As we head into a new year, changing up your look with a fresh cut or colour is one of the best ways to hit the reset button for 2023.
The last 12 months have seen bobs, money pieces and—for the daring amongst us—skunk stripes make waves, but what are the big hair trends coming in 2023?
To find out, we tapped some of the biggest names in beauty, including award-winning hairdresser Anthony Nader (owner and hairstylist at RAW salon), beauty artist Sangeetha Smith (fragrance, hair and body education lead at Mecca), and marie claire’s very own beauty director Sally Hunwick.
Below, the biggest hair trends set to rule in 2023.
Layered Hair
Layers are a trend that’ll never go out of fashion.
The style boosts vibrancy to your strands by removing any weight that may be dragging down your look. Layers not only create shape to your ‘do but add volume and texture—it’s a cut you can’t go wrong within 2023.
“Layers help with face-framing for both long and short hairstyles,” Smith tells marie claire. If you’re looking for inspiration in 2023, look no further than Jennifer Lopez with her long layers or Rachel Green-inspired short layers like Emma Chamberlain.
Bronde, Not Blonde
It’s the lower maintenance cousin of a full-on Scandi blonde look.
A blend of both blonde and brunette, bronde is a happy middle ground between these two tones. Involving a combination of balayage and natural highlights, the shade is perfect for a low-maintenance girl who doesn’t want to commit to her weekly salon appointments. Hailey Bieber made the hue her signature in 2022, and we’re expecting it to be everywhere in the year ahead.
“Think of our finest Aussie example, Margot Robbie,” Anthony Nader says. “Her natural brunette root blended into the grown-out blonde using a natural balayage technique.”
Retro Shag
Retro is in for 2023, and the 70s-inspired haircuts are here to stay.
The shag is a super versatile look and can be styled in a whole range of ways. A short straight shag? A micro fringe? Or even the TikTok favourite wolf cut (2.3 billion views and counting), which rose to prominence in 2021 and is definitely here to stay.
“This cut is going to be seen everywhere for the summer months,” Nader says. “A hairstyle that is now truly entering the mainstream.”
The Mixie
The mixie cut is the quintessential cool girl look for the 2023 season.
With fans including Florence Pugh and Emma Corrin, the mixie is a cross between an 80s mullet and the pixie cut.
“Cropped hair is in for 2023, so I think we’ll be after a pretty texture that looks effortless and feminine at the same time,” says Hunwick.
Solid Bangs
Bangs are the hairstyle of the moment.
Popularised by the success of Wednesday (who could forget Jenna Ortega’s already iconic beauty look), as well as Emily In Paris star Lily Collin’s new French-girl cut, bangs are going viral on social media.
However, bangs aren’t for the low maintainence among us. “It’s a very chic hairstyle that will need some upkeep though to maintain that healthy bounce and religious haircut appointments every six weeks,” Nader says.
If you are willing to commit, then you can mix it up with a traditional friend, soft bangs, or hard bangs. And for inspiration, look no further than Friends-era Jennifer Aniston, which Hunwick predicts will be huge in 2023.
Claw Clips
“With a resurgence of ’80s and 90’s beauty, claw clips are making a comeback,” Hunwick says.
Claw clips went mainstream in 2022, and are set to continue their dominance in 2023, which is a dream for our hair health, too.
“The once-dated claw clip made a cool runway comeback with the likes of the Hadid sisters, Kaia Gerber and the Kardashians were papped in them,” says Nader. If it’s good enough for Bella, it’s good enough for us.
