10 Hair Trends You’ll Want to Try In 2012

It’s impossible to predict every hairstyle and color that will go from Hollywood fad to full-on, mainstream trend. Did anyone really think Lauren Conrad’s multi-colored hue or Katy Perry’s hot-pink bob would have women everywhere filling their beauty-supply-store baskets with Manic Panic?

But top stylists do have something like a crystal ball when it comes to hair trends: They’re the ones who create the trends in the first place. They work on Fashion Week shows more than six months before the actual season, and then they recreate those runway looks on celebrity clients. In turn, the stars hit the red carpet and set the trends in motion among the masses.

Even if you aren’t looking for the “it” cut or hottest color for your 2012 hairstyles, there are plenty of high-tech salon treatments, fresh-looking updos, and braiding techniques worth trying. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, here’s what you should be doing to your hair in 2012 (Katy Perry’s latest, craziest styles not included).

IN: FACE-FRAMING HIGHLIGHTS

Out: Ombré

Celebs like Drew Barrymore and Jessica Biel covered up their two-toned hair in 2012 in favor of monochrome hues, but thousands of regular women still headed to the salon to “get ombré-d.” While the trend isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, stylists think the look will evolve. “You’re going to see a lot of people with blended color — a mix of ombré ends and bright highlights around the face,” says celebrity stylist Sarah Potempa. “It’s a fresh way to transition into spring.” The roots and the crown of the head will be darker (a plus for anyone who loves the low-maintenance aspect of ombré), but the highlights around the face will make the color transition seem more gradual.

IN: STRAIGHT WAVES

Out: Beachy waves

Every year there’s a new adjective to describe wavy hair: beachy, bouncy, bedhead. This year is no exception — except the adjective doesn’t start with a “b.” Pantene celebrity stylist Tippi Shorter is calling this year’s trend “straight waves.” “It’s uniform and polished, but lies flatter — it’s less of a curl,” she says.

To get the look, Shorter suggests using a spray gel on damp b and then sleeping in three or four big braids. “Whether your hair is naturally straight or curly, this will change the texture into waves,” she says. “And if you’re in a rush, you can always blow dry the braids.” Once you’ve taken your braids out, use a 1-inch curling iron to define each of the sections even more.

IN: FAUX BOB WITH CHIGNON

Out: Faux bob or chignon

If you’ve ever been torn between styles, you’re in luck: This year you get to wear two simultaneously. “I’m in love with the combination of a faux bob and a messy side bun,” says Alterna global creative director Michael Shaun Corby. “It feels 1920′s-inspired but also very modern.” Corby uses the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Faux Bob Get The Look Kit, $20, to get the look without fistfuls of bobby pins (watch a how-to video here). “You use the smaller loop to twist your hair into a bun. Then, you loop the longer part of the band over your head and flip the ends underneath.”

IN: BRAIDED UPDO

Out: Fishtail braids

Braids have been big since the Spring 2010 Alexander Wang runway show — and that was actually in September 2009. Sure, they’ve evolved from thick ropes to more intricate fishtail styles, but it’s about time for a real change. Instead of the hanging versions, Corby thinks braided updos are the next big trend: “I’m going to be braiding like crazy this season — but I’m taking them up,” he says. “Whenever you think braids are going to go away, we stylists find a way to incorporate them.” He also thinks it’s a reflection of the times: “People are still in a hippie mood — so it’s got to be a little natural.”

IN: THE LAYERED BOB

Out: The pixie and the lob

Instead of sleek pixie cuts and long bobs, stylists are looking forward to choppy layers and in-between lengths. “Everyone will be growing out their pixies,” says Potempa. “So the new length will be somewhere in the middle.” Corby agrees, and sites Dianna Agron as inspiration. “It’s a bob, but it’s layered out,” he says. There’s also another reason to get excited about this cut: “We haven’t seen layered bobs since the ’80s! And we’ve been locked into boring long layers for so long now,” Corby says. Shorter says clients like Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys have been considering major cuts. “There’s going to be a lot of hair on the floor this year,” she says.

IN: IN-SALON DEEP CONDITIONING

Out: Brazilian straightening

Aside from color, 2012 isn’t shaping up to be a big year for chemical processes — instead, it’s all about repair. “There are so many great innovations in deep conditioning,” says Potempa. “People are realizing how horribly damaged their hair has become over the last few years, so now they want to fix it.” Potempa is excited about a new treatment called Noiraudepro by the company Milbon, which developed Japanese straightening. This keratin-focused service isn’t just for people who chemically alter their hair. “People use flat irons and curling irons more than ever — companies are finally focusing on reversing the damage,” Potempa says.

IN: ONE-DAY COLOR

Out: Pink and blue ends

Not everyone can pull off pink hair like Katy Perry, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying a new hue in 2012 — at least for a day. Alterna created 1 Night Highlights, $29, a brush-in foam that comes in blonde, brown, or red. “Apply it to your hair, let it dry, and you get a subtle, shimmery hint of color that looks totally natural and won’t budge … until you shampoo it out,” says Corby. If you want to go more extreme with a neon shade, Potempa suggests clip-in pieces: “Get some bright strands and hot-glue clips onto the end. It’s a lot less of a commitment than bleaching your hair and dipping it in Manic Panic — only to realize later that you hate it.”

IN: TAPE EXTENSIONS

Out: Clip-in pieces

For devout extension-wearers — or anyone who’s always been tempted — 2012 is a very exciting year. The newest technology uses medical-grade tape instead of clips, glue, or sewing techniques. It’s called EZ Fusion, and it takes about 30 minutes to have an entire set of extensions applied. “Each one takes two minutes to put in and lasts for weeks — then you just spritz a remover and it comes out,” Potempa says. In fact, they sound so revolutionary that even if you’ve never been tempted to get extensions, you might want to give them a shot.

IN: WARM SHADES

Out: Cool shades

If Michelle Williams’ recent switch from ultra-pale blonde to medium, almost-strawberry blonde is any indication, there’s going to be a big shift away from fair hair this year. “The new blonde is less icy and white — more buttery blonde,” says Shorter. “It’s flattering on most skin tones and easier to maintain.” Brunettes will also be going warmer. Instead of shiny blue-black highlights, Potempa likes natural, honey-colored streaks. “Ask your colorist to match your strands to golden flecks in your eyes. The result will be a glistening, light-reflecting shade.”

IN: LONG, WISPY BANGS

Out: Blunt bangs

Blunt, Cleopatra-inspired fringe is out. Instead, opt for eyelash-grazing layered bangs this year. “I especially love bangs in the fall and winter,” says Shorter. “And I prefer them long and wispy — it’s less severe.” This look is also perfect if you want to grow out the bangs you got in 2011 without the awkward in-between stage. They blend in with the rest of your cut and can be easily swept to the side.

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