2021 Hair Trends You Should Know About

What 2021 hair trends should you know about? Despite the rollercoaster of a year that 2020 was, there's no denying that it was certainly memorable. And while a lot of those memories might have been made at home, that doesn't mean there weren't any good times. Still, 2021 is on track to be much better than the previous year, and that means there are new and exciting trends to look forward to.

Sure, you might have lived in the same pair of sweatpants for a while, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun with your hair and makeup. Try a new smokey eye for that Zoom meeting, or just go for it and trim your hair for a wild and crazy Friday night! 

Despite the fact that no one knows exactly what 2021 will hold, there will certainly be some hair trends you should know about in the coming year. After all, if you are stuck at home more, why not learn new styles and looks to rock once you finally get to leave the house?

If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that high-maintenance hairstyles and colors are so not worth it. Sure, you could style your hair every day, but what's the point? If you aren't naturally gifted at twisting your hair into fancy and complicated styles, then why force yourself to?

That's one reason many people will be leaning towards a more natural, easy to maintain hair color for 2021, says colorist Richy Kandasamy. "For a lot of clients, this has been a positive reset and they want to embrace their natural hair color or stay as close to their natural color as possible," they told Harper's Bazaar. 

In the same vein, natural styles and trends will be all the rage as well, as noted by Oribe Principal Educator of Content and Training Kien Hoang. "I'm predicting that spring 2021 will go towards a '90s feel with more lived-in looks," they shared. So, if you don't like trying to pull off the latest hair trends, 2021 might just be your year because natural and lived-in looks will be huge.

Not all hair trends have to be complicated, or even expensive to pull off. So if you still want to look on-trend, and style your hair in the ultimate 2021 fashion, then a classic ribbon might just do the trick. Believe it or not, but you'll probably be seeing a lot of hair ribbons in 2021, and not just on little girls. On the runway, on city streets, or even just on Instagram, ribbons will be everywhere.

While ribbons and bows might cause you to recall the days when you were younger, and your parents tied a bow in your hair before you ran off to play with your friends, they're still going to be all the rage come 2021. Want proof that hair ribbons can be totally classy and chic and grown-up? Kate Middleton – who's undergone a stunning transformation — has been spotted wearing one (via Good Housekeeping), making the trend totally timeless. 

So, if you want a simple way to elevate your ponytail or take your day-three hair to the next level, add a simple black ribbon.

Much like natural hairstyles will be trendy in 2021, so too will styles and accessories that emphasize the natural texture and feel of your hair. And one such style that you should totally give a shot is Bantu knots, which are trendy, easy, and going to be everywhere you look. The style isn't anything new, but in 2021, Bantu knots will still be a fun, popular way to style your hair.

According to celebrity hairstylist Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, Bantu knots are both nostalgic and fashionable, and will be on trend in 2021. "This look will become ubiquitous in the new year," she explained in an interview with PopSugar. "Bantu knots are very easy for people to do themselves at home and will grow in popularity as many salons remain closed." She added that people also want to keep their hair healthy, and this '90s look will ensure your locks are happy. 

As fun as Bantu knots are, they can seem intimidating to pull off. However, a good tutorial and some good products are all you need to rock Bantu knots.

Like ribbons and bows, pearls are a darling way to class up any hairstyle. Obviously, pearl jewelry has always been stunning, but adding strands of pearls to your hair, or grabbing a pearl-adorned accessory is still a fun way to shake things up. While using pearls in different hairstyles is nothing new, it's going to be everywhere in 2021. 

Pearls have been all over the internet and in fashion magazines as one of the best hair trends already, but they're only getting more popular. And, like Allure reported, there were multiple uses of pearls in hairstyles at Paris Fashion Week in October 2020. Most notably, in Chanel's show, there were pearl headbands in abundance, showing just how trendy they've become. 

If you want to be super stylish in 2021, then pearls are the way to do it. Grab a pearl headband, clips, or just strands to weave throughout your hair, and you'll be the hottest thing all year.

