The new year brings exciting styling trends – from sleek and straight to casual and textured. The looks range from elegant business meetings to relaxed weekends at the Donaukanal. What's particularly noticeable: The trend is moving back toward naturalness and individuality, away from over-perfectioned styles toward looks that show personality.
At HairLoft Vienna, we observe these trends directly with our customers. Many come with pictures from Instagram or Pinterest, but we show them how to adapt these looks for their own hair type. Because not every trend suits every hair – and that's a good thing.
Sleek & Straight: The Return of Elegance
The smooth, sleek look is back and more elegant than ever. Glass-like shiny, strictly styled back, without fly-aways – it looks timeless and modern at the same time. This look is perfect for important meetings or evening events in Vienna's city center.
To create this look, work with a straightener in thin sections. Finally, a little hair oil gives the necessary shine, and a light mist of hairspray fixes the result. Baby hairs can be smoothed down with a special mascara wand or a soft brush comb. Essential are a good heat protection spray and a straightener with ceramic plates that are gentle on the hair.
Textured Beach Waves: Casual Meets Style
The natural, casual look remains a classic. Natural texture, unforced, with volume and movement – the "just came from the beach" vibe fits perfectly with a day at the Donaukanal or a brunch in the city center. This look emphasizes the natural hair structure and often needs less styling time than you'd think.
Start by applying texture spray to damp hair. Let it dry with a diffuser or air dry, and define the waves afterward with your fingers. Sea salt spray provides the final touch that perfects the beach look. Curl cream helps define natural curls, while a matte paste gives definition without sticking.
Modern Updos: Updos Reinterpreted
Updos become more relaxed and modern. Loosely pinned, with strands casually falling out, not perfect – that's intentional. Elegant, but not stiff, perfect for weddings or festive occasions in Vienna.
Start by texturizing the hair with dry shampoo so it holds better. Tie it loosely together, pull out individual strands to create the undone look, and fix the result with hairpins. Variations like the messy bun, the French twist, or the claw clip style offer variety for every occasion. The claw clip is back, by the way – a trend that we at HairLoft especially celebrate, as it's so versatile and gentle on the hair.
Curtain Bangs & Face Framing: The Face in Focus
Fringes and strands frame the face and emphasize the natural facial features. A soft, flowing fringe that falls naturally is versatile and looks feminine. This trend is especially popular with our customers in the 1st district, as it can be both elegant and casual.
A round brush and a blow dryer give the fringe the necessary swing, while the straightener bends it lightly if necessary. Texture spray provides grip so the fringe stays in place. Important here: Don't style too perfectly – slightly undone looks more natural and fits better with the current zeitgeist.
Sleek Ponytail: The Classic Ponytail Reimagined
The classic ponytail is elegantly reimagined. Sitting low or high, super smooth and tightly tied – it looks elegant or sporty, depending on the occasion. This look is especially popular with our business customers, as it looks professional and yet modern.
Brush the hair smooth and blow-dry it first to remove all waves. Tie it together at the desired height, and wrap a strand around the hair tie to hide it – a little trick that immediately upgrades the look. A mist of hairspray ensures the perfect hold all day long.
Wet Look: A Statement
The wet look is a statement. It looks wet but is dry, super shiny and tightly fitting – edgy and modern. This look isn't meant for every day, but for special occasions or fashion-forward moments, it's perfect.
Apply styling gel to damp hair, and comb it back with a comb. Let it air dry or use a diffuser. Important with this look: Don't run fingers through the hair, otherwise you'll destroy the smooth surface. The result is a futuristic, fashion-forward look that guaranteed draws attention.
Braids & Twists: Braided Hairstyles Reimagined
Braided hairstyles remain popular but become more relaxed. Loosely braided, not perfect, with pulled-out strands – a bohemian vibe for everyday life. This trend is especially popular with our younger customers in Vienna, as it's creative and individual.
The messy French braid or the loosely styled fishtail braid are timeless options. Twist hairstyles, where strands are only twisted and not braided, offer an alternative for the less practiced. Bubble braids, where the hair is tied together in sections with small elastics, are also very popular and easier to style than they look.
The Right Tools for the Trends
Essential for all these looks are a quality straightener, various round brushes for volume and swing, a diffuser attachment for natural texture, as well as hair clips and elastics in various sizes. Nice to have are a curling iron for different wave sizes, hair clips for sectioning when styling, texture sprays for grip and volume, as well as hair wax or pastes for definition.
Invest in good tools – they last longer and are gentler on your hair. We're happy to advise you in our salon at Stephansplatz on which products and tools best suit your hair type.
Care When Styling
Important with all styling methods is always good heat protection before applying heat to the hair. Don't style too hot – medium temperatures are often more effective and gentler. Always comb out your hair before going to bed to avoid knots and protect the hair structure.
You should avoid devices that are too hot, as they dry out and damage the hair. Styling on wet hair can also cause damage, so wait until the hair is at least towel-dry. Pulling and tugging when combing leads to hair breakage, and daily straightening can strain the hair in the long run. Variety is the key to healthy hair.
Trend Combinations
The most beautiful looks are often created through combinations: Sleek combined with a ponytail for an elegant business look, beach waves with a headband for a casual day, texture with a half-up style for variety, or curtain bangs with sleek for a modern, fashion-forward look.
Try different styles! Hair grows back, and a new look can change your entire demeanor. Our stylists are happy to show you in a personal appointment how to recreate the trends at home and recommend the right products for your hair type.
Hair Loft – Your Expert for Hair Styling in Vienna 1010
