The Spring 2018 Hair Trend That Works for Every Length

By Erin Lukas
Updated Mar 14, 2018 @ 12:15 pm
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Plug in your flat iron if you haven't yet because super straight hair isn't going anywhere this spring. Last year's Cher-inspired trend has evolved and is now inclusive of every length from chin-grazing bobs to seriously long and every cut in-between.

While straight hair has never disappeared completely, there's been an emphasis on beachy, undone waves for the past few years. Now, perhaps boomeranging off of all of the '90s hair accessories that are making a comeback, flat irons are getting another 15 minutes of fame as spring 2018's must-have styling tool.

"Hairstyles are changing every two to three years, and we recycle looks from years up to decades ago," says Mincho Pacheco, master hairstylist and colorist at James Joseph Salon. "During the past three years we've been seeing the same look and trends for hair like bayalage and tossed, beachy waves."

"The 90’s are on trend and influencing fashion on the runways which means straight hair is back along with it," adds Jon Reyman, co-founder of Spoke & Weal Salons. "The textured undone waves have been on trend for several seasons and this 90’s sleek look gives woman versatility and a simple way to switch up their look." 

Now over 20 years after bone-straight hair peaked, Pacheco points out that we're seeing so many flyaway-free looks now because women are feeling the need for a change, and they're simple, elegant, and polished. 

If you want to wear the trend, Reyman recommends getting your hair cut dry and straight so that you have an accurate length with strong, crisp lines. "It is key to make sure you have a sharp haircut to go along with wearing your hair straight and smooth," he says. It's also key to apply a heat protectant before reaching for any hot tools. 

Need visuals of the trend? The 2018 Oscars red carpet was full of them. Taraji P. Henson's asymmetrical bob to Nicole Kidman's center part and long layers are just a few examples of how you can wear the trend this season.

Keep scrolling to see which of Hollywood's biggest have invested in a more powerful flat iron for spring 2018.

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Nicole Kidman

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Straight hair tends to go flat pretty easily. That's why Nicole Kidman's hairstylist Kylee Heath used a volume powder to gently fluff up the actress' roots at the crown of her head before she walked the 2018 Oscars red carpet. The pro used the & Other Stories Fullness Volume Powder from the brand's upcoming line of haircare products. 

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Emma Stone

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Since this hair trend doesn't involve a cut, switching your part over to the side before picking up any hot tools is another trick you can do to make your style feel entirely new. Once you've finished running your flat iron over your strands, apply a hair oil on your mid-lengths to ends for more shine and a lightweight paste where needed to control flyaways. For the 2018 Oscars, Stone's stylist Mara Roszak used a combination of Living Proof's No Frizz Nourishing Hair Oil ($20; sephora.com) and Style Lab Forming Paste ($26; ulta.com). 

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Naomi Campbell

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Campbell's sleek, straight hair is almost as iconic as her legendary modeling career. This spring, expect to see all of your friends copying the look—with the help of a set of clip-in extensions. 

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Margot Robbie

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Depending on your hair type, it can take some time to style your hair super straight. Creating a side part and pushing the front sections of your hair back behind your ears like Margot Robbie did at the 2018 Independent Spirit Awards will make your finished look seem like it was effortless.  

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Taraji P. Henson

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When you have an asymmetrical bob like Taraji P. Henson, wearing it straight is one way of showing off the sharp angles of your cut. The star's stylist Tymothe Wallace ran Oribe's Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray ($69; nordstrom.com) through her damp hair before blow-drying it using a round brush for extra volume. 

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Saoirse Ronan

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Saoirse Ronan made the bob she debuted on the 2018 Oscars red carpet all her own by wearing it super sleek with the front pieces tucked behind her ears. The actress' stylist Adir Abergel prepped the actress' hair with Virtue Labs Polish Unfrizz Cream ($40; virtuelabs.com) for a smooth texture. Once her hair was dry he used ghd's18k Gold Styler ($199; ghdhair.com) to emphasize the bluntness of Ronan's cut and enhance shine. 

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By Erin Lukas