Over the last decade, hair color has absolutely taken over the beauty industry. From balayage and ombré to metallic shades and fantasy colors, there isn’t a shade in the rainbow that hasn’t had its trending moment. But, as much as we love bold and beautiful hair color, it seems as though its reign as the industry’s hottest trend is coming to an end and—according to Sam Villa, Redken brand ambassador and celebrity stylist—the haircut is taking its place.
We know what you’re thinking, “But, the haircut never went anywhere.” You’re right, it didn’t. People have been getting their hair cut for years and will continue to get their hair cut until the end of time, but Villa’s not just talking about trimming your ends. He’s talking about haircuts that make people stop you in the street to ask where you get your hair done. Haircuts so stunning, you’re show-stopping hair color ends up playing second fiddle. Haircuts that are so popular and influential, they have their own name.
“The haircut never went away but it’s about looking to the past and saying, ‘Ok I’m going to take that but let’s bring it forward, let’s modernize it,” Villa says. “I’m so happy that clients are getting back in the chair and getting their hair cut.”
In January, hairdressers will be flocking to the 2019 Redken Symposium to learn which haircuts will be dominating over the next year from Villa himself. Lucky for Hair.com readers, we got Villa to spill some of his secrets and give us a sneak peek at what we have to look forward to.
Just like everything else happening in the hair industry, what’s old is new again—spray on hair lightener, anyone? One of the biggest haircut trends making a comeback is the shag, which reached the height of its popularity in the 1960s and ‘70s.
“It’s back to the beatnik’s relaxation, ‘60s chill,” Villa shares. “Everybody wants a simple life right now and they also want simple things they can do behind the chair and at home.”
While the shag cuts of yesteryear bring to mind frightening pictures of mullets and feathered bangs, the modern shag is all about movement. Your stylist will feather out your ends with the end goal of boosting volume at your crown. The resulting style is textured with tons of movement throughout.
Shag cuts aren’t the only style making a return, Villa says layered cuts are back and better than ever. While layered cuts have been a hair salon staple for years, he is dedicated to helping stylists elevate their layered cuts.
Villa strives to show other hairdressers a non-traditional way to layer hair. “What I want to do is go, here are like two or three ways to layer hair. So the client sitting in the chair goes ‘Wow, no one has ever cut my hair that way,’” he says.
If you’re wondering who determines the next big thing in hair, you’ll be happy to know that your opinions have a bit more power than you think. Because at the end of the day, stylists want to produce haircuts and styles their clients absolutely love.
“In the past with color, people have tried to get it as close to the scalp as they can, but now it’s all about ombré’s and balayage and these different applications of color. A technique eventually becomes a trend,” he says. “Think of ombré, ombré was a trend and now it has become a classical technique.”
Villa won’t spill the rest of his secrets until the 2019 Redken Symposium, but when you see shags and layered cuts in every fashion magazine next year, you can say you heard it here first!
Interested in being the first person to slay next year’s hottest haircut? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a stylist near you.
