With all the major Fashion Weeks over and done with, we are ready to present all of the spring/ summer 2018 hairstyle trends. This upcoming season is going to be a great time for all kinds of natural, simple hairstyles, with low ponytails and messy buns. The spring/ summer 2018 hairstyles leave a lot of room for natural curls and waves, because it’s all about texture for the season.
We’ve gathered all of the spring 2018 hair trends that stood out, including some ultra-clean, slicked-back looks that were total outliers. We’ve also put together the spring/ summer 2018 hair color trends, so that you can be totally prepared for anything.
Spring/ Summer 2018 Hair Color Trends
#1. Golden Brown Hair
Warmer months often mean lighter hair colors, and we certainly saw that as true with all of the golden brown and ash brown summer 2018 hair colors. Some standout models with medium and light brown hair shades with a distinct golden tinge included Aleyna FitzGerald, who walked for Balmain, Chanel, and Dolce & Gabbana, and Kaia Gerber, who walked for Chanel, Fendi, and Alexander Wang.
#2. Dirty Blonde Hair
Hair shades that are somewhere between blonde and brown were a distinct part of the spring/ summer 2018 hair color trends, especially on the runways where natural styling reigned. We saw dirty blonde locks on every single runway from New York to Milan, on models like Felice Noordhoff, Nina Marker, Silke van Daal, and a ton more. This natural take on blonde hair shades is easy to maintain and does well when exposed to sun and salt – it can even be achieved naturally with the help of the sun.
#3. Dark Black Hair
With a diverse cast of models on the spring/ summer runways, we also saw a lot of naturally raven black hair. Sijia Kang (walking for Valentino, and Lanvin) and Kiko Arai (walking for Balmain, and Givenchy) were both beautiful examples of pin-straight black hair.
Curly black hair looked perfect on models like Oumie Jammeh (who walked for Louis Vuitton, Versace, and more), who wore it close cropped, and Alyssa Traore (who walked for Calvin Klein, Dior, and Prada) with her long, cascading curls.
#4. Warm Red Hair
There were no burgundies or purple reds in sight for the spring/ summer 2018 hair colors. Instead, we saw natural red shades with just a hint of gold that would look beautiful in the summer sun. Gisele Fox, who walked for Miu Miu and Valentino, sported a pixie cut in the lovely shade, and we saw long red curls on Lorna Foran, who walked for Gucci, and Christopher Kane.
#5. Pretty in Pink
While not as ubiquitous as the other spring 2018 hair color trends, pink was everyone on the runways in spring 2018 makeup, shoes, clothes, and hair as well. Model Stella Lucia had her hair dyed a cool pink for the Alexander Wang runway, and we also saw models at Kenzo, and Grinko rocking a pink bob. At Aigner, hair chalk was used to color models’ hair parts in pink and other pastels.
#6. Hair Chalk
One of the easiest ways of experimenting with different spring/ summer 2018 hair color trends is using a hair chalk, which was used especially on the hair parts to inject some color and interest to simple, effortless hairstyles.
Zambelli and Aigner both showed off cool uses of hair chalk. The hair chalk parts at Aigner showed an even pop of color only on either side of the part in the hair. Bright colors accented the parts on either side of the part.
Spring/ Summer 2018 Hairstyle Trends
1. Ponytails from the Base
The difference between a low-slung ponytail and a high ponytail is a big one. There is something about ponytails that start at the base of the neck that is soft, feminine, and classy. It is casual, and yet romantic, so it can work for both daytime and evening looks. This is not the first (nor the last time) that it shows up all over the runways, and it is not surprising that it is one of the spring/ summer 2018 hairstyle trends.
At Erdem, the overall look was cleaner, with curled ponytails tied off with a ribbon that was classical Erdem femininity, with a twist thanks to rolled bangs.
At the Eudon Choi show, the ponytails were the height of casualness – tied off with a simple black bend, with hair that in itself hadn’t been over styled, so that there were many flyaways. There was a lot of talk about the low ponytails with scrunchies at Mansur Gavriel, with beauty editors all over the world hailing the return of those ‘90s hair accessories for spring 2018.
Lastly, at Lanvin, Tomohiro Ohashi styled sleek, low-slung ponytails, and then wrapped all along their length in patterned silk scarves. Other labels to feature low ponytails in their spring 2018 collections included Loewe, Preen, and Prada.
#2. Twisted Hair
Updos with hair twists are extremely easy to achieve, and they have a wonderful balance between upscale and casual. Many hair stylists decided to twist hair in a variety of ways and to different effects as part of the spring/ summer 2018 hairstyles.
