Biggest hair trends for 2025, from Sabrina Carpenter's bangs to Zendaya's glossy brunette

We chat to stylists about the cuts, colours and care tips you can adopt in the new year

All manner of bobs – from jawline and neck-length to wavy and French – will be on point in 2025, say hairstylists. Alamy / PA

Related: Beauty trends for 2025

A good hair day is often enough to put a spring in the step. Whether you’re looking to refresh the colour of your tresses or get a new hairdo altogether, we ask the experts what’s on point in 2025.

Here are some trends to inspire a new you in the new year.

Bobs and lobs

Maria Dowling, founder of the award-winning mariadowling salon in Dubai, says the bob is here to stay for the coming year. “It is such a versatile cut and can be adapted in so many ways to suit different hair types, textures, colours and individual style preferences. Expect to see lobs, or long bobs, plus jawline bobs and wavy bobs, to name but a few.”

Deena Alawaid, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Collective Haircare, says the neck-length bob is a timeless option. “Invest in a flat iron that allows versatile styling and swishing, as bobs benefit from a sleek look and plenty of shine, while a longer style such as the neck-length bob also needs movement.”

The French bob, meanwhile, is taking a sharper turn for 2025, notes Natalie Kasses, creative director at Pastels Salon. “This has more defined lines and precision cuts. Think sleek, polished edges that exude Parisian chic. It's a bold, empowering style that frames the jawline beautifully. This cut requires an expert stylist to achieve its precise shape, while regular trims every four to six weeks are crucial to maintain its sharpness.”

Undone glamour

If effortless chic is more your style, Catherine Hawkes, celebrity hairstylist, educator, Schwarzkopf colourist and founder of Salon 971, has good news for you. “As we step into 2025, the world of hair is embracing looks that feel effortlessly put together yet exude individuality and confidence,” she says.

“One standout trend this year will be the rise of shaggy haircuts, a modern twist on a retro classic. These cuts feature layers that add texture, movement and volume, creating an edgy yet relaxed vibe. This trend perfectly embodies the undone glam ethos, offering an adaptable style that looks just as fabulous dressed up for an event as it does in everyday life.

“The shaggy haircut is ideal for those seeking a low-maintenance yet impactful look, while the addition of curtain bangs can elevate this style, framing the face and softening the overall look,” adds Hawkes.

Fringe benefits

If you are open to bangs, curtain bangs are certainly having a moment. “Both heavy and light curtain bangs, a la Sabrina Carpenter, are proving especially popular," Alawaid says. "This cut can frame the face beautifully, although it requires regular maintenance and styling.

“One tip is to use dry shampoo on your fringe immediately after a fresh blowout to avoid it from getting flat or greasy,” she adds.

Curtain bangs aside, Dowling says even micro fringes and heavy fringes are an on-point way to change your look.

“These can look great, but remember they do require a commitment to visiting the salon for regular trims and need time to style so they sit perfectly,” says Dowling.

Mocha mousse and Titian brown

For brunettes, the richer the shade of brown, the better, say the experts, on the back of Pantone’s colour of the year 2025: Mocha mousse.

“In hair, this translates to a combination between coffee and chocolate, a beautiful rich colour that is perfect for the darker hair we often have in the Middle East,” says Dowling. “You can also make it twinkle by using highlights and babylights.”

To create what Hawkes calls a “striking yet natural effect that complements a wide range of skin tones”, consider infusing your glossy brown look with icy chestnut hues. “The subtle contrast between the cool chestnut undertones and the warm, high-gloss base adds luminosity, depth and vibrancy, making this shade a go-to choice for anyone seeking a classic yet contemporary colour,” she says.

Red is a tricky shade, but if you want to meld a warm brown with hints of red, look no further than L'Oreal's Titian brown, says Kasses. “This shade is leading the charge at the moment, as it celebrates depth and individuality with its strikingly contrasting cooler browns. It's a bold choice for those looking to make a statement without committing to a full red. A gloss treatment every six to eight weeks will keep the colour vibrant.”

