Hair trends for autumn/ winter 2008

As we head into a autumn 2008, it's vital that you are on top of the season's essential hair trends.

We've spoken to some of the country's most reputed hairdressers to give you a comprensive guide to the must-have hair styles and hair colours for autumn/winter 2008.

Hair Trends For Autumn 2008

"The big story for autumn/winter will be short hair for women. The trend will have a retro 1920s feel, with hair cropped short with an androgynous edge - not masculine but highly glamorous. There will also be bobs, but they will be shattered and more dressed. In fact, all hair will have a really dressed feel as we see the return of blow-drying, finger waves and heated rollers. For longer hair, the trend will be extreme side partings."

Beverly C

"Haircuts for autumn/winter will see geometry meet texture as 80s sharp lines are blended with texture for a contemporary style and finish. Short hair really will be short! Cropped pixie cuts with texture left through the front will be a key look for the brave, while for longer locks, layers with centre partings or heavy fringes will complement the 70s-inspired fashion filtering through."

Akin Konizi, hob Salons, London

"Autumn/winter 2008 will see clients stay faithful to a classic hairstyle. The bob will always be dominant in hair, but we will see tailored, bespoke bobs to suit the season's continuing trend of textured hair. These looks can be worn choppy or sleek and flat."

Andrew Heasman, Rush, London

"Bobs and asymmetric lengths are the most fashion-forward looks to create, and they can dramatically change your style in one fell swoop. A focus on fringes was seen heavily at Yves Saint Laurent, where full-fat blunt cuts were abundant, as well as long geometrics, with angled ends and fringes. The look is big, bold and brash. Waves have also been added to the voluminous look but the top of the head is smoothed, to create more sculpted volume."

Jo Cree-Brown, Trevor Sorbie 

"Sharp, geometric pudding-bowl haircuts will be a key look this season and should be shaped into the nape so hair falls forward into a heavy fringe. The fringe is still the hottest look when teamed with shoulder-length hair and I love the late 50s/early 60s retro feel. Big hair is also big news for those with longer locks."

Andrew Collinge, Liverpool

"Extremity is key in all aspects of hair this season, with evidence of overgrown lengths or hacked-off crops, with the mid-length taking an overdue backseat. Shapes are less defined by graphic lines. Structure still plays its part, but with emphasis on 80s boxy height, untamed width and bubble cuts."

Sacha Mascolo Tarbuck, Toni & Guy

"Long is back: hair extensions and pieces will get you there quicker! If they are lucky enough to be there already, keep it high-gloss and conditioned, with lots of movement. Alternatively, short hair is sharp, edgy lines with soft, feminine movement. Whatever the style, glamour is what it's all about."

Amanda Dicker, The Chapel, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

"This autumn/winter season hair will see a return to grown-up glamour, taking inspiration from old-style Hollywood Starlets. Classic techniques will be a key factor in preparing the hair for the season's hottest must-have looks. Finger waves, barrel curls and setting are all key techniques needed to give you the basis of this season's catwalk looks. Sophisticated chic updos will also be catwalk favourites, featuring low side partings coupled with sleek chignons. Seventies glamour will be combined with soft bouncy waves to create an iconic vintage look."

Mark Leeson, Mark Leeson Hair, Body & Mind, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

"This autumn/winter we will be seeing bold colouring and strong lines, versatile looks from sleek and smooth short cuts, to long layers with built-in texture. Clean and chic styles are emboldened with shades of earthy red and violet; their versatility is evident when transformed into elegant, yet edgy updos."

Antoinette Beenders, global creative director, Aveda

Hair Colour Trends for Autum/Winter 08

"Next season, there will be a return to more subtle, neutral colour tones. Bold colours are for clothes only! We will be moving away from strong, bright, solid bases and will be seeing softer, gentler natural shades with tone-on-tone colours and understated highlights.  Softer caramel blondes will look great on warm brown bases and we will also see biscuit blondes and lots of bronzed browns. The overall look for hair will be high maintenance, but the key is to look like you haven't tried at all... more 'Pretty on Primrose Hill' than Sex  and the City."

Jo Hansford, London

"Nature is this season's greatest source of inspiration and autumn/winter's darker days will be brightened by warm, glowing tones of golden sandstone, sunkissed dunes and soft pearl. Even the blends are inspired by nature, with each tone blurred and intermingled to enhance natural hair colour. The soft, warm and cool tones overlay so beautifully, creating gorgeous, iridescent gold slices to a warm base. It's a wonderful way to brighten darker hair."

Lisa Shepherd, Lisa Shepherd Salons, Midlands

"The runway shows featured two key trends that we have used as our inspiration for hair colour for autumn/winter 2008. Abstract, which is strong cocoon/teardrop shapes with pleats and tartan, and strong cool jewelled colours in sharp block shapes, and Deluxe - light, lean, layered and luxurious with muted tones in shine, fur and print. This season colours will radiant coolness and be inter-mixed to flatter most skin tones and will create gorgeous, glossy and dramatic hair."

Carolyn Newman,Charles Worthington, London

"Hair colour will be very glamorous, rich deep violets, plums and chestnuts. The focus on colour will be on shine, and this should be achieved even in a cut, with lots of texture or beautifully dressed curls and waves. Lighter colour will reflect the tapestry of prints seen on the catwalk. Soft, shorter cuts will have an urchin feel and will be highlighted by a beautiful mix of champagne and honey blondes."

Gary Hooker and Michael Young, Hooker & Young, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Afro Hair Trends for Autumn

"While Afro hair was worn very heavy, sharp and disconnected last season, we will see it much more feminine and romantic. Long layers, loose curls and lots of body are set to be in vogue this autumn/winter, so keep cuts natural and relaxed. Subtle colouring continues to reign, with freehand chocolate and coffee highlights remaining bang on trend."

Kim Johnson, Hype Coiffure, London

"Hair is more natural this season and less reliant on products - less is essentially more. Curls and waves still reign, so heated rollers and tongs are key tools. Fo r Afro hair, think short looks, lots of blunt fringes, blunt lines and almost pob-like cuts that are very textured. For long hair, blunt fringes are again key, with shattered layers around the sides."

Errol Douglas, London

Men's Hair Trends for Autumn/Winter 08

"This autumn/winter we will be seeing the return to more traditional men's hairdressing to give a short, but clean cut, resulting in a masculine and sexy look, showing off healthy hair. There will also be more freedom, with the length on top for either quiffs, or sleek and textured side partings with length through the fringe. My prediction is that the James Dean feel is going to continue to have a heavy influence, as it's a great look for guys that's not only a bit of cool nostalgia, but also effortlessly sexy."

Jim Shaw, essensuals, Billericay, Essex

"Men's hair will also have a retro feel, with a return of the 'college boy' look. Cuts will be very precise and groomed, but still retain texture. Key products to achieve this look will be gels and pastes to create very tidy, yet textured styles."

Beverly C

"Men's hair has never been so exciting. The catwalks showed loads of texture for guys from super, super wet-look sleek with low partings a la Frank Sinatra to grungy mops of dreaded curls. There's definitely a nod to quirky cuts as guys want to assert their style independence. New-romantic, bigger hair is another on trend look as well as distressed 'I'm with the band' hair."

Andrew Barton, Saks international Creative director

"Men's looks emerging from the catwalk are a mix of high society with 60s mod/punk. The look is rather 'old English society' with side partings and undercutting. Curls are stronger with more length on the crown and more texture. The look is not as raw as the 60s, its more street, rather grown up with no hard edges. Quite sophisticated and grown up and groomed, but with that added edge that gives it a modern day feel."

Jonny Engstrom. Guy Kremer International, Winchester