Goodbye 2017, hello 2018!

This past year has been interesting to say the least! I’m not speaking politically, socially, or economically, even though it’s been interesting in those realms, I’m speaking about the hair and fashion from 2017. Looking back on this past year’s hair trends it’s fascinating because it reminds me of the 1970’s. The hair trends seen were very remnant to the free styles that existed during the decade of disco.

Here are my top five favorite trends for 2017.

1. Natural Texture! This past year natural texture was seen everywhere, the best example I can think of is Michelle Obama embracing her natural texture and no longer wearing the smooth, sleek style that was in the White House. Another example would be Solange who wears her natural texture and even wrote a song about her natural textured hair.
2. Pastel shades. Pastel and rainbow hair was in high demand this year. Whether it was a subtle splash of rose gold, to complete unicorn or rainbow hair. The unrealistic colors could be seen throughout the world.
3. Platinum bombshell. Platinum blonde hair was also seen throughout the world within men and women. It may have been as subtle as cool blonde highlights to all over silver. The cool tonalities are the ‘coolest’ color this year (couldn’t help myself).
4. The modern shag. No, I don’t mean like Austin Powers shag, but a mid-length textured bob or ‘lob’. A hair cut where the length is anywhere from the chin to past the shoulders, this cut has a lot of movement within the layers and creates volume and body. This is a more worn look and not a polished bob like Anna Wintour wears.
5. Bangs! First off, I hate the word bang in reference to the hair at the front hair line, so from here on out you’ll hear me reference to them as a fringe. Fringes made a huge comeback, specifically at a length that grazed the top of eye lashes, a more worn, heavy, and textured fringe complements a modern textured bob has been very popular.

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These trends do not surprise me. Hair and fashion is highly influenced by what is going on politically and socially in the world, for example the Ombre trend became very popular after The Great Recession between 2007-2012 because it was an affordable trend that allowed the client to go longer in between hair appointments. If you look at where America was in the 1970’s you will see there are some similarities.

A very quick and brief summary of some of the issues in the 1970’s. Women, African American, gay, lesbian, and Native Americans were all fighting for equality. The Environmental Movement made a massive impact by helping prevent pollution and take care of the Earth. In 1970 we celebrated our first Earth Day and passed the Environmental Policy Act.

A brief look back on 2017. Native Americans are fighting for their sacred land, we are still fighting environmental issues, the Black Lives Matter Movement is active and thriving for the inequality of our African American community, and women are still fighting for equality in the workplace. On top of all that we are also dealing with a flood of sexual harassment allegation against politicians and celebrities and some of this accusations date back to the 1970’s.

With so many similarities it makes sense that we are sharing hair trends as well. When we as people feel stressed out and feel we do not have control over what is going on in the world we turn to areas where we do have control. Our self. Sub consciously or consciously we control areas in our life that we can change. More edgy and radical haircuts and colors are usually a sign of how we feel about the outside world, it’s almost like a protest. If you look at the Punk rock culture birthed in the 1970’s it was influenced by straining economic times specifically in England, New York, and Los Angeles

What does this mean for the trends for 2018? Hate to break it to you but so far there is nothing new and exciting. So far, the trends are predicting natural textures, bobs, long fringes, and smooth sleek hair, however just because this is the prediction it doesn’t make it so. A lot can change throughout the year, who knows what next entrepreneurial in devour will come. Remember the feather trend back in 2010? That wasn’t predicted but it became a trend because someone was trying something new, they were setting their own trend because it made them feel a certain way and was a part of their own fashion, but this was also during The Great Recession and had a feeling from the 1970’s punk scene.

My question to you then is what will our politically climate look like in 2018? How will that influence hair and fashion? What will be your hair feathers for 2018? Will you be the trend or set the trend?

Have a Happy New Years my friends! Be safe and remember you are loved.

DJH