like with a shaved head.
Feathered Flip
The feathered flip is a totally '70s Farrah Fawcett look that's totally going to make you look older by sporting it now. It's yet another totally outdated and ridiculous hairstyle that requires a little too much maintenance just to look like you are from a '70s television show.
If you have long, wavy hair, there totally other hairstyles you could try that will make you look like a million bucks. The truth is that this hairstyle is now just for people in Hollywood clinging to their youth that have forgotten that Farrah Fawcett has been dead for over 10 years now. There's no repeating the past.
Mohawks
Holy cultural appropriation, Batman! For the love of all things holy and good, can people stop sporting the mohawk? This hairstyle has no business in today's world other than with people who are looking to be as edgy as possible and probably never get a job, ever. Unless you are Native American, you have no business with a mohawk.
The hairstyle name comes from the Mohawk nation, part of the Iroquois confederacy of native Americans. Then, they all sported mohawk-like haircuts and now that’s turned into the ridiculous hairstyle with super long, dyed and gelled-up hair that is a total mockery of the original hairstyle. The punk scene needs to find a new style.
Pigtails
Pigtails are fine if you are under the age of 12 but for everyone older than that, it starts to get weird. Every adult sporting pigtails looks like they are trying to look a heck of a lot younger. It can look either totally ridiculous or really awkward, depending on the person.
Sure, if you are around the house, there's nothing wrong with you putting your hair up any which way you like. But pigtails on adults is a totally dated look from the '90s and before that, the '60s. Most grown women can't pull it off without looking childish as that's how most people view the hairstyle – like it or not.
New Wave Haircut
Unless you are Pink, and maybe even she could use a new haircut at this point, the new wave haircut is not cool anymore. It was a totally '80s Flock of Seagulls thing that has somehow made a comeback in the modern music scene, particularly with artists like Pink and anyone trying to be like Pink.
The new wave haircut has been around far too long for it even to be called new anymore. At this point, it's better just to get an old wave and call it a day. There is only one Pink, and if everyone had hair like Pink, then Pink wouldn't have the hair she has—something to think about.
Spiky Hair
Just as outdated at the new wave cut is spiky hair. This was totally a big thing for '80s punk rockers and the far less hardcore '90s rockers and pop stars for whatever reason, but spikes are no longer cool, and its time to stop trying to bring the look back.
Who in their right mind even wants to put that much product in their hair? It's not comfortable, and after a while, it just gets kind of itchy. There are more practical hairstyles for women that will still make you look as hardcore as you'd like. Miley Cyrus isn't necessarily the best role model. Just saying.
Short Nape Haircut
The short nape haircut is another totally '80s hairdo that has made a comeback in recent years. Probably has to do with all the '80s nostalgia that has cropped up but nevertheless, not everything about the '80s was good. If you are sporting one of these short nape haircuts, start growing your hair back now.
The short nape haircut has a buzzed look in the back and looks like it gets progressively longer towards the front. It's totally intentional but it just looks like a mistake. It's dated now and should never have come back. Plus, not everyone has the head shape to pull it off and its really difficult to see what the back of your own head looks.
Frizzy Waves
Waves have had a big year, which we love! The bigger, the better, right? Unfortunately, the trend is accompanied by one that's not quite as pleasing to look at... frizz. The frizzy trend has got to go! Isn't there an entire market of anti-frizz spray and similar products to avoid this disastrous look? There’s nothing wrong with low-maintenance hair, but some curl cream and argan oil can be a simple solution this coming year!
Once you calm down the frizz, you can embrace your new and improved hair. It will be softer, sleeker, and easier to manage. Going frizz-free is easier said than done, and curly-haired girls everywhere are probably rolling their eyes at us. Even those with pin-straight hair deal with frizz during those uncomfortably humid summers. A combination of sulfate-free shampoo, hair moisturizer, and oil-infused cream can make your curls bouncy without the baby hairs floundering around.
Pin-Straight Hair
Like the blunt bob, there is something unnatural looking about a haircut that is smooth and straight. The smooth and straight look is totally artificial. It looks too clean, too perfect, to the point that you may not even look human. More importantly, the look isn't even healthy for your hair.
If you like straight hair, by all means, straighten your hair, but don't damage your hair by making it that smooth. Waves and curls are totally in right now and even Kate Middleton can attest to that. But if you prefer to look like the Duchess of New Jersey, go right ahead.
Side Shaved Bob
The side shaved bob was totally a thing for a while in the 2010s. Natalie Dormer from Game of Thrones was rocking it in The Hunger Games and people started going for the look themselves. Of course, it didn't take long for this look to become dated. While there are those that are still going for the look, it's time to ditch it.
Overall, the look is a little too postmodern and not the least bit timeless. Remember that for every photo taken of you now, you may have grandkids that will see those photos in the future. And they might be like, "yeah, cool hair grandma" or they might be like "LOL, grandma."
Scarf-Wrapped Bun
The scarf-wrapped bun is just like the lazy bun in that it’s a messy bun with a scarf wrapped around it. The scarf-wrapped bun doesn't look any better just because there is an accessory involved, and on top of that, it's not really good for your hair as it could damage it.
