Haircuts You'll Be Asking For In 2020

Ready for a 2020 haircut? If you've been feeling blasé about your hair lately, you might consider changing up your look. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before booking a date with the shears. Hairstylist and makeup artist Kendra Aarhus advised that you first decide on the right hairstylist. "If your stylist cuts your current hair well but you don't trust them to transform your look, or you're less than confident about them, it's time to go shopping for a new one," the expert revealed in an article for Byrdie. "Getting a new look requires that you put your identity in the hands of another person, and you want to find a stylist who aligns with that vision."

Aarhus also advised knowing your limits. If you can't picture a chin-length cut, a medium-length bob may be more your bag. Not sure where to start? Allow us to provide some haircut inspiration. The List spoke with hair experts and stylists across North America to determine the hottest haircut trends for 2020. This is what they said.

A good bob never goes out of style. The iconic hairstyle gained popularity in the '60s — and the haircut shows no signs of going extinct any time soon. In fact, 2020 is going to be an even bigger year for the classic look. "All different styles of bobs are coming back, and in a big way," Natalie James, owner of Vent Blow Dry Bar in Ontario, Canada, told The List. What makes this style so appealing? "Bobs are great and easy to manage — wash and go," James explained. 

While a bob — be it blunt or layered — is a sure bet for the new year, you'll still want to exercise caution before going all in. This is especially true if you're starting with long hair. "Be careful, though, before taking the plunge," James advised. "We recommend a slow transition and starting with a longer style bob first." This will help ensure a regret-free chop.

Bobs aren't the only retro haircut predicted to reign supreme in 2020. Linsey Barbuto, master colorist, artistic director, and founder of Perlei Salon in Wayne, N.J., told The List to expect another blast from the past. 

"As we approach a new decade, we are going to see some fun cuts come back from the 1970s and 1980s," she explained. Surprisingly, the iconic shag is expected to make its triumphant return. However, Barbuto said this look is going to be reinvented into a "modern shag" which "features more layers and textures." She continued, saying, "This will be an updated, more sophisticated look from the metal '80s hair."

You may be concerned about your ability to pull off this type of cut, but Barbuto assured us that it works well with all face shapes. Jessica Puglia, hairstylist and owner of The Hair Mansion in Reading, Mass., agrees. "Short or long," she told The List, "a shag haircut can and will work for almost anyone!" Not only that, but it's a "super fun [and] effortless" style to embrace at the start of the new year, according to Barbuto.

If you looking for a haircut for 2020, why not embrace a '90s 'do? "The '90s are back in a big way," Natalie James, owner of the Toronto-based Vent Blow Dry Bar, confirmed to The List. "We're going to see the '90s trend continue into 2020 with the Jennifer Aniston [The Rachel] cut coming back — heavy layers, fringes, minimal styling."

It may surprise you that this style is coming back, but no one may be more shocked by its return than Friends star Jennifer Aniston herself. "I love [hairstylist Chris McMillan], and he's the bane of my existence at the same time because he started that damn Rachel, which was not my best look," the actress opined to Allure. "How do I say this? I think it was the ugliest haircut I've ever seen."

Plenty of women disagreed. After all, The Rachel haircut became the staple hairstyle of the decade. And, as we all fall in love with the look once again in 2020, we can only wonder if Aniston will change her mind and come to embrace her iconic style once again.

Vogue Australia dubbed baby bangs "2018's biggest hair trend." If you didn't embrace the haircut trend then, 2020 is as good a time as any. "I think baby bangs are always in fashion — it can be long or short depending of the face," Odile Gilbert, the hairstylist behind Emma Watson's baby bangs, told the publication. "It's always cute and young, it's very French. I guess it's very charming."

Jessica Puglia, hairstylist and owner of Massachusetts-based The Hair Mansion, agrees with the celebrity stylist. Short bangs are going to be even more popular in 2020, she confirmed to The List. Before you dive (fore)head first into baby bangs, though, you'll want to really think over the decision. With bangs so short, there's no pulling them back or off to the sides in an effort to disguise them. If you're feeling unsure, Watson's hairstylist advised trying out fake bangs to get a feel for the daring style.

