In 1994, Jennifer Aniston joined the ranks of celebrity trendsetters when she and her stylist debuted “the Rachel,” on the hit television show Friends. Tens of thousands of women flocked to the salon and demanded their own version of the cut — many of them still sport a variant of it to this day.
Congratulations! You have made it to 2018, and what a time it is to be alive. We are no longer stuck with all those run-of-the-mill cuts that were popular for decades. Rainbow colors, shaved designs, and everything in between means that this year when it comes to your hair, anything goes. Join the ranks of these celebrity trendsetters and find out right here what’s absolutely happening in the world of hair in 2018.
Getting inspiration from celebrities has been happening as long as there have been celebrities. Of course, way back in the day, it was kings and queens setting the standards, and word absolutely didn’t travel as quickly then, either. Nowadays, everyone from movie stars, singers, and political figures inspire thousands of people’s looks. Luckily, it is 2018, and we have the internet for instant access to all the new fashions.
Top Female Celebrity Hair Trendsetters
Now, let’s get into the super fun part. I did not presume to know what the trends are. I researched, and I looked up what the experts said on top style and fashion websites for hours. So, instead of digging through all those sites yourself, grab a beverage and a buddy because we are about to get started and talk about the hottest celebrity trendsetters in 2018.
The following list is in no particular order.
Lady Gaga
Now, while this list is unquestionably not in order, I won’t fail to recognize Lady Gaga. It was after she came on the scene that the hair game truly changed forever.
Image CC by-SA 2.0, by proacguy1, via Flickr
If there were rules governing hairstyles before Lady Gaga, she kicked them right out the door. While she may have toned down her style recently, for many years you never knew what she would have on her head when Lady Gaga walked into a room. Honestly, now that it’s 2018, that should be everyone’s goal — keep them guessing what you are getting up to next.
Image CC by NC-SA 2.0, by Eva Rinald, via Flickr
Gaga kicked down the doors of what was “normal” and nothing has been the same since.
Image by ladygaga, via Instagram
Ginnifer Goodwin
When Ginnifer Goodwin’s hit ABC show Once Upon a Time hit it big, so did her haircut. The super-easy and adorable pixie cut she sported on the show made a splash everywhere, and women lined up to match her style.
Image by fandoms.universe, via Instagram
There are literally thousands of different little things you can do to make this cut your own. As it grows out, the possibilities are endless.
Image by once_upon_a_time_officalfan, via Instagram
Ms. Goodwin appears to be letting her bangs grow out as she keeps the back short.
Pixie cuts look really good on many different face shapes; talk to your stylist to see what would work best for you.
Image by once.upon.a.time_c.s, via Instagram
Jennifer Lawrence
Since Jennifer Lawrence popped on the scene, she joined the ranks of celebrity trendsetters. Remember this adorable pixie cut?
Well, Lawrence wasn’t satisfied with only one trend. According to hairstylist Michaelangelo Arvelo, the ever-popular bob haircut is hotter in 2018 than ever before– no wonder with the temperature soaring the way has been. However, as Jennifer Lawrence shows us with her super choppy style, the imperfect bob is a scorching look right now.
Arevalo said, “Why not put a twist on a classic and create a little eccentricity?” and I couldn’t agree more. This super adorable style is much less sharp and severe than one cut with blunt edges — giving the appearance of smoother more flowing tresses.
Image from jenniferlawrence.daily, via Instagram
The key to achieving perfection with this cut is to leave strands in the front longer than the ones in the back. Arevalo even recommends that you ditch that flat iron and let your natural texture shine through.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is the poster girl for long, curly, blonde hair. Through the years, she hasn’t changed the color, of course. Who would when you look that good blonde? But that doesn’t mean that she hasn’t changed the style — because she has and has started a few trends on the way.
Image by taylorswift, via Instagram
We are all familiar with Taylor Swift’s long and luscious blonde locks. She has sported many different styles, though, since she came on the scene. Check her out below; her style was a super curly short hair with blunt bangs while she was growing it out.
Image by taylorswift, via Instagram
We are talking about current trendsetters, though, so why did Swift make the cut? Well, according to Glamour.com, the singer’s new air-dried messy style is all the rage right now.
