The Best Haircuts, Color Trends, and Styling Tips for Spring
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Published on: February 27, 2024

The best hair this spring looks easy—and for the most part, it is, from the sexily undone, wispy lengths with natural texture at Chloé and Proenza Schouler to the piecey bangs (à la Jane Birkin, above) and sleek tucked-behind-the-ears crops at Altuzarra and Versace.
“Everything’s a bit more effortless this season,” says top LA-based hairstylist Mark Townsend. The new breeziness applies to hair color as well as cuts, notes Mara Roszak, who owns one of LA’s top salons and runs the much-obsessed-over ROZ hair-care line. “Low-maintenance is important to people,” she says.
“People want subtle, and they want versatile,” says Townsend, who takes us through four major looks—along with multiple ways to style them.
BEST NEW HAIRCUTS
CHOPPY MICRO BOB
“The bob is making such a comeback,” says Townsend. “The haircut is a style in itself, but there are so many ways to style it, and I love the even-shorter bob—think midcheekbone instead of chin-length.”
How to Style: “Wear a bob twisted half-up, half-down; change up the part; or tuck one side behind your ear and you’ve completely changed the style of it,” he says. “It’s all about making it feel fresh and different.” Townsend loves creative ways to give your hair an effortless, ever-so-slight bend so it looks and feels touchably soft, with lots of movement. “Put a little serum in while your hair is damp, and when it dries, use a flatiron to add a couple of subtle bends here and there,” he says. “Touch up only where it needs it.”


LIVED-IN LOB
Ultraflattering and feminine, the long bob is getting an upgrade. “Think lengths that hit right at the collarbone with blown-out face-framing layers,” says Townsend. There’s more softness and femininity with this version of the lob. “The layers really help it look beautiful and polished.”
How to Style: Take inspiration from the ’60s when you blow-dry, creating volume at the crown and an outward flip at the ends. “A little subtle bounce right at the ends looks so polished and cool,” says Townsend. “I’m obsessed with ROZ’s new Root Lift Spray. It’s the perfect volumizing mist that gives hair some great oomph where you want it.”
Townsend also loves a good, flowy air-dry: “Tuck your hair behind your ears while it’s damp to get a beautiful chin-length bend, or braid it for mussed-up waves,” he says. For thicker and curlier hair, Townsend loves texturizing creams or light oils to prep. If you have fine hair, he suggests a light powder or spray to get great texture.
SHINY AND LONG
“Whether you want waves or sleek and straight, really nourish with leave-ins and oils,” says Townsend. “Hair should look lustrous, like it’s velvet or silk.” To that end, have your ends trimmed every three or four months to keep your hair looking healthy and thick.
How to Style: “For my clients with longer hair, I’m spraying the ROZ Root Lift from the roots to the midlengths to boost the volume all over,” says Townsend. Want even more volume? Townsend says to wait a day: “Second-day hair usually has a little more volume, and styling products grip the hair better,” he says. Finish by adding a few curls with an iron, then comb it out with a gentle brush for a soft, romantic look.


PIECEY FRINGE
Bangs frame your face beautifully and give hair instant style—especially ’70s-inspired Birkin bangs. “The maintenance of bangs is what scares most people, but I love going slightly shorter at first and then letting the bangs grow a bit,” says Townsend. “Then you only need a trim every month or so.”
How to Style: “Never use wet styling products on bangs,” he says. “Blow-dry them wet, then if you need to give them a boost, dust in a powder dry shampoo.”
SPRING HAIR COLOR TRENDS
Both in the salon and on the runway, Roszak is seeing a big shift toward natural-looking hair colors and styles. “People care about their hair health more than ever,” she adds.
BAMBI BLONDE
Instead of a uniform single-process color (as seen on Barbie), Roszak says people are looking for a more dimensional blonde. “I call it Bambi blonde,” she says. “It’s not too cool and not too warm—just looks beautifully sun-kissed, a buttery cream shade that feels natural, subtle, and not overly contrasty.”
RICHER BRUNETTE AND RED
“The darker, more complex shades feel like colors you see more in nature, and there’s more emphasis on shine and health,” says Roszak. “I like to try a warmer gloss if you’re naturally more cool-toned.” Last, she notes that some colorists have opted to add strategically placed highlights right around the face to make the hair feel just a touch brighter overall. “The baby hairs right around the face are so fine, so they really grab onto color.”