Wrapping or tying things around your hair comes with the risk of breakage. The scarf can pull at your roots leading to hair loss, depending on how its tied, or break the hair. On top of that, the scarf draws moisture away from hair, causing split ends or fizziness, which nobody wants.
Sleek High Ponytail
The sleek high ponytail is yet another look that needs to go. Ariana Grande has been sporting it for long enough now that it's totally uncool. The look is going out, and on top of that, it's another style that is totally bad for your hair. If you want to go for a ponytail, go for one that is much lower.
The sleek high ponytail causes friction and breaks where the band is applied. This will cause frizz or a clean break right where it is. The ponytail also puts strain on the scalp, so it's like getting your hair pulled all the time, if ever so slightly. In the long term, this leads to follicle damage and hair loss.
Platinum Blonde
Who else has had a hard time going to the hairstylist lately? Not just us? Good. For this reason, we’re all moving away from platinum blonde. It’s hard to get touch-ups every six weeks when everyone is in quarantine every few days. There is also another huge reason people are moving away from it, though.
It’s really, really rough on your hair. Going platinum blonde may not be a big deal for someone with naturally blonde hair, but someone with dark hair? You’re talking multiple visits, tons of toner, and a massive amount of damage to your lovely locks. It’s time to your hair a much-needed break.
No Bangs
Whether or not you love bangs, they’re back with a vengeance this year. Short, long, blunt, and fringe — expect to see them everywhere. This means that not wearing bangs is a huge faux pas this year. It isn’t that we don’t love a good bang. Bangs can drastically change the way you look. Heck, you might even look like a different person.
Bangs have a way of framing your face and bringing out your best features. That being said, get ready for multiple salon visits. That or you can figure out how to cut them yourself. It’s surprisingly easy after you get the initial cut done, so give it a shot once your bangs start poking your eyes.
Balayage
Remember when balayage was all the rage? Everyone and their mom have this style, but the time has come for this ombre-like style. As the ‘90s come back into fashion, some of the hairstyles we hated the most are also coming back. The biggest? Chunky highlights. Oh, yes. They’re back, much to our dismay.
Let's face it: balayage looks good on everyone, and it's an easy look to wear. While experts tell you to ditch this style, they also encourage you to go with something that’s healthy for your hair. Sometimes, that means allowing your natural color to come through for once.
Brushed Out (Frizzy) Curls
For years, the world was obsessed with straight hair, and we do mean obsessed. Everyone straightened their hair or used a brush to comb down their curls. Thanks to the younger generations, people are embracing their natural curls again. This means we’re no longer taking a paddle brush to our curls.
Now, we nourish those curls and give them plenty of oils to ensure they’re bouncy and happy. Above all, they’re not frizzy and don’t look like a bird would call it home. There are tons of products on the market that are great for your hair. Just pay attention to your hair type and experiment!
Dyeing Grays
There’s nothing wrong with grays! Say it with us: there’s absolutely nothing wrong with gray hair. Some people get gray hair in their 30s, so it doesn’t always have to do with getting older. We’re living in a time where people spend hours in a salon chair getting their hair dyed gray when they naturally have brown or blonde hair!
Flaunt what you got, and that means letting your gray hair go free. It doesn’t matter if it’s salt and pepper, light gray, or a dark, dark gray. If there are streaks, we’ll just call those highlights. Gray hair is absolutely beautiful, and it’s a lot easier to just let it go free (and much less expensive).
Super Tight Buns
It doesn’t matter whether you wear your bun on the top, middle, or even as a low bun – tight buns are out. Nowadays, we’re all stressed enough, which can cause hair loss. The last thing we need is more of a reason for our hair to pop out of our heads! Tight buns cause major hair loss. Why?
All it does all day is pull at your follicles. It puts a ton of stress (physical stress, not mental) on the hair and weakens it over time. This could end up with a nasty case of traction alopecia which can take more than three to six months to resolve. New baby hairs take a while to grow, so ditch those super tight buns.
Headbands
Using a headband is so last year. They blew up because the ‘90s were coming back into style, but now? Yeah, no we’ve moved on. Some experts theorized that headbands got super popular at the beginning of the pandemic because it was a “mood booster.” That’s certainly something we needed.
Others said that it was because so many notable figures wore them, which certainly increases the popularity of anything. Take a look at Coach and other huge brand names that have gained popularity because celebs wore their logos. While they did give a little bit of a mood booster, they've dropped drastically in popularity.
Intricate Braids
In the words of an internet sensation and meme, “ain’t nobody got time for that.” Who has time to put together these intricate braids? Time and time again, we’ve been told that a waterfall braid or fishtail braid is easy, but here we are doing the same old braid we’ve been doing for years.
Apparently, we aren’t the only ones that have had a hard time because regular braids are back in style while intricate braids have fallen out of favor. For those that know how to do it, good on ya! For those that don’t, don’t worry about it! Those braided crowns ended up giving you a headache, anyway.
Chignons
Chignons became hugely popular a couple of years ago, and people wore them everywhere. Originally a formal style for weddings and proms, people wore chignons to go to work or even to the grocery store. That feels a little extra if you ask us. Apparently, people got tired of doing them.
