What a year 2022 has been for hair trends. From trending hair colours such as copper and seventies-inspired blonde, to haircuts like the bob and mixie cut, we saw a whole range of hair trends trickle from our feeds into IRL. It's safe to say we're pretty excited to see what 2023 hair trends will be in store for us next year. It's safe to say our hair has come a long way this year. After two years of uncertainty from the pandemic, we all breathed a collective sign of relief once our much-loved hair salons were no longer subjected to lockdowns, and it finally feels as though our hair routine (for the most part) is back to normal.
While 2020 was spent trying to make our pre-lockdown cut last as long as possible, 2021 consisted of trying to get our strands fighting fit after all of the neglect. Now, reflecting back on 2022, we feel confident enough to say that this year was the year for hair. Our lockdown lengths were chopped into shorter styles like the bob and the mixie as we braved going for the chop, and hair colour has never been more exciting.
As for styling, we've seen more and more people embrace their natural hair texture, and many of us experimented with those supermodel blowouts thanks to the rise of hairstyling tools like the Dyson AirWrap flooding our feeds.
To find out which 2022 hair trends reigned, we spoke to some of the top stylists and experts in the hair game as we reflect back on the biggest hair trends of 2022.
1. The Big Blowout
Dressing down a big blowout with a low-key tracksuit is the perfect way to make this typically glam hairstyle work in the day.
Of course, blowouts always look great accompanied by fancy frocks.
A voluminous, ’70s-style blow-dry will no doubt be the biggest hairstyle of the year.
It’s really no surprise that big, glossy blowouts made a huge comeback this year. Celebrity hairstylist and expert Luke Hersheson explains, "We’re all starting to feel the need for super-luxe, glossy, blown-out hair again. Maybe it’s being able to go back out and socialise again after two years of on-and-off lockdowns. For 2022, we’re talking big, bouncy, ’90s-supermodel style volume.”
If you’re not the biggest whizz with a hair dryer, the Dyson Airwrap makes achieving that super blown-out look at home easier than ever. Yes, it’s pricey, but so are blow-dries, and if you think you could make the money back by saving on those salon blow-dry appointments, it’s a no-brainer.
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Beauty buffs say that the Dyson Airwrap is essential for creating salon-esque hair at home.
This blow-drying brush has a supersized barrel for big, bouncy volume.
A mousse is the secret product to help give your blowout longevity, bounce and volume.
2. The Mixie
The mixie cut has the wearability of a pixie hairstyle with the edginess of a mullet.
Flick out your ends to add texture to your mixie.
A grown-out or slightly longer pixie cut can look effortlessly chic.
If the shag was the biggest haircut of 2021, the mixie was the haircut of 2022. Sitting somewhere between a mullet and a pixie crop, it’s much more daring than the shag, but it’s still really quite wearable. "It’s a versatile look,” says Paul Percival, Owner of Percy & Reed salon and Redken Artist. "You have control of the look and can adapt it quickly and easily. We have a new in-salon service at Percy & Reed London that combines two styles in one appointment. We cut a pixie cut and match the style and colour to ethically sourced hair wefts. The pixie cut is easily wearable for every day, but then you can clip in your weft for something different.”
The key to the mixie is to ensure it’s full of texture. Work a styling pomade or wax into the roots for an angled, edgy look.
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A short-hair saviour that adds texture without the excess weight, this pomade can be worked through roots and ends to give a lived-in structure.
Provides long lasting hold, and looks chic in your bathroom too.
3. The French Bob
Style your French bob with on-trend curtain bangs for a low-maintenance style.
A middle parting makes this ’do feel even sleeker.
Wavy and curly styles lend themselves well to French bobs, as demonstrated by Fran.
This will come as no surprise, but the French bob was everywhere in 2022. Its understated, classic nature means it’s set to be a mainstay hair trend. "Bobs were big in 2022,” says Hersheson. "I don’t think there’s such thing as a bad bob for next year. Everything from long bobs to graduated bobs will still be huge, but particularly the French bob.”
