2021 Hair Trends
2021 Hair Trends
Author: Jenna White | San Francisco Hairstylist
August 24th, 2021
August 24th, 2021
At the start of humankind's evolution, the key purpose of hair was to keep us warm and protect our skin from the sun. Today, we're hardly aware that protection is a function of hair. It relates more closely to identity, adornment, modesty, and status. It allows people to be recognized as members of a specific group, while at the same time helping them to express their creativity. In many cultures, hairstyle embodies personal taste and wealth. This is how trends are born. With that in mind, I'm using this post to introduce you to the evolving trends of 2021.
CURTAIN BANGS
Generally recognized as a longer (sitting at the cheek bone or lower) bang with a center part that is pushed to the sides of the face. Variations on length can be used to highlight or balance facial features. I always recommend seeing a professional for haircuts because mistakes can take weeks or months to reverse, but if you're in a pinch, attempting curtain bangs is a less risky place to start. If you check out #curtainbangs on TikTok you'll see a lot of DIY bang approaches. Some people cut them on dry hair and others wet. You'll also see videos on styling with rollers, round brushes and curling irons. It's a great resource if you end up struggling to style your new look.
Model @enedina_taylor
Haircut by @jennafwhite
Haircut by @jennafwhite
HAIR DRYER BRUSHES
My first memory of a two-in-one blow drying tool comes from my childhood. My mom had a heated round brush that she would use to smooth out her bangs. It smelled similar to hot rollers when turned on, was about 1 ½ inches in diameter with plastic bristles, and got stuck in my hair both times I tried to use it. In 2021, we're seeing a lot more innovation in hair drying tools, such as larger more oval shaped brushes, plus detachable round and flat options, that help consumers style and dry their hair with one, versus two, tools. The price for these types of appliances ranges from $40-$500. Other new tools include reverse-air hair dryers. Instead of blowing air onto one side of the hair, these dryers have users put their hair inside of them, allowing air to blow on all sides.
BRAD MONDO
In early 2019, I asked an 11-year-old girl what hair-related YouTuber was the best. She immediately said Brad Mondo. An LA-based hairstylist that got his start on YouTube, today Brad's popularity has continued to grow, and he's now trending on multiple social media platforms (check out his TikTok here). I'd describe his content as commentary on hairdresser reactions to DIY hair solutions gone right and wrong (know as "hairdresser react" in his video titles), tutorials, product testing, method/technique testing, plus keeping up with current hair trends. I would even say he's partially responsibility for the uptick in at home hair cutting and coloring. This is definitely not a diss on his brand. Before Brad there was no one helping with at home hair services. He fills a niche that was accelerated by the pandemic, plus gives fair warning about the risks of DIY hair attempts.
MONEY PIECE
If you look this term up on Urban Dictionary, the definition is "the piece(s) of hair that fall(s) in front of your face when the rest of the hair is under control". They seem to be behind on their definition here, as it reminds me of Johnny Depp's hair in the movie Cry Baby. In 2021, this term means dying those same front pieces a different color than the rest of your hair. While most people make the "money piece" blonde or brighter, it's less about what color you choose and more about placement. It can be subtle or impactful.
DIMETHICONE
Dimethicone is a silicon-based ingredient found in hair products and other cosmetics. In my opinion, there's not enough evidence to determine whether dimethicone’s efficacy and safety are on par with everyone's needs. The complaints I often hear are that it makes my client's hair too flat or too dry. Some followers of The Curl Girl Method do not use products that contain dimethicone. Their reasoning aligns with my client's complaints, stating that it weighs hair down and repels moisture. They also feel that it is difficult to wash out, which compounds these issues. So, if you find that using products with this ingredient make your hair too soft, flat and/or dry over time, it may not be the right ingredient for you. I DO like products with this ingredient, and find that it washes out well. However, it’s hard to tell if the products I use happen to offset it with other additives because mixture ratios are not listed on the bottle.
- What Is Dimethicone & Is It Bad For Skin & Hair? Let's Investigate The Ingredient, by: Andrea Jordan, mindbodygreen
- The Real Reason Curly Girls Don't Like Dimethicone, by: Diane Mary, NaturallyCurly.com
- Dimethicone: Your Complete Guide to This Common Skin Care Ingredient, Healthline.com
- Dimethicone: What Is It and Is It Safe? puracy.com
HAIR PLOPPING
The idea of "plopping hair" comes from the physical act of flipping your hair over into a t-shirt to let it air dry. The reasoning is that t-shirts don't create frizz the way a rough towel might. Some people opt for a microfiber towel versus a t-shirt.
How to Plop Your Hair
Check out this video by prose.com for a visual.
How to Plop Your Hair
- Start by having your hair at the correct wetness. This may vary, but the hair should be wet, not soaking. If your hair has started to dry, and thus frizz, re-wet it with a squirt bottle before starting.
- Add your favorite product. If you need help picking one out, check out my two part blog post: Simplifying Hair Products I and Simplifying Hair Products II. In general, you'll need a hold product and/or an oil product.
- Detangle hair and/or style curls. You can detangle your curls if you need to by running your fingers, a comb, or a brush through your hair. You can try different styles by twisting or braiding the curls. The options here are endless.
- “Plop” your hair into a t-shirt by flipping your head over. The ends of your hair should hit the t-shirt first, then lower the rest until you can wrap the t-shirt around your entire head. Check out this video for a cool way to wrap.
- Let the curl dry completely before taking it down.
Check out this video by prose.com for a visual.
WOLF HAIRCUT
Think shag or severe mullet, like the hair of a wolf. I've seen the Wolf haircut trend translate to all different lengths, but at its core it consists of short layers and bangs. Earlier, I mentioned that cutting curtain bangs can be a beginner's home cutting skill. On the opposite spectrum, I think the wolf haircut is an expert level haircut. The amount of factors and time it would take to undo a bad cut attempting this look is not worth the risk for amateurs. The biggest decision to make when experimenting with this cut is where the longest parts of your hair will end.
Check out these videos for a visual:
Also, re-emphasizing my point that these cuts are not for amateurs. Check out this post by UK newspaper Metro titled "TikTok users are cutting off their ponytails to create a shag but is it a bad move?".
That's it for my 2021 hair trends! Stay tuned for more posts and announcements later this year.
Check out these videos for a visual:
- WOLF CUT TREND ON TIKTOK, TikTok is Life YouTube Channel
- HOW TO CUT A WOLF CUT IN 5 MINUTES - TIKTOK HAIRCUT TREND, Paul Watts HAIR YouTube Channel
Also, re-emphasizing my point that these cuts are not for amateurs. Check out this post by UK newspaper Metro titled "TikTok users are cutting off their ponytails to create a shag but is it a bad move?".
That's it for my 2021 hair trends! Stay tuned for more posts and announcements later this year.