We’ve seen a variety of hair trends already this year, but Alice Dawkins, Hair Expert Milk + Blush has revealed which hairstyles have taken TikTok by storm, and people in the UK are lusting over the most…
Butterfly Haircut
The ‘butterfly haircut’ is the most popular hairstyle of the past year, with 60,500 average monthly searches. Hitting its peak in January with 90,500 searches thanks to its introduction on TikTok, it has since remained popular throughout 2023, however experienced a slight decline in June and July.
Head here to read more on the butterfly cut!
Ombre Hair
An age-old favourite, ombre has had a resurgence in popularity this year, with 18,100 average monthly searches in 2023. The colouring technique, a firm favourite of stars including Beyonce, has been one of the most consistently searched trends this year so far, experiencing a slight increase of 23% in July compared to previous months.
The look is one of the most natural and versatile, as ombre hair seamlessly transitions from darker roots to lighter through the ends and works for all hair colours.
Fluffy Hair
Inspired by 70s hairstyles, ‘fluffy hair’ means big, voluminous, and weightless. The look, which is the third most searched this year with 14,800 average monthly searches, currently has 1.3 billion TikTok views.
A haircut with lots of layers, will allow your clients that width and volume, especially around the face.
Scandi Hairline
The fourth most sought-after style is a slightly newer trend. There has been an average of 2,400 monthly searches for ‘Scandi hairline’ in 2023, but this style is certainly one to look out for as it’s had the largest search surge compared to any other, with interest up to 49,400% year-on-year, and 5,724% over three months.
‘Scandi hairline’ was Googled a record-breaking 9,900 times in June. The trend refers to a new highlighting technique that’s taken TikTok by storm.
To recreate the look, apply a small amount of bleach by freehand to the client’s baby hairs around the front of the face shortly before rinsing out highlights, balayage, or colour. As baby hairs are generally finer, they will develop quicker than other areas.
Cherry Cola Hair
Completing the top five is ‘cherry cola hair’, with 1,000 searches per month on average. While this style was most popular in April, with 1,600 searches on average, it’s here to stay with the term experiencing another 80% surge in searches in July, according to Google Trends.
While the style originally became popular in the 2000s with Rihanna sporting it early in her career, in 2023 we’re seeing stylists adapt it to look more muted and natural.
Trends to Watch Out For
Meanwhile, they might not have made the top five most searched, but keep an eye out for these hair trends…
| Hairstyles | Average Monthly Searches | |
| 1. | Butterfly Haircut | 60,5000 (up 4,850% YoY) |
| 2. | Ombre Hair | 18,100 |
| 3. | Fluffy Hair | 14,800 |
| 4. | Scandi Hairline | 2,400 (up 49,400% YoY) |
| 5. | Cherry Cola Hair | 1,000 (up 80% in the past month) |
| 6. | Mousy Hair | 1,000 (up 64% in the past month) |
| 7. | Cub Cut | 880 (up 3,800% YoY) |
| 8. | Barbie Hair | 720 (up 539% in the past month) |
| 9. | Box Bob | 720 (up 433% YoY) |
| 10. | Birkin Bangs | 390 (up 129% YoY) |