In addition to shorter styles of bangs, Jessica Puglia, hairstylist and owner of The Hair Mansion salon in Reading, Mass., revealed to The List that long forehead fringe is going to be a hot haircut for 2020. Before you stop by the salon and request eye-covering bangs, though, you're going to want to consult your go-to hair guru. "Ask your stylist to create the best bang for your face shape," Puglia advised. 

Generally speaking, square-shaped faces often look best with "softer wispy fringe that's longer around the temples," Samantha Stonehouse, senior stylist at Canada-based Cowlick Salon, told Chatelaine. Heart- and round-shaped faces, on the other hand, can often pull off any sort of bang. Stonehouse explained that bangs will draw attention to the area of the face where they end, so longer bangs will accent the "cheekbones or nose." She continued, saying, "Flattering bangs should frame and focus on your positive features — not overwhelm or cover up your face."

If you're not a fan of having fringe in your eyes but still love the look of longer bangs, curtain bangs may be the right fit for you. This haircut was "originally made popular in the 1970s," Linsey Barbuto, master colorist, artistic director, and founder of the northern New Jersey-based Perlei Salon, explained to The List. In 2020, curtain bangs are expected to give off the "ultimate cool-girl vibe," according to Barbuto. 

The expert explained that curtain bangs are also "especially flattering if you have a longer forehead." Plus, the look is easier to maintain than other styles of bangs. Singer Camila Cabello shared how she maintains her cool-girl curtain bangs when speaking with Refinery29, and, yes, it's super easy. "My trick is to tuck my bangs behind my ears so they get a soft shape and do that whole curtain thing," she detailed.

And, if you don't feel like having bangs anymore, you can simply grow out the fringe into layers, Barbuto explained. Once they're long enough, you can just "easily tuck them behind your ears." 

"The Farrah Fawcett feathered layers will be the ultimate cut for 2020," Linsey Barbuto, master colorist, artistic director, and founder of Perlei Salon in Wayne, N.J., told The List. "The long layers [work] great for all types of hair and great for longer hair as it adds body and bounce." It also pairs perfectly with curtain bangs.

In the '70s, Farrah Fawcett introduced women to a softer way of wearing their hair, celebrity hairstylist Ted Gibson told HuffPost. The look requires shorter layers around the face, according to Allen Edwards, the man responsible for Fawcett's iconic haircut. "What made it different was that it wasn't full on top. It was flatter, and the 'Farrah' part was the edges, which went flipping back," he told Stylelist (via HuffPost).

In addition to getting your hair cut in layers, you'll also need to learn how to style it. "Use a large barrel curling iron in one inch sections away from the face to achieve a modern interpretation of her look," Gibson advised. You'll also want to blow-dry your curtain bangs using a "flat brush." And don't forget lots and lots of hairspray.

If you're looking to try out feathered layers, where you part your hair matters. A center part is "most important," celebrity hairstylist Ted Gibson told HuffPost. But, even if you don't want to go full Farrah Fawcett with exaggerated layers, you can still rock that retro center part. "Middle parts are back putting a spin on the '70s straight look," Jessica Puglia, hairstylist and owner of The Hair Mansion salon in Reading, Mass., told The List.

When you think of this milder Charlie's Angels-inspired look, you may be picturing very lengthy hair. However, Edward Tricomi, hairstylist and co-founder of Warren Tricomi Salons, told The List that he expects "shoulder length" haircuts to be popular in 2020. Sanda Petrut, hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, Ill., also predicts that "medium length" cuts are going to be a go-to style.

Thankfully, your hair need not be very long to pull off either feathered layers or a center part. FrankJames Dibrino, hairstylist and owner of New York-based Twisted Bangz Salon, told The List that anything from a super short pixie to a layered bob "will be rockin' it big time with center parts."