Image by taylorswift via Instagram
The key, according to hair experts, when you have curly hair is to make sure that you don’t cut it all the same length. Be careful, though, of layers meant for straight hair. When you ask for this cut, tell your stylist that you want long diagonal angles toward the face.
Olivia Munn
Over the summer, Olivia Munn set the hair world on fire when she posed for “Rogue” magazine with this super trendy 80s inspired style.
Image by oliviamunn, via Instagram
In 2018, the eighties are making a comeback. This time around, however, it’s less about feathering and more about curls and keeping them as large as possible.
Image by oliviamunn via Instagram
This look isn’t challenging to achieve if you have curly hair. If you don’t have curly hair, well, grab a curling iron and get busy. Just know that any eighties look you can pull off with your tresses will be precisely what 2018 demands.
Caroline de Maigret
The French-girl style hair is also super trendy this year. No one exemplifies this style more than Caroline de Maigret; she started the trend, after all.
Image by atelierballerina, via Instagram
Turner said that this style, messy with bangs, or a fringe, that you never need to spend any time on is one of the most popular cuts this year. A bonus to this look is that when the humidity starts to rise, it actually only gets better.To achieve this on your own, use a leave-in conditioner. Then, allow your hair to air dry almost all the way, around 75 percent. Now, take your hair and twist around strands into a knot or a bun. This sequence will ensure that your hair dries into a soft wave with no heat or tools required.
Rita Ora
This next look is super popular this summer. Rita Ora’s effortless, loose, curly hair is so chic, it’s catching on everywhere, and it’s one of the hottest looks of the season. This eye-catching style with long bangs and layers is 2018 in a nutshell. This style is all about a natural look with a rock ‘n roll edge.
Image by ritaora, via Instagram
Here’s what you tell your stylist. You can keep your length if you want, this style is all about layers. You want to add layers around the crown of your head with the length softened. The whole point is to lighten your hair and allow movement and texture.
Danai Gurira
No one can deny that Black Panther was one of the hottest films of 2018. Well, the movie sparked more than the usual enthusiasm surrounding such flicks. Danai Gurira played Okoye on the film and sparked a trend that I could not be more excited to see.
Image by danaigurira, via Instagram
When Danai Gurira came on the scene with this dramatic look, women around the country shaved their heads to get in on this trend.
Image by danaigurira, via Instagram
This look is striking and dramatic and an excellent way to beat the heat this summer. Take it from someone who knows. As you can see, you don’t need to go all the way to the roots; look how good the style looks in the photo above as Gurira grows it out. She even cut some awesome designs on the side which is yet another hot trend this year.
Lily Allen
We all love to listen to Lily Allen’s sultry voice croon out gorgeous songs. It turns out, though, that she is also sporting a trendsetting hairstyle as well as singing like an angel. According to Glamour Magazine, fruit juice hair is one of the most popular colors of the season. Allen’s delightful pink tresses certainly look juicy to me.
Image by lilyallen, via Instagram
You should know that “juicy” covers a wide range of colors. Just remember, when it comes to color, anything goes. You can get as creative as you dare thanks to these trendsetters paving the way.
Image by lilyallen, via Instagram
If you are interested in nailing some juicy color of your very own, it’s pretty simple. Just tell your colorist to mix all the fruity colors they have in their pallet, and boom, fruity, juicy trendsetting hair.
Jennifer Aniston
And here we are, back to the originator of “the Rachel,” Jennifer Aniston. Jennifer Aniston, with her gloriously golden hair, goes down in the Hall of Hair Fame because she still stands tall among the top trendsetters over two decades later.
Image by jennifer.aniston___,via Instagram
Norman from Not Another Salon recommends that if you want this color, make sure you take an image with you to the salon. Actually, you can just take your phone and show them this article, if you want.
Image by jennifer.aniston___ via Instagram
While it may or may not be true that blondes have more fun, the golden blondes are certainly sporting one of the hottest hair colors of the year.
Katy Perry
Let’s keep talking about color for a minute. And you can’t talk about color, especially funky color, without talking about Katy Perry. Alongside Lady Gaga, Katy Perry has created so many trends, I lost count. There are several colors trending right now, and mermaid shades are among them. Check out Katy’s adorable undersea purple look.
Image by katyperry, via Instagram
Chic and simple pixie cuts are all the rage at the moment, too, and Katy’s shows us exactly why.
