The Biggest Haircut Trends You’ll Be Seeing in 2022

With salons seeing far more clients in 2021 than they did in 2020, an increasingly vaccinated population means 2022 will likely see even more of us visiting our favorite hairstylists with more frequency. But because things still seem precarious, it’s not unusual to want to seek change in some controllable way — like your haircut. “An external change can be a simple and easy way to signify a transition that is internally more complex and harder to articulate otherwise,” therapist Nikki Nachum explained to Allure. “A new hairstyle becomes almost like an announcement to both yourself and the outer world that something is changing in your life.”

That said, some of the biggest hair trends of the last year are seamlessly flowing into 2022 — perhaps a sign of sticking to the comfort of what we know. “It has been a crazy year trying to recover from the pandemic,” says West Hollywood-based hairstylist Kamara Brown. “It’s no secret that many women are looking for ways to get the longest wear out of their hairstyles.” And whether you’re seeking a dramatically different new style or you just want some minor trendy touchups to your current look, top stylists are eager to share their visions of what the trends in hair salons will look like over the next few seasons — and they don’t always agree. 

Chris Appleton, Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez’s go-to stylist, tells Allure that after all the effortless and natural looks of the last two low-key-beauty years, “people are ready to try a little harder and add some extra ‘oomph,'” by switching to sleek, straight styles and tight ponytails and braids. But Brown sees things differently: “There’s going to be a lot of ditching the traditional pulled-back look,” she says, believing there will be plenty of untamed texture in 2022.

People will also be ditching a lot of length, according to Los Angeles-based hairstylist Erinn Courtney. “The types of hairstyles I predict will be big in 2022 are short cuts — anything from chic bobs to big chops,” she tells Allure. “Coming out of the pandemic, I think everyone wants to be their healthiest self, and that includes their hair.”

While scrolling through this list, keep in mind what features on your face you want to enhance — instead of your face shape — says hairstylist Wes Sharpton, who works out of New York City’s Hairstory Studio. “You and your stylist can create a game plan to make sure these things are framed in the right way,” he adds. “We need to make it a positive experience and celebrate you, which is the most important thing at the end of the day.”