The 30 Most Popular Haircuts in 2020
By Elizabeth Denton, Wendy Sy , and Kaleigh Fasanella
Believe it or not, 2020 was a big year for haircuts — COVID-19 be damned. In the spring, we witnessed countless folks use salon closures as an excuse to play hairstylist, giving themselves bangs, layers, and buzz cuts. And once businesses were back open, people sprinted to their beloved stylists for both touch-ups and full-blown transformations. The bob was super popular this year, as was the pixie cut and shaved heads. On the flip side though, low-maintenance looks — like long bangs and the one-length cut — were seen everywhere, too.
Despite the obvious hurdles of the pandemic, our favorite celebrities still managed to serve up haircut inspiration all year long. Even during lockdown, many A-listers got creative and did their own cuts and dye jobs at home (looking at you, Bella Hadid), and when salons re-opened, many were quick to see their hairstylists for a post-quarantine cut. Now, enough chit chat: To find out which haircuts reigned supreme in 2020, just keep on scrolling.
- Courtesy of Instagram/@hilaryduff1/30
'70s Bangs
One look at Hilary Duff's bangs and you'll know the '70s are back in a big way. Nine Zero One co-founder Nikki Lee is responsible for this pretty fringe. "Instead of doing a full-on bang, we opted for more of a curtain bang that sweeps to both sides," she says. "The vibe is very '70s and a perfect way to switch up her look."
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'70s Bangs
It's sometimes hard to keep up with Selena Gomez's seemingly constant hair changes, but this fringe especially suits her. Andrew Fitzsimons, hairstylist and Tigi Copyright brand ambassador, loves the style for its nostalgic-but-timeless vibe. "Farrah Fawcett is probably the most well-known example of the '70s bangs and to this day, she remains a beauty icon," he tells Allure. "The modern spin on this style is a bit less voluminous and feathered. You still have a good bit of texture, but it's more of a loose wave."
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Asymmetrical Bob
Philippe Depeyrot, co-founder of Salon Bisoux in Washington, D.C., loves the "modern interpretation of the classic cut" you see here on Kerry Washington. He also notes he's been seeing an uptick in clients requesting it. "This cut works for all face types," he says. "It has been a really popular cut. I did two different versions of this cut today alone."
- Courtesy of Instagram/@tarajiphenson4/30
Asymmetrical Bob
Want a 2020 take on the ultra-popular bob? Try an asymmetrical style, like this one on Taraji P. Henson. "It's no secret that I love a bob hairstyle and the asymmetrical bob is no exception," explains Fitzsimons. "The great thing about bobs, asymmetrical and otherwise, is that they look good on a variety of hair types and textures, so you can get versatile with your styling options. The asymmetrical bob is cut shorter in length in the back and longer in the front — or, for an edgier look, longer on one side than the other."
- Courtesy of Instagram/@katyperry5/30
Asymmetrical Bob
Hairstylist Harry Josh is also here for this kind of cut, especially since it expands your options if you want to get a dye job. "Asymmetrical [bobs] can take on more solid, bold hair colors and less of a highlight, making it easier to experiment with."
- Courtesy of Instagram/@zoeisabellakravitz6/30
The New Pixie
Zoë Kravitz goes back and forth between short and long hair, but her pixie is a surefire favorite — and it happened to be seriously on-trend all this year. "The pixie is forever a classic because there are so many variations," says hairstylist Jasmine Ashley. "Most clients are going less 'bangy' and more flirty short cuts with a flare."
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The New Pixie
2020's take on pixie cuts were either super short or just a bit longer than normal. There's no in-between. The brow-grazing length Selma Blair is sporting here feels very modern and fresh — plus it has a way of making the eyes shine.
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The New Pixie
Kaia Gerber's pixie from earlier this year had more of a long, A-line shape; it's the shortest we've ever seen on the model. Hairstylist Glenn Ellis sees the trend going into the new year. "I've had clients recently that have been wanting more of a pixie," he says. "It's low maintenance in the sense that you don’t have to spend a ton of time blow-drying your hair. All my clients call this the 'wash and go' haircut because you can leave the house with it wet and it dries perfectly on its own."
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Modern Shag
"Short hair with a gentle nod to a mullet works with softer edges and movement," explains Philip Downing, TIGI creative and education director. "This gives the mullet haircut a feminine softness and versatile approach." Taylor Swift has been wearing the modern shag for all of 2020 — and based on recent photos, it looks like she'll take be taking the trend into the new year, too.