At Rochas, loose, low-slung hair twists had been tied off with ribbons, in a soft style that didn’t take away from the unique makeup but still maintained its own uniqueness. At Daks, hair twists straddled the place between casual buns and upscale twists, and were wonderfully versatile and wearable.
On the Undercover runway, the talented Katsuya Kamo (who also designed the makeup for the show!), had the models’ hair twisted into large, elaborate rolls that were heaped up right on top of the head in an architectural yet soft updo.
We also saw some twisted semi-updos at the Emporio Armani show. Lastly, at Marta Jakubowski, we got to enjoy the most eccentric of hair twists. In a ‘90s fashion, strands of hair were twisted all over the head, and pinned close to the scalp.
#3. Wet Hair
Whether you’ve just got out of the pool, or if it took a long fight with hair gel, you can easily embrace the spring/ summer 2018 hair trends with wet-looking hair. Many hair stylists stuck
to the unique choice that made them stand out during the last season as well.
At Chanel, since the collection was filled with rain coats and boots, showing the purpose of the items with wet, pulled back hair, styled by Sam McKnight, was a reasonable choice – at least until the point when you realize that they are wearing rain hats that should be protective.
On the Alexander Mcqueen runway, extremely damp-looking hair was brushed back tightly against the scalp, with a few wet strands draped right in front of the face. We also saw wet hair styling at Jason Wu, Mugler, Maison Margiela, Creatures of Comfort, and many more.
#4. Impossibly Long Locks
This was a great season for hair extremes, so that one of the spring 2018 hairstyle trends is very long hair. Break out your hair extensions (or maybe skip your haircutting appointments), if you want to embrace the trend of Rapunzel hair.
Kirsty Hume, with her elbow-length blonde hair really caught the eye on the Michael Kors runway. On the Sies Marjan runway, hairstylist Duffy decided to fit each look to the models’ unique hair, which meant that many had their long strands flowing freely down their backs or over their shoulders.
Long hair was straightened on the Rick Owens runway, to better suit the futuristic designs, although the parts were kept natural to give balance.
#5. Pixie Cuts
While models mostly sported wigs in this style, we also saw some clever updos that created the illusion of a pixie cut. You can enjoy these kinds of spring/ summer 2018 hairstyle trends both through temporary styling or more permanent short haircuts.
At Balenciaga, Celine, and Carven, a few models had their hair shorn into choppy and boyish haircuts, in a true example of the trend. At Moschino, Haider Ackermann, and Giorgio Armani, short wigs were utilized to keep a uniform look of short, sophisticated hair.
At Tom Ford, the pixie effect was achieved by Orlando Pita, who twisted and pinned hair into place in such a way as to create the illusion of a short haircut – perfect for anyone with commitment issues!
#6. Bowl Cuts
Channel your inner Beatle, with a return to ‘60s bowl haircuts. If you plan to embrace the season’s mod runway styles, then you can get comfortable with this take on the spring/ summer 2018 hairstyle trends.
At Balenciaga, the runway was filled with aforementioned pixie cuts, as well as circular bowl cuts that were quite feminine thanks to a lot of volume. Longer bowl cuts made an appearance on the Guy Laroche runway, while at Esteban Cortazar, they were shorter and a little more boyish thanks to slight choppiness at the ends.
#7. Hair Glitter
This is one of those spring/ summer 2018 hairstyles that are the very definition of extra. Hair stylists upgraded all kinds of hairdos with a dusting of hair glitter that made the hair shimmer and reflect light beautifully. This styling choice stood out because we hadn’t seen much of it before.
At Thom Browne, a dusting of glitter over a super sleek, circular updo had a night sky effect that took away the breath. At Maison Margiela, the look was more haphazard, with wet-looking strands covered in a silver glitter.
#8. Messy Bangs
We’re used to bangs that are cute and doll-like, but this year they were anything but. In line with the other spring/ summer 2018 hairstyle trends, like unkempt hair, the bangs this season were also a little rough around the edges.
At the John Galliano show, hair was brushed forward over the face, to give a messy, side-swept bang effect emblematic of early 2000s misfits. It was all about messy bangs, styled by Guido Palau at the Prada show this season. They draped in chunky pieces over the forehead, while the rest of the hair was gathered in a quick ponytail.
#9. Messy Updos
The spring/ summer 2018 hair trends leave a lot of room for edgy and unapologetically simple styling choices. In addition to letting models wear simply unstyled hair, some hair stylists also opted to create messy updos, creating that feel of the triumphant end of the night when perfect hair starts to come undone.
