As seen over the years, certain hair styles have undoubtedly inspired cultural movements, individual identity and even decades – think big hair in the ‘80s and classic blowouts in the ‘90s (just to name a few).
So, what does 2022 have in store when it comes to innovations and trends? You’ll find that it represents an intriguing mix of both old and new – with something for everyone to embrace.
Below, we outline some of the biggest innovations, along with the tools needed to help you achieve these looks.
Natural hair colour
Ever since the emergence of ammonia-free hair colour in 2013, beauty brands have been racing to release hair colour products that utilise natural ingredients in replace of the chemical.
Revolution Hair is one brand boasting a great range of hair dyes that are vegan, cruelty-free, ammonia-free and peroxide-free. Rainbow Shots, for example, is a temporary colour that lasts one to three washes, with no long-term commitment necessary. It is ideal for people with fashion colours to help maintain the vibrancy, as well as being an excellent toning shampoos for blondes.
Known for delivering healthy looking colour that lasts up to 28 washes, Clairol Natural Instincts is another range with 80 per cent naturally derived ingredients. This semi-permanent colour includes coconut oil and aloe vera and is formulated without ammonia or added parabens.
For those wishing to be bold with their hair without compromising hair health, Kiss Tintation is formulated with natural ingredients to ensure that your hair is not only vibrant, but also healthy and conditioned. Aloe vera water contains proteolytic enzymes and amino acids that repair dead cells on the scalp and maintain an optimal pH balance. It is also free from ammonia, peroxide and sulfates.
Products for ageing hair
Similar to your skin, your hair changes as you age. And now more than ever, this is being recognised with more and more products being launched to address these changes. Think products to help combat (or embrace) thinness, dryness and greying.
"With age, we know that our hair thins out,” New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D, told Allure. “This is because of both a decrease in the number of hairs and a decrease in the diameter of the individual hairs themselves. The active phase of hair growth, known as anagen, tends to become shorter with age, which means that hairs don't grow as long and fall out more rapidly."
Nioxin’s System 5 Scalp & Hair Treatment for Chemically Treated Hair with Light Thinning helps to combat thinning. This volumising leave-on treatment refreshes the scalp and increases hair volume, while helping to provide thicker-looking hair by increasing the fullness of each hair strand.
As we age, the cells in our hair that produce pigment also start to slow down. This is one of the reasons why we start going grey. According to Dr Zeichner, there's also “some data to suggest that this has to do with free-radical damage in the hair follicle.” Additionally, hair tends to become drier due to decreased oil gland activity on the scalp.
However, not everyone wants hide their greys anymore, and are instead embracing them for a more natural look. JUSTICE Professional’s Silver Styling Mousse is one product that is great at maintaining toned highlights, ash tones and grey hair.
Glossy hair
If one thing rings true when it comes to hair, it’s that glossy locks never go out of fashion. In fact, Los Angeles-based hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein says that glossy hair should always be a major trend.
Seen all over TikTok, people are embracing the super-shiny look. The ‘clean look’ for example, is inspired by fresh-looking models who are off duty and relies on shiny, pulled-back hair with a minimalist makeup look.
Wella Professionals Oil Reflections Luminous Smoothening Hair Oil helps regain perfect smoothness and a glossy hair effect. This oil, formulated with fine macadamia and avocado oils, provides velvetiness and subtle gloss to hair. Thanks to its precious ingredients, hair becomes shiny and soft to the touch.
Goldwell Stylesign Diamond Gloss, on the other hand, is a protect and shine spray that effectively blocks humidity for up to 72 hours. It tames frizz and provides intense shine, for a smooth silky touch and glossy finish.
Innovations in application
Hair colour application has come a long way since the days of simple balayage or foil hair colour application. Sprays, washes and ‘paint-on’ techniques have become popular with at-home and salon applications alike.
1000HOUR Hair Colour Mascaras are an innovative product designed to perfectly blend and cover up any re-growth area with a natural looking finish. The colour applies quickly and easily and is perfect for at-home or handbag travel.
In recent years, REDKEN 5TH AVENUE NYC colorist Chiala Marvici has developed hand-pressed colouring, a technique where, “you create a design creating different patterns like circles, diagonals, and swirls onto a 6-inch-wide sheet of the hardest version of plexiglass – other thicknesses are too flimsy – with different shades of color, and then you place the section of hair flat onto the glass, which transfers the design from the plexiglass onto the underside of your hair," as was explained to Cosmopolitan.
"Then, you use a 6-inch-long putty knife and then press the hair into the pattern to saturate the top side of the hair as the color seeps through your strands."
From there, she slides the glass from underneath the section, reapplies her pattern of colour to the glass, and moves onto the next piece of hair. Compared to balayage and foil highlights, which can take 45 minutes to an hour to apply, this application takes anywhere from five minutes to 30 because “there isn't that much blending involved after color application, since you blend it as you press the hair into the design.”
Ultimately, hair care brands have listened to the cries of consumers for hair colour that goes beyond a simple balayage and brings something new to the table.
