Celebrity Hairstyles for 2012

By Laurie Hatcher

Summary: Research into the beauty and fashion forecasts for late 2011 and early 2012. News and information about the latest trends in women's styles, lengths, and colors. Sources include salons as well as hairstyles magazines.

Introduction

What is your #1 beauty priority now? Is it hair, makeup, nails, or skin care? Glamour magazine put out a recent special edition called "1,000s of Beauty Dos and Don'ts to Live by Forever." Section One is Hair. This site's visitors previously revealed the first thing they notice when they meet other women is their hair. After more than 2,500 votes, these are the statistics:

Hair 36.91%
Eyes 22.49%
Face 20.93%
Weight 10.18%
Physique 7.48%
Height 2.01%

Cleopatra

The Cleopatra haircut is in fashion?! Are you kidding me? I was reading one of the latest hairstyles magazines and saw their Autumn Style Forecast. Among 16 pages of pictures and predictions: "The Cleopatra cut is all the rage this fall."¹

Huh? In disbelief at this unexpected suggestion of something that has never been fashionable -- even after the blockbuster movie starring Elizabeth Taylor (1963), shown above -- and there hasn't been a recent remake, I checked Google. Guess what?

News

In the news there were articles, including one at USA Today,² about Bachelorette star Ashley Hebert getting it. She hadn't just seen the flick; Hebert said she was inspired by Kim Kardashian's celebrity wedding.

How could something so ancient become so modern (and cool or respected)? The African American version is much better than the one on the reality romance star and on Taylor. It is a diagonal forward haircut and below the photo of it, there is the following description:

"Mane master Shamica of B-Qute Beauty Bar in Palmdale, CA, maintains the traditional short, blunt bang and onyx shade, but updated the look by snipping an asymmetric complete with longer front pieces."³

Opinion

My first impression was it's not exactly new; the second was it could take a while to fall in love. More to the point, will it become a trend? The editors didn't support their idea with several photos of leading ladies wearing it. Instead the revelation was only on a single hair model. There was no quote from a top hairdresser saying it'll be hot. Nor did they explain how it's the next step in the evolution of an existing trend.

The socalled Cleopatra doesn't fit a theme for the season except perhaps in one regard: it is blunt and geometric. Among the "hippest hair fashions" for black women who aspire to be "ultra fly," they show off Eva Marcille, host of Hair Battle Spectacular, who has sharp lines in her crooked crop. The rest of the group, as you would expect, chose what is more traditional and feminine.

The Roots of Fashion

The black celebrity community hasn't embraced the Cleo yet, and nor has the white crowd, nor any other ethnic group, for that matter. It should be noted, however, there is a similarity between the version of the Cleopatra in their sample and the Pob which was hot in recent years. They are both diagonal forward -- or front heavy and back light.

Diagonal Forward Bob

Tanasha Jack, hairstylist at a salon in Brooklyn, NY, showcases her work in the same issue featuring "Cleo." It is similar to what is allegedly the next big thing. Her creation is also asymmetrical with a point at the chin and sports full bangs. I love it!

"Soft layers are styled to a simply smooth finish allowing the cool color to shine." (They are referring to a rich red or copper.) This is something that could get traction. It is not crazy, and it looks mature, instead of like a DIY job (Liz Taylor).

The Cleo demo has a very straight fringe. However, in my opinion, there is no way a bowl cut or stick-straight bangs are going to become the top fashion. That's the stuff of experimenting kids and fashion models; for example, the girl in the new ad for Candy perfume by Prada.

Whether the fringe is straight or round doesn't really matter; if it's short it won't pick up. It just doesn't fit mainstream society today. What you see below does.

Victoria Beckham captured our attention after she got this diagonal forward bob hairstyle with highlights in 2006. It was actually what she wore just before the Pob. You can see the resemblance and how her hot bob came from this. The stylist simply made it shorter, created lots of layers, jazzed it up in shattered style, and colored it blonde.

Military Inspiration

The side panels of VB's design resemble a bomber's hat. Is the new fashion a flashback to a popular style five years ago? Major styles can return sooner or later, but usually not this quickly. It would be ironic, moreover, if this became a hit while she is no longer wearing it. Recent images show she is back to long extensions.

