By Helena Madonna

After years of hyperpop aesthetics, 2025 is embracing minimalism. We once indulged in Y2K-inspired clashes – Christina Aguilera-esque chunky highlights, bold color blocking, space buns – but now, simplicity is the new statement.

Is 'basic' the new cool? We prefer à la naturelle. This ‘yours but better’ approach radiates effortless beauty, enhancing what you’re born with. From soft shags that boost texture to free-flowing coils and sharp, clean edges, the focus is on polished, natural hair.

Ready for the ‘anti-overwhelm’ hair trends defining this year? Keep scrolling.

The Fairy Cut gives new meaning to ethereal, with flowing, silken movement on exaggerated length – long enough to frame your iridescent wings. It’s like leading your locks on a radiant journey to transformation, but without the sacrifice of a full cut: whether your hard-earned length is to your chest or waist, this style allows you to preserve it.

With delicate bangs and dewdrop layer details through the temples, this elvish silhouette works well on long hair. Curls will thrive with this style, yet it's shaggy enough to elevate even the slightest of movement, making for the perfect style on all textures. Picture a mullet you'd find in a meadow, or in a ring of mushrooms.

Big hair goes beyond style and trends, it's a statement: of freedom, energy and glorious, untamed beauty. When you let your curls coil, cascade and fluff as they please, you're embracing a quiet power through its airy flow. It's a celebration of fullness and dimension: hair that knows no limits or bounds, commanding attention in the process.

This year, we'll see the thinning down of multistep curly girl methods; replacing heavy creams and balms with airy mousses and oils. When curls are well looked after, fly-aways and fluff only add character along with volume. Wave goodbye to crunchy twirls, make way for energy surged coils full of life, bounce and playfulness – the true personality of big hair.

This look is all about contemporary elegance. It’s a style that embodies sleek refinement through monochromatic tones, and clean lines yet graphic shapes: dramatically long, fluid and unstructured hair featuring a single shade from root to tip. Because sometimes simplicity can make the loudest impact.

To achieve this well-groomed hair with a high-gloss finish, it's vital to focus on routine. The salon chair is the perfect place to start. For maximum impact, aim for rich hues and deep shades that even out your colour from top to bottom. Think inky, midnight blue blacks or liquorice ebonies. For naturally light bases, aim for ivory buttercreams or beige bisques. Maintain richness with the upkeep of glossy treatments and masks that will fight dehydration along with frizz.

The enduring popularity of curtain bangs proves that they’re here to stay, but this year we’ll see them take on a new, laid-back elegance. Meet Birkin Bangs, the carefree day-to-night counterpart inspired by Jane’s timeless fringe, that embraces seamless, handcrafted texture. These bangs feature romantic curves that won't consume the face and free-spirited feathered tips that'll dance wherever directed.

As much as we've enjoyed silvery platinum shades, it’s time to make way for sunlit blondes. Daffodil Blonde is a joyful and modern play on honey blonde, a vibrant hue that harnesses that warm summer glow all year round – a golden ode to the sun, but cheerfully channeling the energy of a fresh bloom.

To achieve this radiant golden hue, starting with a clean blonde base is vital. A golden toner is the key to bringing this custom shade to life, enhancing brightness and warmth for that sunny, golden glow that's made to shine.

A Yin and Yang of high drama contrasts and whisper soft harmonies, this trend celebrates the beauty of both – inviting everyone to explore their own aesthetic extremes, whether through subtle gradients or daring contrasts.

For soft contrast, we're seeing examples of monochrome moods. Platinum whispers on pale skin – opal, pearlescent blondes that brighten fair skin tones – and golden brown honeys on medium tones, with hues that melt into warm skin to harness inner glow. Opposites attract on high contrast examples, with inky ravens and glossy, blue black shadowing cool toned porcelains.

The return of a beloved classic: sun-kissed balayage is getting a supernatural upgrade. Rather than a bold statement, it's a gentle reminder of the beauty in simplicity – a natural flow of hues in place of extreme contrast. The Supernatural Balayage features dimension and highlights that may have happened by chance, or during a brief (and safe) tanning session. Enjoy a perfectly balanced blend of light and shadow that'll illuminate beneath the sun, creating fleeting moments of warmth that complement sun-kissed skin.

If you go the DIY route, proceed with caution and use protection. It may be tempting to drizzle your strands in lemon juice, but this could lead to crispy ends with chemical burns. Fortunately, Oribe has bottled all the hard work for you, safely. With a few light mists, your locks will be UV protected and free to lighten as much as they please.

Thanks to texture focused innovations like K18 and other bond-shaper treatments, we're seeing people take extra special care of their natural movement, embracing imperfect kinks and wonky waves – which has made way for recent micro trends like Cloud Curls and Surf Hair. Think of it as the art of growth pattern nonconformity – yes, that stubborn cowlick that's proved untameable. It's time to celebrate the organic charm of your hair texture, including any fluff that may accompany it.

Patience is the first, and most important, step. It may take time for your hair’s true form to shine through. However, with persistence and the help of a few science-backed products, your locks will exude effortless beauty in no time.