It’s been a hairy year in more ways than one. Australia has seen influencers growing mustaches, civilians mimicking Chris Hemsworth’s lockdown beard and various other bizarre grooming trends as a result of all the extra time we’ve now got at home.

Reaching fever pitch, Matt Damon this week shocked American fans by stepping out with a ‘dirty’ Australian haircut last popular in Europe and America in the middle ages. Suffice to say, we thought the world of male grooming couldn’t get any crazier.

How wrong we were… enter the skullet.

Taking the cake for the most ‘confronting’ quiff this year is ‘the dusty’ (also known as ‘the skullet’). What’s that, you might ask? A haircut that looks like an elbow (essentially, a version of the mullet, but with the top either fully shaved or extra short).

Rocked two years ago by Richemond Midfielder/Forward Dustin Martin, ‘the dusty’ is now sweeping the country (as are mullets more generally, inspired by icons like professional surfer Mikey Wright), proving once again how long it takes for a bold new look to filter down to the mainstream after initially being laughed at.
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It’s not just Gold Coast groms and aspiring AFL players getting in on the action either, with DMARGE this week capturing a couple of young kings rocking ‘the dusty’ whilst ambling around south Sydney.

Though the snobs might recoil at such a cut, others – like Sydney barbershop owner Jacob Martin (proprietor of Tate & Lyle) say it could be evidence that Australian men are paying more attention to their mental health, with the ‘mullets for mental health’ month having just come to a conclusion.

As for the ‘finer’ details of the skullet cut itself, Mr. Martin said, “AFL players seem to treat dirtiness like a trophy… [but] at least the mullet section has straight lines.”

In regards to rocking this look for yourself: “the dirtier the skullet, the better.”

We didn’t stop there. Adam Walmsley, the owner from an inner Sydney salon, Friends & Family, was equally as perplexed by this ongoing trend.

“I’m not sure myself….is it part of the skullet family?”, Adam commented. Turns out Adam was the winner with the ‘skullet’ being the most logical answer.
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Wikipedia confirms this is the case, explaining the “skullet (plural skullets)” is “a more extreme form of the mullet hairstyle, in which the hair at the back is kept long, whilst the hair on the top and the sides is shaven in a buzzcut or skinhead style.”

Even if it may be intrinsically associated with having ‘a rude head’, we’d argue men should be able to snipper their skulls however they want, and not obsess about what others think. Indeed, half the ‘cool’ factor of a new haircut trend (whether its a Faux Viking Hipster Undercut or a Peaky Blinders Special) is in its rarity.
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Only problem is the ‘skullett’ movement is ‘growing’ so fast it may soon lose its shock value…

One of the most exciting aspects of the professional hair industry is the rate at which hair trends come and go. Even amid a pandemic, people enduring global lockdowns turned to social media to stay on top of the latest “it” hairstyles and eagerly requested them once salons began to reopen.

“The 2021 Hair Report” from Cosmetify breaks down the most searched hair trends over the past 12 months.

1. The Mullet. According to the report, the mullet was the most searched hairstyle in the past year, with more than 15.5 million searches, which is a 142% increase from the previous year.
2. Waves. Thought to be the answer to excessive lockdown hair growth, waves received just under 15 million searches, which is a search increase of 16.5% over the previous year.
3. Wings. This haircut, made popular by singer Harry Styles, saw searches grow by 17.5% for a total of 13.1 million searches.  
4. Curtains. Popular for both men and women, searches for curtains increased by more than 50% to reach 12.9 million searches.
5. Extensions. Outranking many natural hairstyles, extensions saw searches increase by 32% to reach 12.8 million searches.

​5 styles with the biggest search increase

1. Curtain bangs
2. The new pixie
3. Layered locks
4. Modern mullet
5. Middle parting

Our hair is one of the most important areas of our bodies, and also one that takes the most care to maintain. As such, hair care products and brands are big business. In fact, the global hair care industry is estimated to be worth $94.92 billion in 2021.
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With hundreds of huge hair care brands out there, the 2021 Hair Report will reveal the biggest brands right now, as well as the hottest hairstyle trends across the world and the most popular ‘hairfluencers’ on social media.