To get lived-in volume and texture in the roots that won’t weigh the hair down, use a super-lightweight styling foam. This will give the lift of a mousse without any of that crunchy weight.
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Want thickness without the usual crunch or tackiness? Hershesons to the rescue! Apply this foamy mousse to dry roots and work in with your fingers until it has fully absorbed. Expect long-holding volume, less-oily roots and malleable lift.
I know so many stylists who swear by this product if added oomph is the desired effect. Just scrunch into damp hair and let is dry naturally.
Prevent roots from falling flat by spritzing on ghd's root spray before blowdrying. Top tip: blow-dry hair upside-down for extra lift and body.
4. The Undone Boy Bob
Kaia is the queen of the ’90s-style boy bob.
Tucked behind the ear, this easy bob looks effortlessly chic.
If your hair is straight and lacks weight, the boy bob could be the hairstyle to try.
Speaking of bobs, a new bob that came on to the scene this year was the boy bob. We saw it all over the runways (Chanel S/S 22, we’re looking at you), and was one of the most popular cuts this year. "It’s the sort of cut you can just leave to air-dry and it will still look effortlessly chic and undone,” says celebrity hairstylist and expert George Northwood.
The key is in the cut. "Ask your hairdresser for a super-short bob, cut to the jawline, that is just long enough so that you can still tuck it behind your ears. Keep it all one length with no shape around the face. If the hair is feeling too straight and sleek, I’d recommend a couple of spritzes of my Undone Volume Spray to add some body and texture,” adds Northwood.
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A haircare essential I can never be without, this volumising spray adds next-level volume and lift to strands without weighing them down. It's the ultimate way to add texture that is full of body.
A claw clip is a great way to keep your lengths tied back while staying stylish.
5. '70s Blonde
Incorporate a root stretch and balayage into your ’70s blonde to make colour appointments last longer.
Dark roots and creamy blonde lengths feel so Y2K and, as such, very current.
Sabina’s iconic French-girl blonde is giving us major inspiration.
While ’70s cuts were everywhere in 2021, in 2022, we took retro inspiration for our colour. "After a monotonous year of lockdowns, people were looking for a dramatic change in 2022—and ’70s hair trends offer just that,” says Northwood. Particularly, when it comes to bleach and colour. "Think honey-hued blonde shades against layered hair with heaps of volume and choppy bangs. The colour tends to be slightly creamy, with softer butterscotch tones, offering a fresh take on a classic retro style,” he adds.
To keep bleached strands as healthy and free from breakage as possible, swap out your usual hairbands for thin silk scrunchies. Tension is one of the biggest causes of breakage in bleached hair, and silk bands are the perfect alternative.
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Price shown is member price.
Once you try silk hair ties, it’s hard to go back, and these little ones from Beauty Pie rival others double their price.
Go one step further to protect bleached lengths by investing in a silk pillowcase. Yes, it is an investment purchase, but you'll be rewarded with less frizz and hair breakage in the mornings.
6. Natural Curls and Texture
Air-dry curls to minimise heat damage and get the most out of your curl pattern.
Curly fringes always look incredible, but this look is even more striking with grown-out greys.
Consider wearing your coils loose in a middle parting.
"Texture in all of its forms dominated the hair world in 2022,” says hairstylist and Imbue Creative Director and Ambassador Michelle Sultan. "The curly hair market, in particular, is growing and growing. We are seeing more representation on television showing more Black presenters, hosts, and stars wearing their natural texture.”
If you’ve been toying with the idea of styling your natural curls for a while, take this as your sign that now is the time. Before you take the plunge, be sure to stock up on products formulated specifically for curly or coily hair in order to get the most out of your curl pattern. "Using products that are curly girl–friendly is always a good idea, whether you have a loose wave, tight coil or kink,” says Sultan.
