There’s no denying our hair has the power to make or break any look.
Nothing says “put together” like the perfect pony or dials up the glam quite like a head of voluminous, bombshell-inspired curls.
From the red carpets of Hollywood’s biggest events to the streets of the world’s most famous fashion capitals, it seems bigger and bolder is better, with the transformative power of a strategic style, colour shift and dramatic cut taking a well-deserved moment in the spotlight.
There’s no doubt metamorphosis and transformation is the flavour of the season, and in the lead up to one of the biggest international hair events in the world—the L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy—we’re taking a look at the head-turning trends standing out from the crowd for all the right reasons.
Buzz About Town
One of the biggest hair trends right now may just be no hair at all, á la Florence Pugh at this year’s Met Gala.
Despite the distinct lack of hair involved, her hairstyle—topped with a towering feather headpiece—was one of the most talked-about looks of the night for all the right reasons.
A bold choice, the buzz cut is quite the commitment, and quite a transformation from the actresses’ usual blonde locks. However, the look can be further transformed, covered up and morphed into a whole new look, with clever accessories, a change of colour or even a wig (just three days before the Met Gala, Florence herself donned a long blonde bob wig to hide her extreme makeover).
A Mermaid Moment
Perhaps inspired by the recent Little Mermaid reboot, Mermaid-inspired hair has emerged from under the sea and onto the red carpet for a fun twist on the hair transformation trend.
The latest celeb to jump on the trend? Dame Helen Mirren herself, who swapped her signature silver locks for playful and bright ombré blue tones on the Cannes red carpet.
The 2023 look was inspired by multiple ocean shades, from bold cobalt to lighter shades of periwinkle for a multi-dimensional approach to a colour transformation. The queen of metamorphosis, both on screen and off, it’s also not the first time the actress has dared to dye—she famously rocked an elegant pink ‘do on the same red carpet back in 2019.
Dip your toes into the Mermaid-core world without changing colour for a more subtle (but still stand-out) look, with creative hair styling. Channel Naomi Campbell’s rippling, crimped waves, or try a buttock-grazing fishtail braid.
Defying Gravity
Sick of the same old updo? Reach new heights with anti-gravity styles that take a playful approach to shape and structure.
Bring Spice Girl-inspired “space buns” into the modern day by pairing them with structural spikes or make like the models in Thom Browne’s latest NYFW show by bending braids into unicorn-like horns and alien-like shapes for a look that’s straight from the future and almost literally out of this world.
Accessorise This
Of course, a hair metamorphosis doesn’t have to mean a permanent change.
Instead of being an afterthought, make accessories the star of the show by adopting a “more is more” approach. Look to the latest street style from Paris Fashion Week and you’ll see models, influencers and fashion editors alike covering their heads with clips.
Try clashing metals and styles for an eye-catching display or go more uniform with all-over clip coverage in a contrasting colour than your hair for a chic updo with a difference.
Calling all Australian and New Zealand hair professionals—the longest-running professional hairdressing competition in the world is back! L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy is inviting hair pros to get creative and offer elevated, bold and out-of-the-box hair looks with the theme of ‘Meta-Morphosis’, showcasing real hair transformations. Enter now here.
Brought to you by L’Oréal Professionnel.
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