2010 Hair Trends

2010 hair styles for women 

2010 hairstyle trends will feature a lot of new looks: there are the new hair trend heavily influenced by the recent Spring 2010 catwalks, and there are the reworkings and evolutions of last year's hair trends. Below are Fashionising.com's top picks for hair styles in 2010, with seasonal styles alongside looks for hair from short to long. For more on hair cut trends keep reading.

Plaited & Braided hair

The popularity of milkmaid braids in 2009 evolves into the braided hairstyletrend in 2010. While it's natural for hair trends to evolve between the years, the resurgence of plaited / braided hair is mostly as a result of the hairstyle heavily featuring on the Spring 2010 catwalks. Particularly prominent on Alexander Wang's Spring 2010 runway, we also spotted them at Miuccia Prada's Miu Miu Spring 2010 and, increasingly, amongst street style pictures.

There are two distinct braided hairstyle looks for 2010: the long side braid, and the fish plait as seen on the Missoni Spring 2010 catwalk.

• Great with any hair colour
• The side braid can be paired with the slicked side hair style for an edgy interpretation
• The fish plait is 2010's take on the simple pony tail
• Both the side braid and the fish plait work great with a fringe. 
• Similarly: don't thread your fringe, whether it's cut as a blunt fringe or not, into the braid; instead it is best to style the fringe loosely; see the pictures of Anna Selezneva in the inspiration gallery for the best example
• The fish plait can be worn with a centre part
• The side braid can only be worn with a side part and the part must be on the opposite side of the head to the braid. If you're stuck for a mental picture when styling this in front of the mirror one evening, simply think of it as the Rapunzel braid
• Both styles are great for the Autumn (Fall) / Winter 2010 and Spring / Summer 2010 seasons

Long waved hair inspired by the 1940s

Having appeared on our radar in 2009, 1940s hair styles will continue as an inspiration for women's hairstyles in 2010. As it was last year this hair trend is again inspired by the late 40s and, to a lesser degree, the early 1950s.

• Waves should be firm but not curly
• Suitable for all hair colours, though less effective on black hair
• Wear it with an off-centre or side part, not a centre part
• Length wise, it must fall below the shoulders
• Pair with classic make-up and styling
• Inspired by film noir, confidence and sexual innuendo go hand in hand with 1940s wavey hair
• Suitable both for the Autumn (Fall) / Winter 2010 and Spring / Summer 2010 seasons

Long hair inspired by the 1970s

There are two 20th century fashion revivals happening in 2010. The 1940s revival gives us the 1940s hair style above, while the 1970s influence upon 2010 gives us two distinct hairstyle trends.

Straight long hair, naturally styled

• Slickly styled, but not so slick that it feels overly styled or straightened
• Should be voluminous
• Predominantly styled on the Spring 2010 catwalks with a side part, but will work equally as well with a centre part
• Definitely a style tha works for super-long hair, i.e. hair that falls to the midriff
• Suitable both for the Autumn (Fall) / Winter 2010 and Spring / Summer 2010 seasons

1970's inspired flowing texture

• Different from the waved hairstyle inspired by the 1940s, this flowing, textured, (and sometimes) waved hairstyle trend in 2010 relies instead on natural-looking waves that border on bed hair
• Suitable with both a centre part and an off-centre part
• As with straight and naturally styled long hair, flowing waves also work well when very long
• Best suited to the Spring 2010 / Summer 2010 season

Slicked / Gelled Hairstyles

If there's a 2010 hairstyle that screams attitude in 2010 it's slicked hair. Perfect for the younger set, there are three slicked hairstyles to try out in 2010.

The Slicked Back

Slicked back with gel, with fingers or a wide toothed comb providing the texture, 2010's slicked back hairstyle mixes hair slicked back across the top of the head with textured length. Though we've seen a dry, heavily brushed texturing for the length, avoid it and stick to a wet look as seen on Alexander Wang and Thakoon's Spring 2010 catwalks

The Slicked Side

The perfect alternative to 2009's half-shaved head hairstyle, the side slick is the strongest of the three slicked hairstyle trends for 2010. All attitude, it marries an overall wet and tousled look with a side part.