Creamy and sun-kissed blondes

“For blondes, 2025 leans into softness and subtlety with deep suede blondes,” says Hawkes. “These creamy, muted tones are a departure from the brighter, bolder blondes of past seasons. With their soft caramel accents, suede blondes exude understated elegance, warmth and a natural, sun-kissed effect that enhances the hair’s dimension and shine.”

Kasses offers tips to achieving and caring for the look. “It involves blending highlights and lowlights to create depth and dimension. Toners are key to nailing the perfect biscuit hue. My top tip is to use a sulphate-free shampoo and a weekly mask to keep the colour fresh and glossy, and to add a purple shampoo occasionally to prevent brassiness.”

Bouncy blowouts

The 1990s-inspired big blowout continues to reign supreme when it comes to the style of the year. “It offers volume, bounce and glamour, and is a look that’s both polished yet effortless,” says Kasses. “At home, achieve the look with a round brush, a powerful setting on the blow-dryer and volumising products.”

Alawaid adds: “You can also invest in rollers and a good hairspray for the ultimate bouncy effect. Always use a shine spray to finish.”

Glossing and glass hair

Dr Shruti Kakar, a specialist in the department of dermatology at Al Barsha Medcare Medical Centre, reckons glossing is the styling trend that will steal the spotlight in 2025. “For a long time, glossing has been a secret weapon in salons, but now it’s about to go mainstream. This treatment is all about giving hair a glass-like shine. At-home glossing treatments are making waves, allowing anyone to achieve salon-quality shine at home,” she says.

Building on the glossing trend, the glass hair look will also take centre stage. “This style emphasises sleek, ultra-shiny and perfectly smooth hair, reminiscent of a mirror-like finish. Achieving this look involves a combination of hydrating treatments, straightening techniques and glossing products,” says Dr Kakar.

Hot oil therapy and hair slugging

Hair treatments are a must for those who use heating tools and styling products to tame their manes. If you’re looking to try a new care routine this year, make it hot oil therapy, suggests Dr Kakar. “It is a must-have for anyone looking to repair and deeply nourish their hair. The treatment opens the cuticle, allowing oils to penetrate and deliver nutrients directly to the strands. Hot oil treatments, paired with a soothing hair spa, provide an extra layer of hydration, leaving your hair soft and revitalised, in addition to offering the relaxation of a massage.”

Hair slugging is another on-trend treatment to turn to in the coming year. “It’s gone viral on TikTok and entails applying oils or heavy leave-in treatments to the hair overnight to lock in moisture. This is particularly beneficial for dry, coarse or textured hair, as it deeply nourishes the strands while you sleep,” explains Dr Kakar.

Clean girl aesthetic

This plays out in two ways, explains Maya Fadel, brand manager at Lola from Rio. When it comes to style, it’s all about “smooth, polished ponytails and glossy finishes, with a demand for products that deliver a silky and frizz-free appearance”, she says. Alongside, there is a growing demand for “eco-friendly products made with clean, non-toxic ingredients, alongside a rising interest in plastic-free innovations”.

Ingredient alert

From care to grooming, here are some products and ingredients to add to your hairstyling repertoire. “Dry shampoo and hairspray are two products that are unsung party haircare heroes,” says Dowling. “Aside from its cleansing capabilities, using dry shampoo as a styling spray is an insider trick. As well as refreshing your strands between events, it adds subtle body and provides hair with a decent amount of grip for securing accessories. And a good, flexible-hold hairspray can help tame any fly-aways and keep them under control so you can go from day to night without any panic.”

Dr Kakar offers a list of ingredients based on hair type. “For those with curls, the game plan will be all about locking in moisture, so look to products containing oils such as argan, castor and jojoba. Those with straight and wavy hair need lightweight hydration, so look for shampoos and conditioners infused with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera.

“A final trend we expect to see in 2025 is scalp massaging. For this, look to nourishing oils such as peppermint and rosemary, which not only promote hair growth but also help to soothe dry, itchy scalps during winter.”