Hair Style 2012

2012 long hairstyles

Long & bouncy

Described as a gorgeous blow-out the bouncy blow dry gives long hair a groomed, elegant yet relaxed finish. Inspired, in part, by the 70s fashion revival but working across most of 2012′s looks, you can read our guide to the bouncy blow dry for a step-by-step tutorial on getting the look and ensuring that you have the optimum bounce in the roots and the soft waves to frame your face.
Hair type suited to: long straight hair & long wavy hair.
Hair colour suited to: all.

Homemade curls

Both nostalgic and modern, this girlish and quirky hairstyle features many an element of other 2012 hairstyle trends: it has a parting and obvious product definition. Soft and eye-catching, homemade curls give off a laid back air as one of 2012′s long hairstyle trends. Follow the link for a full tutorial as well as tips on what to style the hairstyle with.
Hair type suited to: long straight hair & long wavy hair.
Hair colour suited to: all, though we feature it with blonde hair.

French twist

Given that classic fashion revivals define 2012, it should come as no surprised to find that classic hairstyles also go a long way to defining the year. Equally of no surprise is the fact that the French twist hairstyle features for the year. Click the link for the full how-to and styling tips guide.
Hair type suited to: long straight hair & long wavy hair.
Hair colour suited to: all.
Season suited to: best as a spring / summer 2012 hairstyle

Looped under ponytail

Less of a bun and more of a ponytail that’s been folded and looped under, this hairstyle offers up a mood somewhere between easy and casual, and tightly equestrian. It provided the perfect compliment to Carolina Herrera’s spring runway; as it can to your own outfits. For your own looped under ponytail click the link for the full how-to guide and styling tips.
Hair type suited to: long straight hair & long wavy hair.
Hair colour suited to: all.
Season suited to: best as a spring / summer 2012 hairstyle

The ‘tumbled tail’

The only thing tricky about this hairstyle is it’s appearance. Simple to create, it gives off the illusion of being a fish plait, but in fact there’s no braiding involved. This faux fish braid, dubbed the tumbled tail, is worth a try at home. Click the link for the full how-to and styling tips guide.
Hair type suited to: mid-long straight hair & wavy hair.
Hair colour suited to: all.
Season suited to: best as a spring / summer 2012 hairstyle

Tomboy ponytail

With androgynous fashion a dominant trend for 2012, this nonchalant style is the ideal marriage of masculinity and femininity. Read more about the tomboy ponytail, including step-by-step instructions on creating it, at that link.
Hair type suited to: mid-long straight hair.
Hair colour suited to: all.

Half up Brigitte Bardot hair

It’s so classically sex kitten that we’d hardly limit it to a 2011 hair trend; but this Brigitte Bardot bouffant hairstyle – half up, half out and as sexy or as sleek as you want to make it – is one that sits perfectly with the year’s fashions. This is a modern, understated take that will suit day or night.

Women’s rockabilly hair

It’s the one 2012 hairstyle that’s in for both men and women. Emerging first as a men’s hair trend and now as a women’s, the women’s rockabilly hairstyle plays to the country Americana theme running through some of 2012′s fashion. Seldom subtle, but best worn rough and ready as on Proenza Schouler’s catwalk, you can see that style and all the others by following the link to the guide.

Side pinned waves

Flowing, bouncy waves accessorised by a side-pinned barrette create something of a girlish charm. While long hair works fantastically well for this look – as seen on the spring runway of Sonia Rykiel – this hairstyle can also work for short or mid hair lengths. A collision of forties glamour and seventies relaxed cool, you can create the style for yourself by following our side pinned waves how to guide.

2012 mid-length hairstyles

Retro faux bob

As perfect as a Stepford wife, as ice cool as Betty Draper, as vintage as yesteryear and as modern as tomorrow, 2012′s faux bob hairstyle gives the year a structured, pristine, ‘done’ hairstyle that borrows much from the 60s fashion revival. Read our guide to the faux bob hairstyle for the 6 key steps to making the look your own.

Tousled flapper bob

With a twenties revival comes an inevitability of a flapper-inspired hairstyle. This one isn’t a sharp, Louise Brooks bob though, nor is it intended as a pristine finger wave. Instead the modern update on the twenties hairstyle is a tousled, mildly dishevelled one. You don’t need short hair either – it can be cleverly faked. Read our guide to the tousled flapper bob for details on how to create it.

Wet-look chignon

Don’t be afraid to get your hair wet in 2012 – or at least give the impression that it’s wet. Amongst a long list of wet look 2012 hairstyles, this wet look chingon offers up plenty of versatility along with a relaxed feel. Follow the link for a step-by-step tutorial.
Hair type suited to: straight hair, relaxed curly hair & wavy hair.
Hair length suited to: mid-length haircut or long hair.
Hair colour suited to: all colours and complexions.

Piled up and pinned hairstyle

If there’s a middle ground between being stylishly done and carelessly undone, this 2012 women’s hairstyle occupies it. Elegant to a tee, it doesn’t require precision or complex tools (bobby pins are your friend – and lots of them) but it does require a little finesse to pull off that undone-done look of effortless chic. Our guide to the piled and pinned hairstyle takes you through each of the steps.
Hair type suited to: straight hair, relaxed curly hair & wavy hair.
Hair length suited to: mid-length haircut or long hair.
Hair colour suited to: all colours and complexions.

Chignon with side waves

As seasons change, hairstyles are given new twists. This year the always dependable chignon gets reinvented. In this take, it gets a sweeping side part with soft waves on one side, creating a unique effect that varies with the angle you view it from. Visit the step-by-step tutorial on creating the chignon with side waves.
Hair type suited to: straight hair, relaxed curly hair & wavy hair.
Hair length suited to: shoulder length to long hair.
Hair colour suited to: all colours and complexions.

Double French twist

On the spring / summer 2012 runway of Diane von Furstenberg, models emerged with a back-combed crown that swirled back into two mirrored French twists. The effect? A 1960s style bouffant hairstyle that crowns any outfit with an elegant vintage vibe. We call it the double French twist, and that link will take you to a galleries worth of photo inspiration, as well as taking you through the 8 steps needed to getting the twist hairstyle in 2012.

2012 short hairstyles

Mod bob

Short. Voluminous. Messy. This is the 2012 women’s hairstyle that marries a short hair cut with the best of the 1960s fashion revival to create a Mod bob that’s been inspired by the likes of Brigitte Bardot and Twiggy. Follow the link for photo inspiration and a styling tutorial.

Afro hair

With the return of all things 1970s it should come as no surprise to find that the afro sits amongst 2012′s hairstyles. Appearing on the streets and in many a photo shoot, Afro hair is being interpreted for 2012 in a soft and dreamy way. Follow the link for styling inspiration.