Spring 2024's Haircut Trends Include Fluffy Curls, Side-Swept Bangs, and Lots of Bobs (2024)

The Rebellious Pixie

Ready for a big change? It may just be pixie time—but the 2024 version is more punk rock than Tinkerbell. “Edgy pixies are for the rebellious girl who’s ready to turn heads. This cut isn’t for the faint of heart,” says Alvarez. “[Anyone] who is ready to change their life and express themselves without words will love this cut.”

“This bold cut draws on the natural bone structure, giving a sassy, confident vibe,” says Aveda North America artistic director for hair styling, Britt Dion, who also predicts a choppy pixie comeback this season. “It adds depth and dimension to the face and is perfect for a low-maintenance look. The shape will express itself easily as it's cut to move.”

At the salon, ask for a choppy texture so you can spike and tousle the short cut to your liking. Add an edgy color for extra flair or try a sweet pastel for a fun juxtaposition of sugar and spice. “If your hair is wavy, curly or coily, ask for a little length to be kept to ensure balance and avoid excess shrinkage,” advises Dion.

To get that effortlessly cool tousled look, Alvarez recommends Biolage’s Styling Gelee ($24), which dries to a natural finish but maintains shape. Dion advises prepping with Aveda’s Phom*ollient Styling Foam ($30), then blowing hair dry with a brush following your head shape and defining wispy pieces with Control Paste ($36). If you’re air-drying, she likes Aveda’s Texture Tonic ($32) for a “beachy, airy finish.” Let your fingers be your tools and don’t worry about perfection; undone edge is part of the charm.

The Precise Pixie

For something more precise but still short and sweet, channel Halle Berry’s iconic short style. Ask your stylist for “a short, tapered haircut with a detailed curl design,” says hairstylist Mideyah Parker. Just be sure you’re ready to spend more time in the salon, as Parker advises booking a trim every “four weeks like clockwork” to maintain the shape. She recommends styling with Pattern’s Palo Santo Curl Mousse ($23) to mold your hair down, followed by the Heat Protection Spray ($20). “Then, you'll want to bend, bump, or curl your desired style,” she says.

The Hydro-Bob

Similar to the trending Boy Bob of 2023, the Hydro-Bob is “an androgynous and editorial look that is drenched in gloss and moisture and incredibly practical to achieve,” says hairstylist and Evo hair creative director Tom Smith, citing America Ferrera, Hailey Bieber and Charlize Theron’s short cut as inspo. The shape can be tailored to your face shape and hair type, but aim for a length “between the lips and the mid-neck.” Styling makes this cut really come alive, and you can get creative with products; Smith likes a nourishing leave-in like Evo’s The Great Hydrator Moisture Mask ($37) in lieu of a gel. “This will give the semi-wet look effect and allow your hair to soak in the goodness at the same time.” Tuck hair behind one or both ears for a polished vibe.

The Asymmetrical Bob

If you love the look of short hair but want to be able to pull your hair back too, celebrity hairstylist and Biolage ambassador Sunnie Brook recommends an asymmetrical bob, calling it a “fresh angle” (pun intended) for 2024. “Having this extra length in the front can give you more styling options than a chin-length bob,” she says. If you have fine hair, the angled style also gives the illusion of thicker, fuller hair.

“I love the volume this haircut creates in the crown area and the shape when it has movement,” Brook says. She recommends starting with Biolage Volume Bloom Shampoo and Conditioner ($24 each) in the shower, then applying Volume Bloom Full-Lift Volumizer Spray ($26) in the crown and anywhere you want extra fullness.

Retro Bob and Bangs

Parker loves this retro bob, saying it’s perfect for anyone who “loves fashion but is still cute.” Tell your stylist you’re looking for “a jawline retro tousled bob with movement and fringe,” and mention that you want body and movement for styling. The cut has a “very sharp perimeter but soft inside layers with a fringe,” says Parker.

Though the bangs pop with sleek strands, this cut plays well with curls, too. To style, apply Pattern’s Heat Protectant ($20) and use a medium to large round brush to set the body and curl in the hair. “Depending on your hair type, you may need to reinforce the curl with a desired heat tool,” advises Parker. Comb or finger-style the hair into place, then apply Shine Spray. ($23). Apply a small amount of styling cream, like Palo Santo Styling Cream ($28), and pinch it into the hair to create even more texture.

Long '90s Layers

The long, luscious layers and side or curtain bangs popular during the early-to-mid ‘90s continues to be a hot trend for spring—literally, it makes you look so hot. “A bouncy, fluffy blowout like Cindy Crawford would be a great reference,” says L’Oréal Paris celebrity hairstylist Jennifer Yepez, who adds that she and client Emily Ratajkowski frequently mimic the look. “You can easily throw this look up with lots of bits falling out for a fun look or wear it down for maximum volume and shape,” adds Dion. “Volume will be queen this season. Layers can add volume to thin fine hair or balance the weight and provide movement for thick dense hair.”

Garnier curly hair expert Sabrina Ahmed agrees. “Layered cuts add movement and texture to the hair, while curtain bangs create a soft, face-framing effect,” she explains. Layers are cut at different lengths for dimension, and Ahmed says this style works particularly well for people with oval- or heart-shaped faces. At the salon, ask for a layered cut with either curtain or side bangs. “You can also discuss the desired length and whether you prefer subtle or more pronounced layers,” she shares.

When styling your blowout at home, Yepez recommends prepping with a heat protectant like L’Oréal Paris EverPure 21-in-1 Color Caring Leave-In Spray ($13). “It makes your hair so soft and beautiful without weighing it down,” she says. For volume and that full, fluffy texture, add a mousse like the Tresseme Total Volume Plumping Mousse ($7). After styling, keep your bouncy layers in place and smooth flyaways with the classic L'Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hairspray Unscented ($16). Dion recommends scheduling cuts every four to six weeks to maintain the length and shape, or six to eight weeks for a bit more growth without losing shape.

Fluffy Curls

“People will be opting for low-maintenance styles, moving away from the tedious routine of picking out and diffusing hair to achieve maximum volume,” shares Ahmed. “Instead, fluffier, less defined curls will be in style, with texture playing a key role in determining the desired level of definition.”

If you have curls, ask your stylist to keep the layers long with a slight bevel at the ends, depending on density, says Ahmed. “For thick hair, consider adding shorter face-framing pieces to balance out the weight from the layers.”

Side-Swept Bangs

If you’re craving change but don’t want to shed inches of your precious hair, start off the springtime with a bang. As in, the fringe kind. “Adding bangs is an easy way to freshen a look up while creating a completely different vibe, so expect to see bangs everywhere. All shapes and sizes, with a huge emphasis on side-swept bangs,” shares Dion. Yes, the side part is ready for its comeback. “It creates a strong shape around the face, drawing attention to the cheekbones.”