• Style it in much the same vein as 2010's braided hair trend, with a wide braid and a side swept fringe, for maximum effect.
• If braided hair is not your thing, experiment. What's great with the side slicked hairstyle is that it can be worn with a plethora of haircuts, be they short or long.

Masculine / androgynous slicked hair

The slicked side becomes the slicked all-over for this masculine take on a wet look hairstyle in 2010, this is a hair trend that also perfectly suits one of the year's fashion trends: the female dandy.

• A hairstyle trend that'll work great for short hair cuts in 2010
• Don't be scared by the sexual orientation connotations that might be raised with this hair style; accusations of the pixie crop being a 'hair style for lesbians only' were wholly unfounded and the pixie cut went on to become one of the 2009's most dominant hair cuts
• Look to men's hair styling products, but not the heavy waxes and pomades. Rather, invest in a tub of Brylcreem
• Strongly define the line of the part, and wear it as far to the side as is suitable for your face shape

Hair buns, chignons, and hair twists

Amongst hairstyles every year there is always at least one 'up-do'. And for 2010 it's no different. Gone are the tacky interpretations, instead this year's up-dos (four no less) will all embody elegance without erring on the side of caution.

The chignon

Originating from the French "chignon du cou" (which means "nape of the neck"), a chignon is an elegant low bun or twist that sits at the nape of the neck.

• In 2010 the traditional neat chignon is an easy and chic style for day or night
• Avoid the over-styled, over-hairsprayed wedding look. Even a sleek, tidy chignon should feel natural and sophisticated
• For a fresh 2010 take on the chignon, try a highly textured low bun like those seen on Karl Lagerfeld's Spring 2010 catwalk. Rough pieces of hair are pinned in place for a messy, textured look
• Another unique version was seen at Carolina Herrera's Spring 2010 show - low chignons were entwined with strands of silver and bronze beads for an embellished effect. 

The top knot

Popular on the street in 2009, the top knot conveys a young and playful look. In 2010 topknots are best in two forms: the sleek and the messy top knot.

• Sleek top knots are tidy buns that sit right at the top of the head, like those seen at Marc Jacobs and Nina Ricci for Spring 2010 
• Sleek top knots best sit dead centre of the head, but can also work slightly off to the side
• These types of topknots work best on straight hair
• Hair should be neatly brushed upward and slicked into place; then the top knot twisted around neatly and fastened
• The sleek top knot works well in an elegant ballerina-esque way - so in 2010 don't be afraid to add a ribbon or some embellished clips to accentuate the femininity of the style
• You can also try plaiting the hair first, then twisting it into a top knot, for another variation on the look
• For a messy top knot, sweep the hair up and fasten haphazardly. The effect is one of nonchalance and effortlessness.
• On the Spring 2010 runways we saw a more elegant take on the messy top knot: rather than a messy bun hair is loosely wound around and piled on top of the head for a birds-nest look that's Hitchcock heroine meets modern-day bedhair. 
• Volume is key: teasing and hairspray will help create the look
• Works well with hair that has some soft waves and texture to it
• Works best on hair with subtle highlights and lowlights - raven black or rich brunette colours can be too blockish

Twists & rope braids

• In 2010 the classic French Twist is great when disheveled, as yet another chic yet carelessly thrown together look
• Twist hairstyles can also take the form of strands of hair twisted and then pinned to create interesting shapes
• Rope twists, or rope braids, have also sprung up as another new style for Spring 2010. Seen on the runways of Matthew Williamson, Zac Posen (whose ponytail twists were woven through with neon colours), and Antonio Berardi
• This style is simply achieved by twisting two strands of hair, then winding the strands around each other to form a 'rope'
• Rope braids can be left to cascade down the shoulder much like the side braid above; tied up into buns; or twisted around the head like a milkmaid braid
• Rope twists work well on any hair colour, but are most effective when hair is straight and long