The DFB may not be as extreme as the Pob, but it's pretty wild. It is symmetrical, unlike her subsequent shape, and not as edgy. Still, there is little else like it. By any standard it's a rather severe hair design based on sharp angles and great weight.

Analysis

The pros are it is distinct, low-maintenance, and has a unique side view; the con is lack of versatility. Once you get bored with it, you'll have to chop off the sides and choose something completely different. You can hardly hide them or put them up into anything that is reasonably presentable.

Brush It Forward

If you don't want to commit to the slant, but still appear fashionable, one alternative is simply to brush your hair forward. The effect is quite attractive. Claudia Schiffer did this a few years ago for her angled bob.

A much more exciting version is brushed forward but layered, too. The points give it rich personality. How do you like this perfect relief design (slightly raised)? The masterpiece has supreme elegance and a clever use of hair highlights to accent the shape.

Bunch of Braids

One of the top hair magazines in the world is reporting that braids are hip and will continue to be desirable in 2012.⁴ Since they have become popular -- and had not been on the fashion scene in any significant way for a very long time -- it would not be surprising if they remain with us for at least another year.

You may have seen the cute designs on the red carpet in 2011. But of course they are also perfect for casual time, too. They have been popular both in the US and also UK. Cosmopolitan UK has a gallery of 18 different ways to create girlie fun. They aren't just for teen girls; mature women in their 30s and over 40 have also worn them successfully. But the older you are, the more sophisticated they should be. You can be original or classical with braids.

Color Changes in the Fall

The trend is to rich, earthy matte shades. That's the word from Krista Beahm, stylist at Patrick Mivcor Color Studio in Bethlehem, PA. She offers the following specifics.

Summer's icy blondes will give way to softer beige and caramel shades. Brunettes should opt for cooler, richer shades with soft highlights. "Think expresso and mocha," says Beahm. While red-gold was hot in the summer, fall will see a transition to richer red-violet and dark auburn. To accent the hues, styles will be very natural looking with no sharp or blunt lines. Loose waves and natural texture treatments will be hot.⁵

Winter Effects

"High-contrast hair is definitely out" for winter 2012, says Gina Khan, spokeswoman for Logics International Color. "We won't really see the big, bold, different colors going through hair any more. I think haircolor is becoming softer and more low-maintenance."⁶

Red Alert

"Reds are back," Khan asserts. "Red has a huge range of tones ... I do believe there is a shade of red out there for everyone."⁷

Are you ready for this change? It will be music to the ears of singer Florence Welch, who says: "I've done every color under the sun -- green, black, blue. But red suits me best." She isn't the only one who has changed.

Ombre Fades

The ombre trend seems to be waning. There are still a few celeb sightings of what can be termed the "lazy lady" look. Sometimes it can get so bad it's no different from mismatched cheap extensions.

Andrea Pomerantz Lustig of Glamour mag was recently asked: "I can't get to the colorist. How do I hide my roots?" Her advice was to "ignore them."⁸ I strongly disagree; it's too sloppy. There is a product for touch-ups. We have the technology, ladies. It doesn't cost an arm or a leg, and you don't need to be a veteran colorist to make it work.

African American Pizazz

Black women seem to have a much deeper innate sense of style and creativity. The color styles trending in their community now are both original and fascinating. The snazzy changes are completely unpredictable. They are wearing large patches and blocks of color and some of the most sophisticated highlights you'll ever see. These are on heavy fringes and in uncommon spots.

Retro Blast

Allure, although its October edition is thick at 300 pages, only says the hottest hair this fall is loose and wavy.⁹ This is disappointing in its lack of details and support for whether it's actually true or not. But they are kind enough to provide step-by-step instructions along with new product recommendations.

There isn't a retro hair forecast per se, but there is a special called "Head Bangers" by Kate Sullivan for anyone considering a retro rock persona in 2012.¹⁰ Worth a second look are: Debbie Harry (bottle blonde); Patti Smith; Joan Jett (rock shag); Marianna Faithfull (long bangs); Pat Benatar (rock mullet); Florence Welch (screaming red); and Grace Jones (flattop). Nobody else with authority is predicting a return to those old styles in the next year, but it may yet happen. Wait and watch.

