10 Months Ago, Experts Told Me These Hair Trends Would Dominate 2024—They Were Right

We're now approaching the end of 2024 and I'm already thinking about which hair trends we'll look back on at the end of the year and note were BIG. It'll come as no surprise that last year paved the way for short haircut trends, with many of us (read: pretty much the entire Who What Wear UK team) flocking to the salon to chop our lengths into every iteration of a bob haircut going, from blunt bobs to the Italian bob and inverted bobs. And there's no doubt about it—a quick scroll of Instagram confirms that short hairstyles are here to stay well into the rest of this year.

From a colour perspective, salons were inundated with requests for red hair, from cowboy copper (one of summer's biggest hair colour trends) to cherry cola red, as one of the year's biggest hair colour trends of the year.

So, what hair trends lay in store for the rest of 2024? From trending haircuts to the hair colours we'll see everywhere I asked Tom Smith, hairstylist and international artist in residence at Billi Currie, and Jason Crozier, art director at Neville Hair & Beauty, for all the insights on the hair trends we'll be wearing through winter 2024.

The Biggest Hair Trends of 2024

1. Sunflower Blonde
2. Boho Bangs
3. Clean Girl Brunette
4. Bell-Bottom Bob
5. Baroque Bob
6. Elevated Updos
7. Velvet Hair
8. Volume
9. Mini Bob
10. XL Lengths
11. Hair Bows
12. Bambi Blonde
13. The Kitty Cut

1. Sunflower Blonde

2024 saw a return to golden blonde, particularly over the summer, with both Zendaya and Rihanna stepping out with a sunny blonde hair colour that Smith has coined 'sunflower blonde'. "Warmer and golden blonde tones have been steadily growing traction as blondes want a bit of the ‘glow’ that copper and red hair offers without losing their ‘blonde identity’," he says. "Softly multi-tonal this shade can be achieved with highlights on naturally lighter hair or with a full colour plus highlights on naturally deeper bases. The tones are entirely golden with a real focus on shine and vibrancy."

"Health and shine is crucial for the success of this look, so using regular conditioning treatments and bond builders will help to maintain the glow of the hair," recommends Smith. "Have your hairstylist use an intense gold toner after your usual blonding appointment to try this shade out if you’re already blonde. If your hair is darker and want to try this out, its surprisingly easy to achieve as darker hair tends to lift with warm and golden tones anyway," he says.

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2. Boho Bangs

Fringes have been big news this year, with Google searches for "messy fringe" up 150% over the past 12 months and Who What Wear cover star Daisy Edgar-Jones convincing many of us to take the plunge and have a fringe cut in. While curtain fringes have reigned with a bouncy blowout finish in recent year, this year has welcomed a more relaxed take, with bohemian, face-framing layering and plenty of cool-girl texture to boot. We're obsessed.

A fringe like this is a great way to update your look if you don't want to have a major hair transformation in terms of length and it looks great worn up or down.

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3. Clean Girl Brunette

While we've seen blonde hair colours warm up, on the brunette front we're seeing hair colour take a more neutral stance for winter, according to Smith.

"Months after ‘clean girl’ first became a leading trend in beauty, we’re seeing the influence in hair and this pared down brunette shade is the tone of choice for those celebrating their brunette hair during 2024 ‘the year of the brunette’," says Smith. "This winter this perfectly neutral and minimal shade is a great option for those who prefer a more understated hair colour shade and can be achieved with a total all over colour or with very subtle sun-kissed dimension," he says. "The key here is the subtlety, with a neutral tone - no excess ashy-ness or warm tones. Unlike spring and summer's ‘taupe brown’ which was a cool-neutral, this is an easier to wear totally neutral tone designed to look as though it is totally natural and uncoloured."

To keep this hair colour looking sleek and expensive, Smith recommends maintaining good hair care at home. "If you find yourself fighting against brassy tones, a blue shampoo or pigmented toning conditioner can help to keep this neutral tone," he says. "Focus on haircare that offers shine and silkiness—to keep this clean girl brunette shade looking cared for the hair should appear in flawless health."

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4. Bell-Bottom Bob

The bohemian renaissance of 2024 has reached bobs in the form of a the bell-bottom bob, which gives a nod to the '70s jeans silhouette. "[This is] a bob with minimal layers, with or without a fringe flipped out at the ends, either with perfect precision or a more undone texture," says Smith. "The silhouette inspired by the shape of a bell or the flared cut of bell-bottom jeans. The bob is slim to the head nearer the parting and flares out with volume at the ends," he says.

This look is all in the styling, and Smith has some tips for getting it right at home. "Gently pre-dry the roots of your hair in a downward motion, then use a small round brush with the help of a styling mousse or heat protector spray to flick out the ends. If your hair drops out easily, try wrapping the ends up in a small Velcro roller while they cool to set the flick in place," he advises. "Finish with a strong hold hairspray. For a softer, more daytime wearable look shake the hair out after styling and add texture spray for a less perfect result."