One of the biggest hair trends you can expect to see in 2021 isn't really surprising. Curtain bangs, whether thick or wispy, are already taking Pinterest by storm. But fortunately, one hair accessory will make getting the perfect curtain bangs that much easier. Yes, clip-in bangs might sound juvenile, but they're an easy way to change up your hairstyle without cutting your bangs too short. And best of all, they're going to make 2021 the most adventurous year yet.

As Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause proved, clip-in bangs can look seriously stylish. Stause rocked a pair to the 2020 People's Choice Awards and looked flawless while doing so. The reality star was so obsessed with the bangs that she posted to her Instagram story how awesome they were. "Knowing how easy it is to just clip in bangs could save someone from a bad bang decision," she wrote over a picture of the clip-ins (via Today). "I have been there." 

Stause certainly pulled off the curtain bang look without having to cut any hair, so if you want bangs in 2021, clip-ins are the way to go.

2021 will definitely be the year of bangs. But if you're stressed that you can't pull them off because you have curly hair and you don't want to style them every day, then this 2021 hair trend is for you. The look is perfect for those who want to make a statement without putting in a ton of work. 

Tousled, curly bangs will be huge in 2021, says celebrity hairstylist Takisha Sturdivant-Drew. "This curly and defined look is tighter and has more of a coarse texture," she revealed in a chat with PopSugar. "The '80s retro look will be a major hit as we approach spring and summer." 

Whether you want side bangs or front bangs, leaving them curly and wavy can take your hair to the next level, and that will be what 2021 is all about. So, if you have naturally curly hair and have always wanted to try bangs, 2021 will be your year to pull it off.

While self-care has certainly become totally in style in 2020, it's not always easy to remember to take care of your hair. After all, if you can't get in for a trim and deep condition, the health of your hair may have fallen off of your list of priorities. But in 2021, hair health will be of the utmost importance, so you can expect to see strong, shiny strands everywhere you look. After all, just like you have to take care of your body, you have to take care of your hair! 

Oribe Principal Educator of Content and Training Kien Hoang told Harper's Bazaar that he predicts 2021 will bring about more moisturized, healthy hair. "I also think that the styles are going to be a lot shinier and really take into account the health and the glossiness of the hair," he revealed. 

So go ahead and stock up on hair masks and biotin gummies, because 2021 is on track to be the year for healthy, gorgeous hair.

No matter how old you are, braids are a fun way to take a boring hairstyle and really jazz it up. Adding a braid to the side of your hair, or at the end of a ponytail can make you look like you put in more effort than you actually did, and there's nothing wrong with that.

2020 saw a rise in braided styles, according to PopSugar, and that likely won't change in 2021. After all, braids are relatively easy to style on your own, and there are so many different types to experiment with. 

Additionally, according to L'Oréal Paris, Fulani braids are going to be huge in 2021. "It's a detailed look that consists of a cornrow braid in the center of your head along with single cornrows along each side of your head," their website read. "The style features additional braids woven throughout your mane and adorned with beads and gold clips." So go ahead and start practicing your braiding skills, because they're going to be everywhere before you know it.

If you've ever dreamed about having long, thick, luscious waves cascading down your back, then hair extensions are the way to go. Sure, you could wait to grow out your hair, but that takes ages, and honestly, there's no guarantee that your hair will grow that long or thick. So, go ahead and find some hair extensions, because that's where the fun is.

In fact, L'Oréal Paris predicted that hair extensions will be everywhere in 2021, as a way to have some fun with your hair without doing anything drastic. Specifically, the brand noted that while short hair might also be trendy in 2021, hair extensions are going to come in handy when people want fuller, longer locks. 

Basically, you can still have short hair all the time, but when you feel like you want more flowing waves, or a long, sleek 'do, then extensions really do come in handy. Unfortunately, getting hand-tied extensions at your salon is both time-consuming and expensive, so slip-in or halo extensions are the way to go.

