The top hair trends to inspire your clients in 2023

As the new year approaches, now is the perfect time to start thinking about how your clients can change up their hair and try something new. Which trends can we expect to see dominating the hair industry in 2023? Nicole Petty, Hair Expert at Milk + Blush, shares her predictions for the haircuts, styles, and colours that could inspire your clients in the new year.

Wet Hair

The ‘wet hair’ trend has seen a rise and fall in popularity in recent years, but its presence on spring collection catwalks and red carpets suggests it will be back in full force in 2023, with over 171,000 Google searches and a further 1,100 for ‘wet hair look’ in November alone.

The perfect style for days-old hair, it can increase longevity between washes while still appearing stylish. Possible for all hair types, the look can be achieved down or slicked back in a chic updo.

A similar style still gradually emerging is the ‘liquid hair’ trend, also known as glass hair, which sees hair styled straight, glossy and reflective.

‘Liquid hair’ had over 37,000 searches last month, whilst ‘glass hair’ had 29,000, a 20 percent increase from preceding months. We can expect this sister trend to become more popular as the year progresses.

Red hair

All shades of red will be popular in 2023, ranging from fiery reds, deep burgundy, warm auburn, and copper.

In particular, copper will be the colour of the year due to the 55,000 searches ‘copper hair’ had in November. ‘Burgundy hair’ had 30,000, and ‘auburn hair’ had 58,000.

What’s more, there is a shade of red to suit every skin tone. Clients with pale skin will suit copper as it adds warmth and vibrancy to the face. For clients with light skin, a copper-auburn blend can brighten the complexion. For clients with medium skin, a dark copper and gold blend can balance out the skin tone, and for clients with a dark skin tone, deep auburn or mulberry reflects and compliments darker features.

Side partings

The last two years were all about the middle parting, which made a comeback alongside ‘Y2K’ trends from the early 2000s, but the side parting renaissance will be in full swing next year.

‘Side parting’ was searched 5,400 times in November and will likely see an increase in the coming months.

And due to the several variations of the side parting, it can suit various face shapes. Round and heart-shaped faces will suit deep side partings which can add the illusion of length to the face, create symmetry and soften cheekbones. Square-shape faced clients suit a side parting with a swooping fringe to offset the sharpness of the jaw, diamond faces suit a general side parting which will complement the bone structure, and oval shape faces suit every kind of parting!

The Box Bob

Whilst bobs have never been unpopular, they will see a dramatic resurgence in 2023. ‘Box bob’ had 16,000 searches in November which was a 12 percent increase from previous months.

Recently sported by the likes of Kristen Bell and Christina Ricci, it is an iteration of the classic bob style that works wonderfully for fine hair, as it can add texture and fullness, that can otherwise look flat, by reducing the weight of the hair.

The style can also be adjusted according to clients face shapes. Those with longer faces can opt for grown-out bangs to shorten the face, while rounder faces will suit it being longer in the front to add length.

The Messy Haircut

The ongoing cost of living crisis and busy lifestyles have dramatically changed the hair routines and styles of many clients who want low-maintenance hairstyles that take very little time to style.

This will continue in 2023, with ‘messy haircut’ searched 10,000 times last month.

Choppy layers, shaggy cuts, wolf cuts, and blunt bobs are just some of the messy cuts and styles that can work for every hair type and texture.

It’s all about making styles look effortlessly put together, leaving pieces of hair loose around the front of the face and adding volume to the top of the head to create a tousled and windswept look.