The worst part of this style is that it works best on hair that hasn’t been washed for a few days. While that’s fine if you’re going to lounge at your house, no one wants to wear three- or four-day-old hair to your BFFs wedding. Something that elegant at least deserves a wash, right?
Looped Bun
The looped bun wasn’t one certain style, but a general way of doing a bun. You could add one loop, two loops, or as many as your hands could get in there. Some people went nuts and added five or more! We don’t know how, but they managed it somehow.
Looped buns have fallen out of favor for the same reason other hairstyles on this list have – this year is all about simplicity. Instead of spending a ton of time on hair, experts are encouraging people to take care of their hair and spend this year strengthening it. To be fair, we have put our hair through years of abuse.
Mid-Level Pony with Wisps
Mid-level ponytails? Yeah, no. Those aren’t coming back this year. Maybe it works for a quick workout, but that’s it. No one expects you to spend hours on a hairdo that will get messed up and sweaty in the first place. Furthermore, wisps are changing since last year.
As the ‘90s come back into full swing, wisps are also making their way back, but not the same old ones we saw back in the day. These ones are thicker and some even use two thick strands instead of one. They’re definitely more face-framing than anything we did when NSYNC was popular.
Bungee Ponytails
Bungee ponytails were the thing to do last year and the year before. Bungee hair ties weren't as bad as normal hair ties because they distributed the pressure evenly. They also worked great with thicker hair. However, that doesn't mean that they didn't cause any damage at all.
Depending on how you put your hair up, you could also put extra pressure on smaller portions of hair, which could definitely cause issues down the line. The hairstyle has also become pretty stuffy. Unless you’re wearing this hair in a professional environment, it just comes off as “don’t mess with me.”
Rainbow Hair
No one is denying that rainbow hair wasn’t beautiful. It was absolutely stunning, and you couldn’t help but stare when someone got it done…for the most part anyway. That being said, all the colors didn’t fade at the same time. The red was hard to keep while the green turned into this sea-witch color.
This meant that regular salon visits were a must. When roots started to pop up, things got even more expensive. That doesn’t even touch the damage it does to your hair, so this year? Stylists are saying, “no.” It’s time to give your lovely locks a break. Go with your natural color for a little while.
Unnatural Split Dyed Hair
Split-dyed hair is getting huge. This is when you use a middle part and get one color on one side and a different color on the other. For a while, people rolled with unnatural colors. Maybe pink on one side and blue on the other. That type of dye is falling out of style for the same reason rainbow hair disappeared – it was hard to keep it looking good.
Now, people are rolling with natural shades. That seems to be the move this year – all natural! Many people are going dark brown on one side and blonde on the other, which looks stunning. Others are going with red and blonde. The choices are still limitless, just no unnatural shades.
Crimped Hair
Crimped hair didn't even look good in the '90s, so what makes us think it'll work out for us now? No adult should be caught dead in this trend when it cropped up during the same decade as butterfly pins. We'll allow teenagers to dominate the crimping-iron market once they figure out that they can style their hair with hot tools, but that's it. Not to mention, crimping irons can damage your hair quite a bit.
Heat can majorly damage your hair—so if you’re going to put heat on it, let it be the heat of a hairdryer, straighter, or curler—not a crimper. We all know that whenever you use heat, some sort of heat protection spray should be used beforehand. There are some modernized hairstyles that implement crimping in a way that isn't utterly horrific, like Kim Kardashian's stylist. But for us normies, lets stick to our curling irons for now.
One-Length Haircuts
A lot of hairstylists are encouraging people to stop dying their hair all the time. It’s seriously damaging to the hair, so what is the alternative? Layers. Tons of layers and wisps. This means that one-length haircuts are also out. The problem with one-length haircuts is that they all remind us of bowl cuts.
You know that look from the ‘60s that everyone flocked to? Yeah, no. That look isn’t for us. The biggest problem with one-length haircuts is that it encourages the hair to lie flat and lifeless. You want your hair to seem weightless and voluminous. Not weighed down by the lack of layers.
Mahogany
This year is all about natural shades, and mahogany isn’t it. While some might say, “red is definitely a natural shade!” but not this one. It’s this weird purple shade that screams, “I’m trying to cover something up!” No amount of hair dye can fix this mistake.
Don’t get us wrong — reds are certainly still in. However, it’s natural ginger and copper red shades. From the fiery red to the “Girl Next Door” innocent copper, there are still tons of choices out there. Hairstylists are just seriously swerving away from purples for now. The more natural the better.
Prom Curls
Layers of elastic and lace, it's almost as if prom curls had their own giant flower crown. It's been a staple for so many years, but in 2021, these gravity-defying styles are out! Everyone's internal figurative eye-roll is so loud you could probably hear it across the world. Put down the curling iron and switch over to something more natural and understated.
The best thing about ditching curls like this means no more waking up at 4am to be ready in time. Practicality is key this year. Let's bid farewell to the days of meticulous styling and embrace an easier glamour. After all, this is a night to celebrate your hard work, so why not make it easier on yourself too?