If there's one simple way to ensure that you spend 2021 with your hair out of your face, it's hair clips. You can have bangs, long hair, and lots of layers, but clips ensure that nothing brushes into your eyes while working or out on a run. Clips are the best, and they can also elevate your hairstyle, too.

In fact, as Who What Wear reported of the spring/summer 2021 fashion shows, hair clips were out in force. Once again, Chanel showed off that the brand truly knows how to accessorize, and featured plenty of logo hair clips that would make anyone green with envy. 

But, you don't have to have the luxury designer's logo on your clip to make sure it's on-trend. In 2021, hair clips are it, and whether they have a floral design, logo, or jewels on them, as long as you secure them well, you'll be good to go.

As tempting as it might be to whip out a box of pink hair dye to change things up on your strands, it probably isn't the best idea long-term. Dyeing your hair at home can damage your hair, as well as stain your shower — not to mention it typically doesn't ever look as good as it does on the box. Sure, you could go to a salon, but that's expensive, and do you really want bright pink hair for the next six weeks? 

Instead, give a wig a go, because they're going to be huge in 2021, and for good reason. According to L'Oréal Paris, wigs are known as "protective styles" because they quite literally shield your natural hair underneath them. 

If you're in the market for a wig, a lace front wig seems to be the way to go. And while they can be expensive, if you just want to shake things up for a night on the town, you don't need to spend a ton of money to change your entire look. Have some fun with it.

If you've opened up Instagram or Pinterest even once in 2020, you probably saw a chic-looking woman wearing a headband. Headbands have been huge in 2020, and honestly, they aren't going anywhere. So if you want to be on-trend in 2021, don't throw out any headbands.

In fact, Alison Stiefel, the general manager of ShopStyle, told Who What Wear that headbands were the biggest hair trend in 2020. "Headbands have shown the biggest increase in searches within the accessories category," she said. "The top style for 2020 will be the padded headband." She added that other popular styles have been pearl-embellished, knotted, braided, and velvet headbands (or a combination thereof). 

While Stiefel was speaking about 2020 trends, it's clear that headbands will be just as popular in 2021, as even more styles have been produced. So, it's time to channel your inner Blair Waldorf and stock up on headbands.

Another huge hair trend in 2020 was the comeback of the center part. Blame it on the Kardashians, or on nostalgia for the days of the past, but it seemed as though the center part was it in 2020. So, if you could never quite pull it off, or just preferred a side part, then 2021 might be your year. 

Oribe Principal Educator of Content and Training Kien Hoang told Harper's Bazaar that the center part will be taking a hiatus in 2021. "I think for spring these cuts are going to evolve with different parting," they explained. "Right now, the strict center part is trending, but I predict a deep side part will be very popular in the springtime." 

Of course, that doesn't mean the center part won't make another comeback, because it's been very popular in the past. After all, the center part is easy, flattering, and universally cool. But for 2021, the side part is what it's all about.

Just like bellbottoms and curtain bangs made the trends of the '60s and '70s cool again, another retro hair trend will be taking over in 2021. According to L'Oréal Paris, a bouffant hairstyle is a fun, vintage look that will be seriously popular in 2021; it's perfect for a fancy event or night out. 

As for how to master this look? "Start by creating a horizontal part in the center of your head, making sure that the top half is significantly smaller than the back," the brand explained on their website. "Clip the bottom half out of the way. Tease the underside of the top layer, smooth the hair back, and secure with bobby pins." Obviously, use hairspray afterwards.

Sure, a bouffant might sound outdated, but as Oribe Principal Educator of Content and Training Kien Hoang told Harper's Bazaar, things of the past are cool again. "As we look forward to a new year, nostalgia will be a major driver for many trends in 2021," they explained.

The bouffant is a fun twist on an old classic, and is sure to let you be the most stylish in 2021.