The Shape of Things to Come

Gina Khan, the award-winning hue expert, shared her expectation on the next major haircuts. "Style wise I feel that hair is becoming a lot more defined. It's not going to be big, wild, and crazy. I think bangs and layering around the edges without shattered ends will be big."¹¹ This is a fair educated guess, but harsh looks are typically a tough sell to the masses.

What Length is Hot?

Masculine styles for women from the runways could inspire compatible short hairstyles this fall and winter. Models Daria Strokous and Mirte Maas are revealed backstage at D&C's fall/winter 2011/2012 show for an article in a new fashion magazine.¹²

With the editorial comments and that picture there is also another pic with a female model wearing a very short pixie that could almost pass for one of today's men's hairstyles. Several major fashion designers showed tuxedos in their fall collections.¹³ Singer and actress Julianne Hough was recently spotted wearing a tuxedo dress, but her tresses are still their usual length.

Now the question is: should your hair follow the masculine clothing trend or counter it? In other words do you go very short or just the opposite, so you don't look completely like a boy?

I don't think a very short haircut will be hot this season or next. In fact I don't recall when there has ever been a time in the last few decades when this "extreme" cut became ultra trendy. The reality is only a small fraction of women are very comfortable with a major snip. Would more than 3.5% go for it in '12?

The decision on length has evidently already been made by most women before their search for a style even begins. How easily can anyone be persuaded to change their mind if they suddenly hear very short is "in"?

Conclusion

According to industry experts, the Cleopatra hairstyle or a diagonal forward bob could be the hottest look. Red may be the new hot color. These two core design elements fortunately allow a lot of freedom and range for you to be fashionable but also express yourself uniquely. Braids are still in and Ombre is on the way out. There is a highlight shift towards less intensity. The dominant masculine theme in fashion could lead us to a short hair trend -- perhaps even shorter than the pixies of 2011. There are competing ideas -- blunt and geometric v. soft and wavy -- and both are popular at the same time.

There simply haven't been many compelling cuts this year. Jennifer Aniston tried a bob, but it wasn't fresh, and didn't inspire. Although it was medium, it wasn't huge enough to get copied now and for years to come like her Greene cut. She herself has already abandoned it. There weren't any other mid-length creations making headlines, either. The same can be said for long locks, too. We are ready for creativity, but may need to look in different places to find it.

In 2012 you could expect the Hollywood elite to pave the way to new hairstyles, but keep an eye on the B-List gals, too. It used to be that only the A-list celebs got top-flight beauty product advertising contracts. Now even B-listers get them. For instance, I just saw Naomi Watts in a Pantene commercial, followed immediately by Alyson Hannigan for Head & Shoulders. With the continuing Dove campaign focusing on and celebrating the beauty of real women with no claim to fame, the playing field may be getting leveled. Could mere mortals set our fashion future? Or will it mean with an increase in potential trend-setters we get more choices?

Meanwhile the obsession with bobs may never end. Just when you thought we would get a break from them, it could be time for another round. Are you ready for a new A-line bob?

References

1. Sophisticate's Black Hair Guide, Nov. 2011, p. 64
2. Ann Oldenburg, 'Bachelorette' star Ashley Hebert gets 'Cleopatra' haircut, USA Today, Sept. 2011
3. SBHG, ibid
4. Celebrity Hairstyles, Nov. 2011, p. 4
5. Ibid, p. 6
6. SHG, Nov/Dec 2011, p. 34
7. Ibid
8. "1,000s of Beauty Dos and Don'ts to Live by Forever," p. 26
9. Allure, Oct. 2011
10. Ibid, p. 203
11. SHG, Nov/Dec. 2011, p. 34
12. Elle Canada, Oct. 2011, p. 191
13. Rebecca Tay, Menswear finds a place in women's closets this fall, Vancouver Sun, Sept. 20, 2011