It’s a new year, and the style spotlight is on textured hair. Top texture experts share their predictions on what will be this year’s hottest curly hair trends.
Brian and Sandra Smith
Matrix Artistic Directors
This year is defined by minimalism and natural beauty. We see easy elegance for spring in polished ponytails, graceful braids and bouncy blowouts. Still, nothing is too perfect or impeccable — deconstructed waves and undone knots and twists prove having a bit of an edge is as chic as ever.
You can see it in TV ads and most facets of popular culture: Natural hair is becoming the must-have style for many women. More and more women with texture are turning away from relaxers and extensions to prevent damage and breakage. Now there’s a different kind of shift underway: keeping your hair in its natural state and manipulating and refining texture with product, tools and techniques.
Kevin Murphy
Editorial Stylist and Founder of Kevin.Murphy products
The 1970s wave — think Janis Joplin/mermaid waves. The undone look is a simple idea, but not as easy to achieve as one would think. Texture is one thing and frizz is another and they should not be confused. Frizz is a hard pill to swallow for most women, but to make hair modern, clients need to let go a bit.
The Afro set will be another trend. This is a method of using a large pin and wrapping the hair around in a figure-eight pattern. This look is great for achieving lots of volume — it’s about embracing texture and going wild. It has a lot to do with freedom and rounder shapes in hair cuts, lots of layers and a shorter length to make a sort of mini fro.
Cyntelia Abrams
Marketing Coordinator for Design Essentials
Big, messy curls, waves, twist sets and braid outs — I love hair that is purposely messy with some frizz and wildness to it. Even if you’re natural, I’m an advocate for trims and texture with shape.
Anthony Dickey
Founder of Hair Rules
Growing it out and chopping it off! Once women have embraced their natural waves, curls and kinks, many are opting for dynamic, short styles that showcase their unique textures. Protective styling is on the upswing, with clients looking for styles that last longer. Many clients with kinkier textures are requesting more braids and twists; and curlier clients are getting more blow outs and looking for more enduring styles they can maintain effortlessly at home.
Christo
Owner of Christo Fifth Avenue
Long curls — fringe is outdated for long hair this season. The curly hair trend will be long, diagonal layers that give lift and a lot of movement for a sexy, airy look. It’s very versatile and can be carried off by all hair textures.
For medium curls, the trend will be one length with very few layers in the front (preferably done with a single-plate sharp shears for more texture”>. Fringe is welcome with medium lengths to create a sexier look; however, make sure the curls are not tight. This is one of my favorite styles because it can be worn either curly or straight.
For short curls I suggest the crop. It is super short with long, full bangs and diagonal layers toward the face. This style is for women with loose curls.
Roni Griffin
Director of Marketing and Business Development for Universal Beauty Products
Some of the biggest trends will be natural hair colors using non-ammonia based color and bigger styles. says Griffin. People with textured hair will be more comfortable rocking bolder styles due to natural hair becoming more accepted worldwide.
Jonathan Torch
Founder of Toronto’s Curly Hair Solutions and the Curly Hair Institute
Texture is now trending in 2012. It has been a while coming, but now it’s here in full swing. Clients and stylists have embraced what they have, and they have learned how to manage, manipulate and get their curls under control and how to show them at their optimum.