It's good news that center parts will work well with pixies, considering short 'dos are coming back in a big way. "Short hairstyles" can give the wearer a "fresh look," according to Sanda Petrut, hairstylist at Chicago-based Maxine Salon. It will "[add] confidence and help women to think bold," the expert told The List.

Thinking ahead to the warmer months of 2020, FrankJames Dibrino, hairstylist and owner of Twisted Bangz Salon in New York, said "short, chic and sassy with a disconnect topped off with cool fun colors will be making a splash for [the] summer." Of course, you don't need to wait until it gets hot to rock a shorter style.

The pixie cut, which was popular in late 2019, "will continue to gain popularity in 2020," StyleCraft US' Cecelia Morales confirmed to The List. Marius Morf, owner of the salon PREP in San Francisco, Calif., also feels strongly that the pixie will be a 2020 haircut favorite.

If you're currently rocking a soft, layered pixie, you can up the ante in 2020 by changing the way you style your haircut. "Short hair is more versatile than you think and is going to be in for 2020, especially when worn with a slick, gelled look," Sanda Petrut, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, Ill., predicted when speaking to The List.

The slicked-back pixie was en vogue back in 2014 and 2015 — and we're beyond excited to see it making a comeback. "The look is very sleek and chic," celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin told Elle. "It portrays sophistication and confidence, as the hair is off the face."

In a simple, one-minute tutorial for Refinery29, hairstylist Michael Dueñas explained how to get the bold style. According to the expert, you begin by misting your hair with water. Next, rub a "liberal" amount of high-shine pomade between your hands and run your fingers through your hair. Then, give your hair a deep side part and begin combing back your hair with a wide-toothed comb. Finish the look with hairspray and voila! You're ready to take on the world.

If you're sick of straightening or chemically-treating your hair and have been dreaming of rocking your natural texture with a new haircut, 2020 is going to be your year. Marius Morf, owner of the salon PREP in San Francisco, Calif., predicted when speaking to The List that "curly hair" cuts are going to be popular in the new year. Additionally, StyleCaster reported that natural hair was prevalent during New York Fashion Week's Spring 2020 season, proving that natural hair is going to be a serious hair trend throughout the year. And, uh, can we just take a moment to let that sink in? Ahh. 

If you always get your hair chopped with a straightened style in mind, you should inform your hairstylist of your plan to wear your hair natural. You may also want to consider booking an appointment at a salon that specializes in curly hair. This way you can have your locks chopped in a way that actually accentuates your natural hair. 

In 2020, many protective haircuts and hairstyles are expected to dominate. "Braids, braids, and more braids will adorn the hair fashion trend for 2020 — and they will be accessorized with fabric, headbands, scarves and trinkets," FrankJames Dibrino, hairstylist and owner of Twisted Bangz Salon in New York, told The List. Dibrino added, "Cornrows and Zulu knots surrounded by loose curls and romantic waves will be a pop culture trend, especially on ethnic hair."

Zulu, or Bantu, knots may be more popular in 2020, but celebrities like Rihanna and Blac Chyna started donning the style in 2016. However, that's not when the style began, of course. Records of the hairstyle date back to 1898, as noted by Ebony. NaturallyCurly's branded content editor Gerilyn Hayes told Ebony, "Bantu knots also are known as Zulu knots because the Zulu people, a Bantu ethnic group, are the originators of the look we love and wear today." She continued, saying, "Bantu knots are a visual reminder of the origins of humanity, which may intrinsically be a key to their charm." Since these knots are also a protective style, they're perfectly-suited for naturally curly locks.

While you may see more medium-length haircuts in 2020, long hair isn't exactly going out of vogue. Instead of lengthy layers though, Edward Tricomi, hairstylist and co-founder of Warren Tricomi Salons, told The List to expect "long blunt cuts [cut] straight across." 

Celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend told Real Simple, "For years and years, it was all about layers. Then around 2015, those layers evolved into even more of a modern shag. It's only normal that as these shags and layered lobs grew out, ladies would want a fresh start. By chopping off their ends, the blunt trend was started." The expert further explained that giving your ends a blunt chop can help improve the health of your hair. "So many girls are holding on to these scraggily ends," he revealed, "but as soon as they go blunt, it's like they're a new woman!"

Blunt cuts also look phenomenal. "Clean lines straight across recreate a traditional cut into something extremely bold and chic," Tricomi noted. Or, if you're looking for a blunt haircut with a tad more dimension, Tricomi advised having your hair "angled in front of the face."

The year 2020 is going to be a welcome year for women who want to debut their natural hair with a new haircut, but there's no reason you can't fake your length. "Extensions will be trending!" hairstylist and co-founder of Warren Tricomi Salons, Edward Tricomi, revealed to The List. "With the holidays on the way, many people want to change their look just momentarily." He continued, saying, "We'll be seeing a lot of extension bangs, ponytails, tape-in extensions, and clip-ins."

Extensions are indeed a growing worldwide trend. By 2023, the global hair extension and wigs market is expected to exceed $10 billion in revenue with a compound annual growth rate of about 9 percent from 2017 to 2023. It's easy to see why they're becoming increasingly popular. As long as you use them correctly, extensions will not damage your natural hair, celebrity hairstylist Priscilla Valles told Good Housekeeping.

Clip-in, sew-in, glue-in, and tape-in extensions all last for around two months, according to the expert. "I have clients who have had extensions for 15 years [and] every 6 weeks, we remove them and put them back in," she explained. 

Just as Winona Ryder has made a triumphant return, so too has her Reality Bites haircut, as Glamour highlighted. The 1994-inspired cropped cut reminds us all of simpler times — at least as far as haircare is concerned. "It was an era when hair was carefree and we didn't overuse products or styling tools," Dani Everson, hairstylist and owner of Clementine's salon in Denver, Colo., told the publication in January 2020.

While the haircut may feel nostalgic today, it was revolutionary when it first came on the scene. "It followed the decade of hairspray and teasing," Everson continued, "so it makes sense that it's having a resurgence now that we're coming out of the era of chemically straightening." If you're frustrated with your damaged ends, there's no reason to keep them. Just go all Edward Scissorhands on your hair, and try out this effortlessly chic cropped haircut instead.

While you may think of haircuts as being either short, medium, or long, there are also styles that fall in the in-between. Enter: the clavicut. Edward Tricomi, master hairstylist and cofounder of Warren Tricomi salons, explained to PopSugar that the clavicut hits the collarbone and looks good on women with any face shape or hair type.

Yes, regardless of your hair's texture, this cut will work. "It helps maintain volume and thickness in fine, straight hair," Travis Speck, a Sally Hershberger hairstylist, told Women's Health. "But it's long enough so curly hair won't puff out as it would with a more traditional-length bob."

The clavicut is definitely not a bob, but it really shouldn't be classed as a lob either. Tricomi painted this picture when speaking to PopSugar: "This style features back strands resting on the nape of your neck with the face-framing strands dipping an extra inch or two until they kiss your collarbone — an edgy yet sophisticated style, all at the same time." Or, as Speck puts it, it's "the short cut for long-haired girls."

You may be familiar with a few types of forehead fringe, but chandelier bangs are so lengthy you may not even realize they're bangs — at least not at first. Although they are similar to curtain bangs, as they are also parted down the middle, they're gentler and longer, Alan Vuong, owner of Salon Blanc in Honolulu, Hawaii, explained of his chandelier creation when speaking to Glamour.

Vuong recommends a long haircut to go along with this style of fringe, telling the publication, "Together they flow seamlessly alongside the contour of your face, with the bangs bringing out your eyes." He also advised clients ask their stylists for "long layers at the back and smooth, graduated layers to frame your face."

In addition to being flattering, chandelier bangs are arguably one of the least daunting types of bangs due to their length. Unlike straight-across fringe, you won't have any problem growing them out, making them the perfect beginner bangs.