​With the warm and welcoming weather, hot holiday season and outdoor restaurant terraces, the summer season is exactly the best time to rock a new hairstyle. Are you looking for some hair inspiration and willing to explore the most recent hair trends? We’ve got you!
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From the latest haircuts and hairstyles to some hairstyling tips, we have collated everything you need to make your hair look great this season. Scroll down to see some of the best and seriously sought-after 2021 hair trends.

#1: Mullet Haircut

Are you bold enough to pull off this latest hair trend? Popular in the 80’, mullets are experiencing their resurgence as the number one female haircut for 2021.
With tons of texture and movement, shorter sides and longer back, this look is a quintessence of rebellion. Even though this haircut is not for everyone, it is undeniably cool and sexy.

#2: Angled Collarbone Bob

Are you debating on going short for a while but lacking confidence for the leap? An angled collarbone bob, one of the looks trending now, is a great option for a “short but not too short hairstyle”.
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We love its incomparable versatility: you can wear the collarbone bob straight and sleek for work, wavy and undone for a night out or curly and flirty for a dinner date. At the same time, on a hot day, you still have that safe backup option to throw your hair up.

#3: Half Up Half Down with a Scrunchie

Everyone seems to be mad about scrunchies this summer – they are so 90s’ and so cool. Velvet or silk, neutral or with a print, matching or contrasting with your hair color – options for a trendy scrunchie hairstyle are numerous.
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Put all your hair up in a top knot or, even better, wear it in a half up half down hairstyle to show off the depth of your balayage or any other sassy color for summer.

#4: Shag Haircut

How divine is this wispy, feathery hairstyle – so effortless and daring, yet feminine and soft. Heavily layered, with plenty of texture and face-framing strands, shag cut is one of the major 2021 fashion trends.
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The good news is that it is relatively low maintenance, so you won’t spend hours to style it. In fact, those choppy layers look good even when they dry out naturally which is a rare bonus for a top-notch haircut.

#5: Middle Part

Every detail counts when it comes to refining your style, and the way you part your hair is one of those little things that can change the whole picture. While side-swept hair with an ear tuck was huge during the last decade, this parting is now considered “too millennial”.
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Even though we believe that the most fashionable hairstyle is the one that suits you, we need to admit, the middle part is currently a big thing. Why not simply try it?

#6: French Braids

What can be better than keeping your hair away from your face and neck on a hot day? French braids are going strong this summer season and are a great hairstyle for a day on the beach, festival, or picnic.
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Before you start braiding, use some gel or hair cream and rub the product between your fingers to tame the flyaways and frizz – this way your braids will be neater and more long-lasting. It won’t hurt to use just a tad of hairspray to finish the look.

​#7: Summer-Ready Curls

Curls and waves are popular every summer: it’s utterly the best way to style your locks for a dinner date in a park, girls’ night on an open terrace, or just a good hair day.
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Often, in other seasons, poor weather conditions can put you off from making an effort to style your hair, as you clearly know – curls are not going to survive wind, rain or snow. On the other hand, warm summer days are virtually made for adding waves to your hair. Just make sure you use the heat protecting spray before curling.

#8: Short, Blunt Bob

Bob haircut is a staple for many years since Vidal Sassoon made it popular in the 1960’, but a short and blunt version of this cut is one of the main hairstyles for 2021.
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Use some mousse to add body to your hair and blast dry it for a slightly undone, effortless look. While smooth and polished bobs will always be popular, stylists say that a modern bob needs to be slightly tousled and imperfect.

#9: Curtain Bangs

Everyone knows that eternal bangs cutting and growing dilemma – we certainly all have been there. However, so popular curtain fringe is a completely different story. Elongated and subtle, it frames your face in the most flattering way, while giving you the freedom to pin it back.
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As the curtain bangs blend with the rest of your hair, growing them out won’t be a big deal. Do you even think you’d want to, though?

