I'm a firm believer in the new-year-new-hair mindset. Personally, I'll be starting 2024 with fresh bangs and a chin-length bob haircut, but the reality is you don't need to make an appointment with your stylist or colorist to shake things up in the new year. Adopting the new-year-new-hair mindset can be as simple as investing in a cute hair accessory (see #1 below) or parting your hair a little differently. In fact, the biggest 2024 hair trends are shockingly simple and all about keeping your hair natural and healthy, says hairstylist Dafne Evangelista. Intrigued? Keep scrolling for all of the best trends, from what celebrities have been wearing, what was on runways, and what TikTokers are bringing to our feeds.
1. Headbands for 2024
Hair clips and barrettes have had their moment, but 2024 is going to be all about headbands, mark my words. We've seen iterations of this trend over the last few months, namely in the form of puffy, '6os-inspired styles (like one Ashley Park is wearing above) as well as thick fabric headbands à la the early aughts. But at Peter Do for Helmut Lang, we also saw the return of the stretchy, comb-style headband. Basically, we'll all be pulling our hair back this year—one way or another.
Tuiser Comb Headband
2. Wet Look Hair Trend
"I'm obsessed with sleek hair—I think it goes with everything, from jeans and white shirts to a red carpet look," says Evangelista. On runways last fall, designers like Helmut Lang and Prabal Gurung had models sport the wet-look while their hair was down for a mermaid-y effect, which Evangelista says can be achieved by smoothing globs of hair oil from roots to ends. This will give your hair a mega shiny, wet finish without a crunch. "This just makes your entire look so much cooler," she adds.
However, if you're into a tight, sleek look with a bun or pinned-back hair, try a strong-hold, glue-like hair gel, Evangelista says. Then, to pull back your hair, brush it through with a boar-bristle brush or edge brush for a smooth finish.
3. 2024 Hair Trend: Side-Swept Bangs
Sorry gen-Z, side-swept bangs are back with a vengeance. I mean, millennial icon Taylor Swift has been pushing her grown-out blunt bangs to the side recently, and even model and my personal beauty muse Gabbriette (shown above) found a way to make side bangs cool again.
If you've already got bangs or even face-framing layers, just part your hair over to one side to get a similar look. But if you're open to a haircut, ask your stylist to cut blunt straight-across bangs at your lashes or longer, which will give you some styling leeway to push 'em over to one side or split down the middle for a more Birkin-bang effect.
F3 systems Magic Curling Thermal Brush
Nexxus Comb Thru Finishing Spray
4. Braided Updos for 2024
Get ready to see stunning braided updos all over the carpets during awards season. This is a great way to turn your protective style into a whole damn moment, and it can be done a bajillion different ways depending on your ~vibes~. But if you wanna go fancy like Jasmin Savoy's look, def opt for a sleek, pulled-back style to let the braids do all the talking. Feel free to swirl your edges like her too for some extra interest.
TGIN Smooth & Hold Edge Control
5. Round Curly Haircuts for 2024
Um, let's talk about Ice Spice's influence! Her signature curly afro is the perfect 2024 update to the curly shag that's been popular the last few years. The roundness frames your face, offering up a very striking, volumized look that still feels playful. Just make sure to bring tons of reference images to your hairstylist and talk through the length you're looking for to make sure you get the exact style you want.
Ceremonia Pequi Curl Activator Styling Serum
Camille Rose Algae Renew Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
6. Honey-Blonde Hair Color Trend
Natural, grown-out blonde hair with some warmth is the new hair color of choice for celebs who used to do bright platinum blonde (see: Alix Earle above, as well as Madelyn Cline and Khloe Kardashian), and it's going to be a staple on our feeds and IRL in 2024. "People are going more natural with their blonde color," says Evangelista. "I've had a lot of blonde clients growing out their natural hair a bit."
For example, when Evangelista first started seeing Earle, she had bright, platinum-blonde hair, which Evangelista says was super damaged. She suggested Earle go back to her natural base color and break it up with some highlights and warmth throughout for a smooth look, which has made her hair look more natural and healthy, Evangelista notes.
dpHUE Glossy Glaze
Briogeo Color Me Brilliant Mushroom + Bamboo Color Protect Shampoo
7. Easy Bends for 2024
Consider this the opposite of intricate, runway hairstyles you could never do at home. Instead, we're entering an "easy" era of hair, most notably through looks that incorporate subtle bends. Designers Prabal Gurung and Staud gave models of all different lengths an ever-so-slight bend to the hair that don't just look effortless, but is actually pretty effortless to DIY too. Just take a few random sections of hair and run your flat iron down, adding a slight flip throughout. Then, spritz in a light-hold hairspray or texture spray to keep the shape without impeding on movement.
Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Evolve Ionic Flat Iron
Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray
8. 2024 Hair Trend: Blunt Cuts
ICYMI: Some celebs lately (like Megan Fox, above) have forgone their ultra-long hair in favor of medium-length cuts with blunt ends. "I truly believe that we're gonna see a lot of blunt haircuts in 2024," says Evangelista. "We had a phase of beachy hair with very thin ends, and I think now people are looking for more blunt haircuts that look healthy and add some bounce to the hair." This type of cut helps get those full, 90s-esque blowouts with waves and curls instead of the usual "beachy waves" of years past. Ask your stylist to keep your ends as full as possible with longer, fewer layers for volume.
Gisou Propolis-Infused Polishing Primer
Meet the expert:
- Dafne Evangelista is a celebrity hairstylist and colorist based in Miami, FL. She's also the founder of her own salon, Dafne Evangelista Beauty Lounge. She's worked with celebs like Alix Earle, Emma Chamberlain, and Natti Natasha.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from how to make your hair grow faster to castor oil for hair growth. She’s an authority in all hair categories, but is an expert when it comes to 2024 hair trends after chatting with hairstylists for months about their biggest trend predictions.
Beth Gillette
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