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5. Baroque Bob

Just when we thought we'd seen all the possible types of bob haircuts, another iteration has entered the chat. The "baroque bob" is set to be a big hair trend in winter 2024, according to Crozier, which lends itself well to those with natural curls or longer bob haircuts that have grown out. "Baroque-inspired curls bring an air of opulence, with Versace’s runway as a prominent example," he says. "The trend will evolve with a contemporary twist. Celebrities like Zendaya continue to embrace voluminous curls, but now with a hint of avant-garde geometric shapes, offering a combination of timeless beauty and modern artistry."

If you're not blessed with natural curls, curling wands are your go-to for creating volume and body with your bob.

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6. Elevated Updos

With our love of all things old money showing no signs of slowing in 2024, you can expect to see more classic updo hairstyles dominating this winter. However, these sculptural styles will have an undone element that makes them all the more wearable. "In 2023, we saw elaborate updos taking centre stage on runways, inspired by designers like Valentino," says Crozier. "Now, in 2024, the trend will evolve with a touch of nature, reflecting a desire for understated elegance and sophistication," he says. Think updos with tendrils and natural texture shining through.

So chic.

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7. Velvet Hair

Healthy, shiny hair resembles luxurious fabrics like velvet and silk, which have a lustrous glimmer and movement. In essence, treating your hair as a luxury fabric can elevate your look, whether it be through good at-home haircare, glossing treatments or in-salon colour that leaves a multi-dimensional shine.

"The appeal of velvety hair with glossy finishes is on the rise, influenced by high-end fashion," notes Crozier. "In winter 2024, the trend will evolve to include otherwordly iridescent pigments. Designers like Gucci continue to champion this trend, and [we're seeing] celebrities embrace the magic of iridescent tresses," he says.

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8. Volume

Volume is something that a lot of us want to achieve in our hair, and it's a key characteristic we'll see in general across winter 2024's hair trends. "Last year, volume was already a key player in high-end fashion. In 2024, [we will] embrace the ‘bigger is better’ philosophy," predicts Crozier. "Designers like Schiaparelli have featured voluminous hair on the runway, with Kendall Jenner showcasing the art of mega volume," he says. "Achieve [it] by using volumising products, teasing techniques and high-quality extensions to create dramatic, voluminous hair."

This look gives me all of the '90s vibes.

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9. Mini Bob

Our current penchant for shorter lengths means many more of us will be getting braver in the salon chair, opting for cuts like the "mini bob", which can fall anywhere between the cheekbones to the jawline. "Enhance precision in short bob cuts by combining soft and bold elements, allowing for versatile styling options," says Crozier, who recommends experimenting with blunt cuts that can also be softened with waves and curls, or worn super sleek. "Mini bobs can switch between bold and soft looks, highlighting their adaptability for various occasions," he says.

I don't know about you, but I think this shorter haircut is perfect for party season.

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10. XL Lengths

Whilst short styles won't be going anywhere, longer lengths are making a comeback again, with Crozier predicting that extensions will be popular in winter 2024. "Custom-made extensions are gaining popularity, allowing clients to enjoy perfectly matched hair," he says. "In winter, the trend will evolve to embrace individual textures and personalised styling, catering to the desire for a unique, luxurious look."

Brands such as Ruka have many options for textured hair, allowing seamless matches for all curl types, and salons such as Neville Hair & Beauty offer professional bespoke extension services that allow you to experiment with different lengths and colours to update your look. And if you're looking to grow your hair out long, there have never been more targeted treatments to help encourage healthy hair growth.

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11. Hair Bows

Everywhere we look right now, hair ribbons and bows are tied into ponytails, secured in buns and adorning hair accessories. And the data backs it up. According to Clearpay, searches for bows, hair ties and hair ribbons are up over 100%. Not only do they look chic, but adding these to your hair is the easiest way to elevate your style without having to put a tonne of effort in.

Opt for plush velvet bows that pin into the hair, or buy a reel of grosgrain ribbon to tie into a ponytail—it couldn't be easier. Look for luxe textures such as velvet, satin and ribbon for an elegant finish.

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12. Bambi Blonde

Bambi blonde has been taking off, and we can only expect to see more of this warm, buttery and multi-tonal hair colour in winter. Speaking to Who What Wear UK, Zoe Irwin, creative director at John Frieda salons, says: "It’s a layering technique which does away with painstaking highlights in favour of thicker slices of honey, caramel, beige and gold tones that blend seamlessly," she says.

I'll definitely be opting for this colour this winter.

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13. The Kitty Cut

If summer was the season of the butterfly cut, the kitty cut is winter's version. Featuring a cropped, collarbone length cut with blown-out, face-framing layers, we're expecting this feline style to take off this year.

This haircut is effortlessly cool.

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This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.