#10: Female Crop Cut

Mimicking an outgrown pixie, crop cut is a blunter and bolder version of a women’s short haircut. If you feel ready for an ultimate statement hair crop, this 2021 summer hair trend is exactly what you need. Ask your stylist for a slightly heavier and longer line at the nape and around the temple area and go full-on texture at the crown to hit all this summer’s trends.
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A cropped cut is one easy to style, but you will have to get used to the regular use of a hairdryer – unfortunately, most of the short haircuts end up looking flat without styling. Use some paste or pomade to finish the look.

Quality, experience and service—three keys to meeting men’s unique needs in the salon space, according to Vaughn Acord (@vaughnnewyork), founder of V76 by Vaughn.
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1. Laws of Attraction
Men want to know their stylist or barber has experience and expertise in working with men’s hair, and they want to feel comfortable in the environment, Acord notes.

WAHL Professional educator Kevin Nguyen (@yakuzabarber) agrees that men crave a combination of phenomenal service and top-tier cuts.

2. Trend Watch
Nguyen notes that some of the biggest men’s trends now involve textured hair and disconnections with fades. Meanwhile, Acord observes that men’s looks are leaning toward longer, looser locks—think variations of mullet shapes and shags, heavily ’70s-influenced. “I love this transition away from uptight hair, with more movement and touchability,” Acord enthuses. “Even guys with shorter hair are allowing their sides to be warmer and not skinned down to the scalp.” Much of this trend can be attributed to men visiting their groomers less often in pandemic times—but, Acord warns, that reality places even more of an emphasis on the quality of the cut.

3. Retail Redux
As stylists and clients alike cope with so many COVID-related changes at salons and barbershops, Acord notes that not all of them have been negative. “Now, everything is so much more focused and tailored for that client in the chair, with 100 percent attention,” he asserts. “Your products, tools, supplies—everything you’re using is geared to him, and you can ask questions about his routine, his challenges. You can really educate him on his specific needs and product solutions.”

Still, pandemic-era retailing remains challenging, with clients now accustomed to ordering online. “Because of that new dynamic, I definitely keep less in the salon for retailing,” Acord relates.

The summer months are always a fun time for hair trends. Warm weather often inspires dramatic chops and shorter styles, while others opt for light-colored tresses or even undergo multicolored transformations to match the vibrant atmosphere of the season.

Wella colorcharm has launched the second volume of its “What’s Trending in Hair Color” report just in time for summer 2021. The report, which surveyed a representative sample of 1,000 U.S. women ages 18 and up, uncovered the hair coloring behaviors as well as sought-after trends.

In addition, Wella also interviewed two stylists from the colorcharm Top Artist team. Oliver Adams (@kolorking) and Luis Rodriguez (@luisfernando_hair) shared what’s trending in the salons.

Y2K Beauty is Back

According to Rodriguez, “Looks from the early 2000s are definitely coming back. Chunky highlights, colorful streaks and especially rose gold and pink are some of the top requests in the salon today.”

The report found:

• The colorful streaks trend interested 39.47% of survey respondents.
• Chunky highlights interested 36.71%.
• Pink highlights interested 34.06%.
• The money piece interested 32.78%.
• Black streaks interested 26.77%.

Rushing to Red

Adams stated in the report, “Red is one of the most requested shades in the salon. Clients with a lot of warmth in their skin’s undertone (orange, red or yellow) wear cooler tones better, such as red-violet, merlot, crimson and burgundy. Clients with cooler skin tones (olive, beige or taupe) wear warmer reds like copper and a traditional red better.”

The report found:

• Burgundy had the most interest among survey respondents with 44%.
• Red interested 39%.
• Ruby red interested 35%.
• Strawberry blonde interested 34%.
• Copper interested 29%.
• Red highlights interested 61% of at-home colorists.

Hair Color Behaviors Among Consumers

• Six in 10 women change their hair color at least once every six months.
• Of those surveyed, 79% plan to undergo a hair transformation in the next two to three months.
• More than half of women surveyed are looking to color their hair at home and plan to do so even as salons conduct business as usual. 

The Top Hair Transformations

Of those looking to undergo a hair transformation in the next few months, the report found:

• Blonde highlights were the top pick for 18%.
• Vivid colors were the top pick for 17%.
• Red hair was the top pick for 17%.
• Brown hair was the top pick for 15%.