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Modern Shag
The '70s were calling all year and celebrities were answering — Dua Lip, at one point, included. "The shag is a mainstay in style," says hairstylist and co-founder of Spoke & Weal Salons, Jon Reyman. "It's sexy, strong, and flattering. Try a shag with or without a strong fringe that is cut away into long or short hair, following a hybrid of the mullet and the shag. This look works for curly hair, straight hair, long, mid-length, and even shorter hair."
- Courtesy of Instagram/@traceeellisross11/30
Rounded 'Fro
"Natural curls and coils are taking the world by storm and the shape of the hair is what helps make the best impact," says Annagjid "Kee" Taylor, hairstylist and founder of Shear Genius Collection. "The rounded 'fro is one of the most popular looks. The cut will keep your coils healthy and your curls full of life. Although there are so many ways to cut your curly hair, right now [a] rounded [shape] or the 'lion cut' are my absolute favorites. It's cutting or trimming hair to shape the natural curls into the roundest form possible. A lot of women's hair naturally grows in this shape, but some have to be cut and formed."
Tracee Ellis Ross, who has her own hair-care line, looks modern and gorgeous here with her full curls.
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Rounded 'Fro
Curly hair naturally wants to be voluminous, and 2020 has been all about embracing and enhancing that. Consider your texture, face shape, and how you typically like to part your hair before you decide on which cut to go with. If you're into a side part, look to Teyonah Parris.
Hairstylist Anthony Dickey, the founder of Hair Rules Salon in New York City, says that in order to get a rounded 'fro "all 4C textures should be cut [while] blown out straight." He also recommends avoiding shampoo that lathers to keep curls hydrated — not stripped dry. His own line, Hair Rules, includes the stellar No Suds Cleansing Cream.
- Courtesy of Instagram/@theannalynmccord13/30
The Rachel
No cut defined the late '90s and early '00s like "The Rachel," Jennifer Aniston's hairstyle on Friends. It's all about the layers here, plus a good blow-dry so sections are smooth and curled under. Though this look gives us clear memories of a specific decade, stylist Adel Chabbi, owner of Adel Atelier, believes it's actually a timeless haircut that's been back in a big way during 2020.
"Rachel rocked this look years ago and it's still resonating among women worldwide," he tells Allure. "Why do we like it so much? Mainly, it gives a lot of movement to a haircut, creating a fabulous [look]." Here, actress AnnaLynne McCord offers up a more relaxed, less "styled" version of the cut.
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The Rachel
Count on Hailey Bieber to try all the OG hairstyles — she's basically a '90s supermodel reincarnated. We love the way the heavy layers start below her chin, giving the whole look an early-aughts feel in a more laid-back, California-girl way. She could also easily chop some of the longer layers to take The Rachel into a trendy bob.
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Chin-Length
Curled ends have been huge this year, whether they're flipped under or flipped up. While Marsai Martin is wearing her hair straight and flipped out here, this look can also be achieved with a protective style like box braids, which the Black-ish actor has done before. Klein agrees that the chin-length look is making a comeback, in part because of its versatility. "[Chin-length] hair can be styled straight and structured, creating a sharp line, or tousled, textured, and playful. My favorite part of this haircut is [that] it exposes the neck and collarbone."
- Courtesy of Instagram/@st_vincent16/30
Chin-Length
Musician St. Vincent favors a classic, chin-length bob, and this ultra-straight styling makes it even trendier. Depeyrot likes this cut because of what it can do if your hair is pretty thin. "It's great if you have fine hair because it gives the illusion of fuller hair," he explains. "It's also very versatile because you can make it edgy or classic and it works with a fringe."
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Short Bangs
This trendy fringe sits just right above the eyebrows, making it a bit shorter than previous trendy styles, but not as short as baby bangs. Gibson cut this fringe on Jaime King but warns short bangs are a lot of work for certain hair types.
"I think hair texture plays a part in how short you can go with bangs," he says. Keep in mind that curly textures tend to shrink as they dry, so when your stylist is cutting, be sure your hair is dry. "I cannot stress this enough. If you trim wet bangs, they’ll shrink when they dry and be too short," Gibson previously told Allure.