Whether it’s blue, pink, purple, or even just blonde, we should all strive to keep our hair as fresh as Katy Perry keeps hers. Indeed, if she keeps this up, she will go down in history as one of the greatest trendsetters of all time.
Gabrielle Union
Remember we talked about the eighties making a comeback. Well, along with nailing an eighties look, Gabrielle Union’s look is also setting the standard for what we should all strive for this year. This low, natural, retro style ponytail captured by photographer Larry Sims is literally everything we want to see in 2018.
Image by larryjarahsims, via Instagram
With this easy low ponytail, Ms. Union joins the ranks of celebrity trendsetters for a couple of reasons. First, the whole eighties vibe, as you know, is definitely happening right now. Never fear if you don’t have the hair to pull this off, though, because low slung ponytails, even if they re straight, are totally trending at the moment.
Rihanna
if this list were in order, Rihanna would be really close to the top. This sultry island singer is in the top tier of celebrity trendsetters. With everything from a short pixie cut to a super adorable curly fringe like we talked about earlier, Rihanna’s hair game is on point.
Image by rihanna.today, via Instagram
Right now, Rihanna has well over a million followers on her Instagram, and it’s easy to see why. Thousands of women continue to be inspired by her gorgeous and trendy hairstyles daily.
Image by rihanna.today, via Instagram
Recently, Rihanna debuted a new haircut and it caused a shockwave. According to Glamour.com, the performer’s semi-shaved hairstyle caught on big time.
Image by rihanna.today, via Instagram
Celebrities like Carmen Electra and Cassie both sported similar looks shortly after Rihanna showed off her freshly shaved head.
Mila Kunis
Since she came on the scene with her smoky good looks, Mila Kunis has grabbed attention. She joins this list of celebrity trendsetters, though, with her adorable choppy lob haircut.
Image by kunismilax, via Instagram
According to celebrity hairstylist Sacha Quarles, the choppy lob is one of the hottest cuts of the year. It joins the ranks of other short styles, making 2018 the year of the short do, among many others.
Lisa Rinna
Now, we can’t talk about trendsetters and leave out all the classics. Take Lisa Rinna’s shag, for example. This is an incredibly versatile and easy cut that thousands of women adore.
Image by lisarinna, via Instagram
Ms. Rinna has sported a version of this haircut for years, and it’s no wonder why. It has inspired thousands of women to go for that shorter, more powerful look.
Nicole Ritchie
Right now, seventies styles are as popular as the eighties are. Just take a look at Nicole Ritchies look to get an idea what I mean.
Image by nicolerichie, via Instagram
There’s are many things about Ritchie’s look that are quintessentially 2018. The ’70s style part in the middle, for starters, as well as that gold color we already talked about. Her easy air-dried style is also on point. Ritchie is one of the trendsetters that you definitely want to keep your eyes on.
Now Let’s Talk About Boys
Of course, 2018 is also all about equality, so we aren’t going to leave out the men. Heck, even if none of them read this article, you will be able to gently make a few suggestions based on what you learn below.
Christian Ronaldo
There are not many sports that are hotter in 2018 than soccer. Well, that popularity also translates into men’s hairstyles. Check out Christian Ronaldo’s sharp fade below to see what I mean.
Image by _fashionbloom, via Instagram
You don’t have to be able to bounce a ball on your head to score big with this sizzling style.
Brad Pitt
Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about an older gentleman. Of course, it’s important to stay on top of the trends as we age and no one does that better than Brad Pitt.
Image by cinema.inc, via Instagram
With this fade, less severe than Christian’s in the photo above, Pitt keeps it classic. However, with that upswept part in the front, he brings it straight into modern times.
Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
And there you have it, folks, the top celebrity trendsetters in the world of hair in 2018. The only question left now is what you are going to do about it?
I cannot impress upon you enough the empowerment you could feel at sporting a daring new style. You never know, you may end up so good at it that you’re the one in your squad that everyone wants to emulate. Remember, though, everyone’s hair is different. Whether it is texture, thickness, or color hair is like fingerprints and no two are alike. So, for your sake, talk with your stylist and be realistic about what you can actually pull off.
Most of all, enjoy yourself and remember that it’s only hair; it will grow back.
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