If “natural”, “wearable” and “authentic” describe your dream hair, join the club. Instead of seeking to wrangle hair into the opposite hair type of someone on your feed, in 2025 there’s a shift to easier natural cuts and styles. “Compared to a few years ago, when we saw a lot of high-gloss finishes, glass hair and hyper-styled looks, today’s trends are all about effortless polish,” says Daniel Jianing Liu, founder and creative director of Usfin Atelier and a Shark Beauty ambassador.
Led by stars like Zendaya and Margaret Qualley, this new era means haircuts that suit your hair’s unique texture, and colour that works back with natural shades. “We’re all after colour that still makes a statement but doesn’t require being at the salon every six weeks,” says Alannah Read, salon director and leading colourist at Ella & Jade and also an ambassador for Shark Beauty.
“It’s less about following trends and more about enhancing the individual,” says Liu. “That’s a beautiful evolution.” Here’s how to tap into this new era.
How Do You Know What Haircut Is Best For You?
“Clients are moving away from heavily styled looks and leaning into cuts and colours that feel organic and low-maintenance but still elevated,” says Jianing. That means “cuts that work with the hair’s inherent flow rather than against it”.
For your salon visit, take references, but also be prepared to divulge your weekly routine. “It’s crucial to have a detailed consultation where your stylist tailors the cut to your natural hair type, density and lifestyle,” says Jianing. “Bring in reference images, but also trust your stylist to customise them. The best results come from collaboration.”
What Is The Hime Cut?
Worn by Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga at this year’s Grammys, the hime is easy to maintain, notes Jianing. A Japanese cut dating back centuries, the hime (“princess”) “is a wellstructured Wolf Cut tailored to the individual’s natural texture”, he says.
Crops
Blunt bobs and lobs are key looks in 2025, thanks in part to The White Lotus star Leslie Bibb’s blunt crop, which hairstylist Chris McMillan cut on social media. It was a defining anti-trend moment, which renewed focus on hair “that feels personal, expressive and effortlessly wearable”, notes Jianing, who says it translates to a “done but undone aesthetic”.
The Pixie Cut
Pintrest data says that searches for “long pixie cut” are up 225 per cent while “pixie cut” is up 55 per cent. So it’s clear that there is a short hair moment happening with A-listers such as Emma Stone opting for a tightly cropped do.
Colour Update
In favour are colours that work with your natural tones, rather than altering your look completely. “It’s a great way to feel like we have had a change while keeping it low maintenance,” says Alannah Read.
Brunettes:
“Try complementary shades one to two tones lighter or darker than your base,” says Read. “That allows dimension and variation without compromising on condition and losing shine and lustre.” Pantone colour of the year Mocha Mousse is a good all-round bet, as its “warmth and creamy undertones are timeless on all complexions”, she says.
Reds:
“Try mixing it up by weaving different shades of red throughout the hair to give your red depth and dimension,” suggests Read. If you want a shade that packs a punch, Dua Lipa’s cherry-cola red has evolved, and is “even more vivid and bold and edging towards a more striking auburn shade,” says Read.
Blonde:
“Blondes have been paring it back for a while now,” notes Read, and this will continue. “Lowlights and breaking up saturated blonde ends is the way forward; you will actually feel brighter with your blonde, but the level of maintenance will halve.”
Shine Tips From Daniel Jianing Liu
Section your blow dry
“The trick is to work in smaller sections and take your time. It really makes a difference to the end result.”
Enlist a serum
“Add few drops of shine serum or a light oil on mid-lengths and ends after blow-drying.”
Cool it
“Don’t forget a cool shot at the end; it helps seal everything in and gives your hair that extra gloss.”
Tool Up
Great hair needs care, and a sheeny look needs heat. “Consult your stylist on what suits your colour and hair health,” says Read. “Start with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner, and once a week treat your hair to a glossing mask or deep conditioner,” suggests Jianing who also recommends a protectant when heat styling. “Then use a tool that smooths while you dry for that polished finish without the heat damage,” says Jianing, who recommends the Shark Beauty SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer.
Its attachments for all hair types made it a hit at Australian Fashion Week. “It helps create that salon look at home but also not affect your colour by overuse of a straightening iron,” adds Read.
Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer
$249.99 at Shark Clean
ELEVEN Miracle Hair Treatment Shampoo and Conditioner
$33.95 at Eleven