- Courtesy of Instagram/@iiswhoiis18/30
Short Bangs
Take a cue from Kesha, who's proof short fringe doesn't have to be high maintenance or hard to style. Wear your cropped bangs slightly messy and parted down the middle for a laidback feel, just like the "Raising Hell" singer did here at the start of quarantine.
- Courtesy of Instagram/@gabunion19/30
Heatless Texture
Hairstylist Justine Marjan told Allure she's seen clients embracing their natural texture much more this year. "As more and more people are working from home and social distancing, many are taking this time to focus on self-care and lay off heat-styling while salon visits are stretched," she said. After wearing her hair in box braids for quite some time, Gabrielle Union took them out and let her natural curls out to play.
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Heatless Texture
Looking for a low-lift way to achieve texture and volume like Lili Reinhart is repping in this selfie from the summer? Try letting your hair air-dry 90 percent of the way — then spritz in some texturizing spray and throw it in a bun for a bit. When you let it down, you'll have naturally messy waves, no curling iron needed.
- Courtesy of Instagram/@kimkardashian21/30
One Length
Kim Kardashian is the queen of the one-length style, whether it's long as it is here or snipped into a short bob. Riawna Capri, hairstylist and co-founder of Nine Zero One Salon, says this look is more modern than one with tons of beachy texture.
- Courtesy of Instagram/@awkwafina22/30
One Length
"Being blunt is 2020's good friend," says Reyman about Awkwafina's one-length cut. "The most obvious version of this is a bob — but you do not have to chop off a ton of hair to get the blunt effect. This look can be achieved in a more versatile haircut by choosing blunt accent pieces around the face."
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One Length
TikTok star and Item Beauty founder Addison Rae also favors the one-length cut. "It's a super simple cut that gives a bold statement," says Ellis. "I give this haircut to my girls who want to leave their hair long without the fuss of layers. It's also my favorite haircut come summer because you can put every piece in a ponytail with no issue."
- Courtesy of Instagram/@iamhalsey24/30
Buzz Cut
Emmy-nominated hairstylist Derick Monroe told Allure that buzz cuts are an awesome way to have a cool-looking hairstyle "without having to worry about the maintenance that comes with color and blowouts." Halsey's blue and green-printed style is prime proof of this. The "Graveyard" singer waited until October to buzz her head, but many other stars, like Tiffany Haddish and Ruby Rose, have had fun with the trend, too.
- Courtesy of Instagram/@rubyrose25/30
Buzz Cut
Ruby Rose has been a fan of the buzz cut for quite some now — and this year, the actor experimented with different colors and patterns, just like our girl Halsey. Here, they obviously went for a neon green hue, but they've also tried rainbow, as well as hot pink and blue.
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Long Bangs
Bella Hadid cut her own curtain bangs during quarantine, and she's been making the brow-grazing fringe look fire ever since. Taylor tells Allure, "Short bangs are cute, but long bangs are sexy, [and] we all deserve to feel sexy after months of quarantine." We couldn't agree more.
- Courtesy of Instagram/@camillacabello27/30
Long Bangs
Camila Cabello's signature fringe is on the long side and frames her brown eyes beautifully. The best part about long bangs like this is that you can easily pin them back or to the side when you feel like spicing up your look.
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The New Bob
Though it felt like every celebrity got a bob at some point in 2020, something tells us the short cut isn't going anywhere next year. It's just changing shape depending on the wearer — either low-maintenance and one-length like Julianne Hough, or layered and choppy. "We've seen it time and time again and there’s a reason for it. The perfect bob cut is timeless," says Sparks.
- Courtesy of Instagram/@lucyhale29/30
The New Bob
Lucy Hale proves a flirty, choppy bob is just as fresh as a blunt one. "Slightly uneven layers gives this a modern edge, and having your stylist use a razor will give it a feathery finish," explains Matrix colorist, George Papanikolas. "For soft separation and definition use the Biolage R.A.W. Texturizing Styling Spray. It gives volume and texture with a clean feel."
- Courtesy of Instagram/@kristenanniebell30/30
The New Bob
Hairstylist Jenny Cho took Kristen Bell shorter with a chic blunt bob earlier this year. "I'm seeing more women go through with the chop. It’s definitely a big decision, but makes for a really dramatic look that frames the face," she explains. We'd say it's more than worth the risk.
