Some things can be difficult to put into words, especially when you’re trying to explain to a hair stylist what you want out of your latest cut. “Clients might ask for a ‘wolf’ or ‘butterfly’ cut, but those are really social media terms that don’t mean much to stylists,” says Kerry Durbin, color specialist and owner of Blush Salon in Alexandria. “It’s far better to bring in photos, because I don’t speak TikTok fluently, and names mean different things to different people.”
We spoke with experts at some of Northern Virginia’s top salons about the latest hair trends, and asked how clients can best communicate with stylists to get the look they want.
Here are their hot hair tips to keep you up to date with the latest trends.
Cuts and Styles
“Clients are asking for styles that embrace their natural texture a little more,” says Durbin. “We are seeing a lot of focus on curly haircuts. For years, we were using flat irons to achieve super straight hair, or curling irons to get beach waves. We are now in the era of big blowouts, creating hair that is smooth but has lots of volume and movement.”
Durbin says face-framing bangs and layers continue to be popular, but she’s also seeing sleek bobs that are cut with razors instead of scissors. “Everyone’s hair is different, so a lot depends on how much time and effort the client is willing to commit to styling at home. Instead of everyone aspiring for one specific cut, people are choosing styles that suit their natural texture, which is so much healthier for hair.”
Anna Michelle Jackson-Petry, stylist and owner of AMP Studios in Leesburg, sees a trend toward bobs, with or without bangs. “The Parisian bob is huge right now. We just keep bringing that length up. Even me — I’ve lost about 12 inches this year,” says Petry. Parisian bobs are chin-length or higher and incorporate movement through subtle layers. “In all cases, glam is back,” she says. “[With] COVID behind us, women are back out in the world and looking beautiful.”
Bangs are trending, says AMP stylist Melanie Markham, noting the influence of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice actress Jenna Ortega. “As soon as I saw Ortega’s new bangs, I knew that would be the next new thing. Ladies now want to be able to pull their hair up yet still let that little bit in the front hang down with tendrils around the face,” says Markham. Petry agrees. “I always say, life is a journey of cutting those bangs and then growing them out again.”
“With men, there’s a distinct difference in styles, depending on age,” says Ilona Kirzhner, owner of Hammer & Nails franchises in Gainesville, Reston, and Leesburg. “I have to listen to the hands,” says Jaz Mitchell, Kirzhner’s head of barbering operations. “A man might say taper when they really mean a fade, so I watch where they’re pointing to at the temple and neck. My adult clients are asking for flexibility, something that looks professional on a Zoom call but can shift to party mode on the weekends. Every cut is a hybrid with no clear name right now, because they combine elements of different styles, like part mohawk or mullet with a fade.” Blowouts are big with Mitchell’s younger male clients. “The young guys are going for curly or extremely lived-in and disheveled looks, with a taper and finely trimmed perimeter and an interior that looks like a bomb went off — the crazier the better.”
Texture
“We are back to doing texture waves,” says Petry. A chemical perm process, texture waves make hair appear thicker and fuller and can be worn loose or blown out for extra body. “We are doing more texture waves this year than we have in the last 20 years combined,” she says.
Some of those perm customers are young men seeking curls for the so-called “broccoli” cut that is sweeping the nation. “We can also add lots of texture with a razor, creating that weekend party on the top when the man wants to spike it up,” Mitchell says, explaining that he prefers to work with the hair’s natural swirls. “If someone insists on a cut that goes against that, I can do it, but now that hairstyle will require products. I make sure to explain this before going forward, because I can’t change the direction hair grows on a person’s scalp.”
Color
“Balayage is still huge,” says Durbin. Balayage involves hand-painting highlights into hair, gradually increasing lighter shades toward the ends. “It gives clients a natural, sun-kissed glow,” she says. “Another cool trend is gray blending. Instead of just doing a full single process all over to color the grays, we incorporate them into the hair, blending with highlights and lowlights as the grays grow out.”
Men are paying attention to color, too. “Men are realizing that a little bit of gray at the office can be beneficial,” says Mitchell. “Translucent color that allows a certain percentage of salt and pepper to show through adds a certain executive-like level of authority and wisdom.”
“At AMP, we are seeing a lot more foilyage,” says Petry. The process combines balayage and foil techniques. “The new trend is to have super light ends, which is just hard to achieve without foil.” AMP stylist and director Kami Brodie notes that many women are returning to their natural color to enhance their eyes. “Discovering and matching your color season palette is another huge trend,” says Brodie. Younger women, she adds, are leaning into softer colors, like “teddy bear brunette” or “Swift blonde” (emulating singer Taylor Swift).
Enhancements
If nature needs a little assistance, hair extensions are an option. “You pass women with hair extensions every day but just don’t realize it,” says Petry. Many women add extensions to achieve a certain style, or to lengthen, boost volume, or add color to their hair. AMP master designer Caitlin Davis works with extensions every day. “Extensions are addictive because of the immediate gratification they offer,” she says. “They hold curls and style better than natural hair typically does, and they are way more fun. A lot of my guests are thrilled with finally being able to have a real ponytail.”
High-quality extensions made of human hair can cost anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, not including installation and maintenance. They usually last about a year before requiring replacement. “For women who are losing hair, the confidence extensions and hair pieces provide is life-altering,” says Petry. She points to thyroid and hormone conditions, weight loss medications and procedures, anesthesia, cancer treatments, and genetics as some of the reasons women may shed hair. AMP stylists also note that they are seeing recent interest in an extension product called Luxe Fairy Hair — thin strands of sparkling silk that Markham ties to individual hairs. “Wash, brush, and style it just like your normal hair, and it lasts anywhere from two to six months, until the hair it’s attached to naturally sheds.”
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
This story originally ran in our January Issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