At Luisa Beccaria, what could have been a very stylish low-slung bun took on an edgier vibe thanks to a lot of frizz that surrounded it. For the Katie Gallagher show, models wore their hair in very frizzy double top buns – a look that was the very representation of my early 20s – cute but all over the place.
The look at Jonathan Simkhai was messy to the point that we don’t think it’d be possible to pull on in real life. The hair was teased wildly at the top of the head, and then gathered into a simple ponytail or pinned up at the back. Perhaps inspired by recent events, the hair styling was less “wind blown” and more “hurricane blown”.
#10. ‘80s Hairstyles
With a few collections inspired by ‘80s fashion, it was a great fun to see hairstylists create big, messy and elaborate ‘80s hairstyles for the spring/ summer 2018 hair trends.
At the John Galliano show, the ‘80s vibes came from a few of the looks, where bangs had been curled and teased, along with a lot of volume at the top of the head.
As far as Gucci is concerned, the whole collection was ‘80s inspired, so many of the models rocked different kinds of ‘80s hair. The show opened with model Emily Unkles sporting an extreme version of Farrah Fawcett hair (that was maybe closer to the wig from Hedwig and the Angry Inch). Other models simply wore big hair piled over to one side with an extreme part, or a normal blowout.
#11. Top Knots and Buns
A knot of hair atop the head has become a go-to for women, so it was lovely to see it all over the runways as part of the spring 2018 hairstyle trends. This look is easy to achieve quickly, although you can also perfect and smooth it for a special occasion. We were happy to see all kinds of takes on this classic updo.
At Cushnie et Ochs, large chignons were gathered right atop the head, and a little to the side, for a look that was clean and classy, with just a hint of irreverent sass.
On the Michael Costello runway, the top buns we saw were way over the top – the rolled buns were nearly the same size as the heads they were sitting on top of! They were a little messy, but the slicked back part of the hair was very clean, so the look worked.
#12. Untouched and Effortless Hair
Lazy girls rejoice – we had just enough stylists keep hair looking untouched and naturally wavy to have it be one of the spring/ summer 2018 hairstyle trends. Looking effortless has been a key part of fashion for decades, but we are talking about true summer laziness, without even a hint of heat styling.
At Adam Selman, a diverse cast made for a real treat, because we got to see all hair types from the straight to the very curly in their natural state. We saw mostly untouched hair at Carven that was simply brushed back behind the shoulders, with a few loose strands across the forehead.
At Michael Kors, models’ hair styling regimen included sleeping in wet hair, for the most natural and truly untouched curls possible.
#13. Braided Updos
Easy to create, braided updos look classy but they help to keep you cool by keeping hair off your neck. They are perfect as one of the spring/ summer 2018 hairstyles, for daytime chic, the office, or for evening occasions.
At Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, low-slung twists and braids made for a loose semi-updo with a bohemian, textured feel. At Delpozo, a delicate braided chignon was the very height of sophistication, and worked well with the feminine collection.
The braided chignons were equally delicate at Mary Katrantzou, where they were created from two braids twisted together.
#14. A Unique Touch of Braid
Another of the braided hair trends of spring/ summer 2018 was about just adding a few braids in different places, for additional drama, in an innovative way.
At J.W. Anderson, braid placement was the most unique, with horizontal cornrows going from ear to ear along the crown of the head. At Carmen Marc Valvo, braids of varying thicknesses gave us Game of Thrones vibes when woven in with loose long hair.
At Laura Biagiotti, the single braid was truly innovative, peeking through behind a cascade of straightened hair, right at the center of the hair, along the base of the neck.
#15. Center Part Hair
There is just a small touch of late ‘60s hippie fashions in the middle part. It can soften severe styling choices, and work well with softer styling like the ubiquitous curls and waves we saw this season.
You can always count on Maison Margiela runway shows to feature all kinds of elaborate and avant-garde elements. This year it came in the form of wet hair and a sleek middle part.
At Tory Burch, hair styling was very simple. Models with long and shoulder-length hair had their locks straightened, and parted in the center. For a few it was pulled back into a low ponytail, as well. It was simple, overall, and worked well with the casual collection.
At Tommy Hilfiger, the hair was styled in a blowout that had a bit of a ‘90s, woman-with-wind-in-her-hair vibe, and impeccable center parts. We also saw middle-parted hairstyles at Valentino, Yohji Yamamoto, Rochas, and many more.