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With coconut, cupuaçu, and shea, this mask is hydration central. It's ideal for curl types 3A to 4C.
This ultra-nourishing mask is particularly good at rejuvenating dry or damaged tresses, leaving hair glossy and curls defined.
If dryness is a concern, then this hydrating curl cream is worth trying. It leaves curls soft and defined and also protects hair from humidity with a cocktail of nourishing oils.
7. Barely There Hair
If your hair is naturally thin and straight, let your hair dry naturally and embrace its natural shape and texture.
Step away from the straighteners—waves only add to this cool-girl aesthetic.
Take the barely there trend into the evening by very roughly bending a straightener through the ends to create undone waves.
If your natural texture isn’t typically full of volume and falls a little flat, then 2022 was the year for you just as much as it is for more voluminous styles. "This is what I like to call barely there hair,” says Northwood. "It’s like no-makeup makeup but for your hair. Natural, effortless-looking hair has really become the new glamour hair. Simply styled with a subtle wave with a tong gives the illusion of having just rolled out of bed with an undone look. Hailey Bieber’s hair at the Met Gala in 2021 was the perfect example,” Northwood adds.
To achieve the look at home with minimal effort, consider air-drying your hair. After washing, work an air-dry cream into lengths, and let it dry naturally.
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If you have finer hair, a weightless conditioner like this one from Beauty Pie will stop your hair from feeling weighed down when air-drying.
Bumble and Bumble can do no wrong in my eyes. If your hair is fine and you struggle to get anything from it, this air-drying cream will boost texture and deliver a little bit of volume. It's just-rolled-out-of-bed hair in a tube.
Want touchable hold? This air dry cream defines hair with a gentle hold, and can be layered up without any crunchiness.
8. Classic Bob
The classic bob will never go out of fashion. However, in 2022 it had a real moment.
This braided bob looks so sharp—the chin-grazing length is perfect.
A middle-parted, blunt bob? Sign us up.
Can you tell that the bob was huge news in 2022? While the French bob and boy bob are seriously popular, it’s also worth noting that the classic bob made a comeback this year, and we'll see it continuing into 2023. "The classic bob never dies,” says Sultan. "Fashionistas across the globe are opting for less maintenance and instant power hair in a sleek bob—they’re blunt and swingy.”
To get that glass-like shine on your bob, use a coating shine spray straight after washing, and then blow-dry the hair. "For a glossy shine, also make sure you’re using a good heat protector,” adds Sultan.
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Adored by hairstylists far and wide, this spray makes hair super shiny, glossy and glass-like.
You can use this spray on wet or dry hair to create impressive shine and healthy-looking locks thanks to a combination of hydrating and luminosity-boosting oils.
Want super-shiny hair? Look for boar bristle hair brushes. They help to polish the hair for a mirror-like shine.
9. Warm Ginger Tones
This balayage ginger style blends warm red tones with cooler blondes for a low-maintenance, effortless look.
You needn’t go for the same colour all over; add dimension and depth with balayage and curated dyeing techniques.
Warm, auburn hair, like Gigi’s dyed lengths, doesn’t equal easy upkeep, but the results make it so worth it.
Trends of warm orange hair tones have started emerging as we headed into the colder months in 2022. "This time around, warm gingery hues will be bright and unapologetic. Make sure when trying out a colour like this that you get it done professionally,” says Sultan. With red tones being notoriously hard to work with when applying colour to hair, be sure to keep strands as protected as possible by using bond-restoring treatments like Olaplex.
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This mask is a best seller for a reason. It strengthens the bonds that keep hair healthy and sleek, making it ideal for those that have colour-damaged strands.
Keep your hair colour look fresh in between salon visits with a colour reposting mask. This one helps to nourish the hair and refreshes copper tones.
Another bond restorer, this product also strengthens the bonds in your hair but is applied after shampooing for extra nourishment.
Now that you’re up to speed on the hair trends 2022, why not chic out what 2023 hair trends you should have on your radar.
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