#16. Side Part
The side part is back with a vengeance. It is the more conservative of hair parting choices, so it was fun to see it used as part of the spring 2018 hair trends in both very severe hair looks and in fun and wild ones.
At the Marco de Vincenzo show, the side part was just one element in a very well considered hair look. The hair was very neatly straightened, parted, and pushed back behind the ears, except for a few strands that got to blow loose as the models marched down the runway.
The hair at Blumarine was styled in exactly the kind of look that fits with a side part. The hair was tightly gelled close to the scalp, with an ultra sharp side part, and then allowed to cascade down more freely at the shoulder length.
Other shows where we saw side-parted hair included Balmain, Dries Van Noten, Max Mara, and many more.
#17. Braids at the Front
Braids are a great way to add texture and romance to a hairstyle, regardless of whether the hair is loose or pulled back. For the spring/ summer 2018 hairstyles, bohemian braids did not make an appearance, but were instead either unique or romantic.
We saw a lovely, simple take on braiding at the Christian Siriano show. Hair strands had been braided near the temples, and then the braid on each side was pulled back into a soft, low ponytail. A similar look, but with braids starting at the center part, and with the rest of the hair loose, was created at Anna Sui, to go well with the girlish collection.
At Chromat, the temple braiding was on the funky side, with chunky, large braids that somehow sprouted from the models’ temples adding a lot of texture and almost looking like head pieces. On the Vicky Zhang runway, we saw a messy take on the crown braid updo that was perfectly rustic, working will with the romantic feel of the collection.
#18. Breezy Natural Waves
The breezy blow-dry is the perfect summer hairstyle trend to take you from day to night effortlessly. On many a runway, long hair was styled into loose waves that seemed natural and comfy – ready to blow in a springtime breeze.
We saw easy breezy waves at Balmain that must have been achieved through the lightest bit of blow drying. They were beautiful and airy, and could have even passed for natural if it hadn’t been for the fact that all the models’ hairstyles were identical.
At Rodarte, similar loose styling but with a middle part worked perfectly with the romantic, spring-time feel of the collection. At Giambattista Valli, hairstylist Paul Hanlon, inspired by the natural hair texture of each model, styled hair into waves and curls of varying sizes for a beautiful and natural look.
Waves were styled in a similar, effortless manner at Paco Rabanne, Isabel Marant, Simone Rocha, Giambattista Valli, Givenchy, and Oscar de la Renta.
#19. Slicked Back Hair
From one extreme to the other, we saw a lot of slicked back, ultra-clean, futuristic looks in the spring/ summer 2018 hairstyle trends. Sometimes it was in combination with the wet hair
trend, and other times it was all on its own.
Long hair was brushed back and kept close to the scalp on the runway of Fausto Puglisi, and then allowed to cascade down loosely at the base of the neck.
The look was a little similar at Prabal Gurung but overall more severe. The hair was heavily gelled at the crown, but then styled starting at the base of the neck into lush yet very clean curls.
At Etro, James Pecis brushed models’ hair back to gather it in a ponytail, for a clean and sophisticated look that wasn’t overly gelled. At the Roberto Cavalli show, we also saw hair slicked back into a ponytail, but this time it was actually gelled heavily.
#20. Clean Curls
Somewhere between the effortless and natural looks and the ultra-clean styling, we got soft yet clean curls that are lovely, romantic, and classically appropriate for any occasion.
At Valentino, Guido Palau created clean, center-parted looks with ultra-clean curls and waves pushed behind the shoulders. On the Roksanda runway, hair was styled in both clean waves and curls, depending on each model’s natural hair, with both middle and side parts.
For Cynthia Rowley, somehow the hairstylists managed to make volumized, brushed out curls look clean and sophisticated, thanks to a touch of mousse and very sophisticated haircuts.
#21. Modeling Mod Hair
For the spring/ summer 2018 hair trends, the ‘60s are back with ultra-clean, voluminous hairstyles that are so emblematic of that era and the mod fashion sense.
The Badgley Mischka collection was in and of itself ‘60s inspired, so injecting the styles of the era into the hair looks made perfect sense. Models wore updos volumized at the crown and a little mussed, with a center part.
We saw a cleaner take on mod hair styling at the Miu Miu show. For all of the models with long hair, it was styled into an ultra clean, low beehive, with the bangs secured back with a thick hair band. It was just the right amount of volume.
Do you have a favorite among the spring/ summer 2018 hairstyle trends? Which one?
Photos via Livingly
