2010 Hairstyles for Women

For some of us, new year calls for a new look! And what better way to create a new look than a new hairstyle?! Yesterday we talked about 2010 beauty tips. Today I will talk about 2010 hair trends, specifically on hairstyles for women. I promise to make a series post on this topic so as not to load you with so much information. ;)

So what hairstyles are at focus for 2010? For sure there are a lot of new look to watch. As there are the new hair trend heavily influenced by the recent Spring 2010 catwalks, and there are the evolutions of last year's hair trends. Below are top picks for hair styles in 2010, with seasonal styles alongside looks for hair from short to long.

The Plaited and Braided Hair

The popularity of milkmaid braids in 2009 is not yet over.

Rather it evolves into the braided hairstyle trend in 2010. While it's natural for hair trends to evolve between the years, the resurgence of plaited / braided hair is mostly as a result of the hairstyle heavily featuring on the Spring 2010 catwalks. I'm referring particularly Alexander Wang's Spring 2010 runway, and also Miuccia Prada's Miu Miu Spring 2010.

There are two distinct braided hairstyle looks for 2010: the long side braid, and the fish plait as seen on the Missoni Spring 2010 catwalk.

This hairstyle is perfect for any hair color and is easy to do!

The Long Waved Hair

Having appeared in 2009, 1940s hair styles will continue as an inspiration for women's hairstyles in 2010. As it was last year this hair style is again inspired by the late 40s and, to a lesser degree, the early 1950s.

This hair style is suitable for all hair colours, though less effective on black hair. Waves should be firm but not curly. Can be worn with an off-center or side part, length wise and must fall below the shoulders. This hair style will look best with classic make-up and styling.

The Long 1970's Inspired Hair

There will be several fashion revivals happening in 2010 as influenced by the 20th century. The 1940s revival gives us the 1940s hair style above, while the 1970s influence upon 2010 gives us two distinct hairstyle trends.

My favorite, straight long hair, naturally styled and the 1970's inspired flowing texture.

Slickly styled, but not so slick that it feels overly styled or straightened. This hair style should be voluminous and definitely a style that works for super-long hair.

Unlike the waved hairstyle inspired by the 1940s, this flowing, textured, (and sometimes) waved hairstyle trend in 2010 relies instead on natural-looking waves that border on bed hair. This suitable with both a center and off-center part and as with straight and naturally styled long, flowing waves also work well with very long hair, like mine which falls to the midriff.

This hairstyle is so easy to carry and I can do it by just running my fingers through my hair!  See what I mean?! A proof that anyone can have this hair style!

The Slicked and Gelled Hairstyle

The Slicked Back - Just slick it back with gel, with fingers or a wide toothed comb providing the texture, this slicked back hairstyle mixes hair slicked back across the top of the head with textured length. Though there are some dry, heavily brushed texturing for the length, I'd rather you stick to a wet look as seen on Alexander Wang and Thakoon's Spring 2010 catwalks.

The Slicked Side - This hair style is the perfect alternative to 2009's half-shaved head hairstyle, the side slick is the strongest of the three slicked hairstyle trends for 2010. All attitude, it marries an overall wet and tousled look with a side part.

Masculine / androgynous slicked hair - This hair style made the slicked side becomes the slicked all-over for this masculine take on a wet look hair style this 2010. This hair trend also suits perfectly the year's fashion trend: the female dandy!

This hairstyle is great for short hair cuts and strongly defines the line of the part, and you can wear it as far to the side as is suitable for your face shape.

The Chignon

Hair buns, chignons, and hair twists are also in for 2010!

Amongst hairstyles every year there is always at least one 'up-do'. And it's no different for 2010. No more tacky interpretations, this year's up-dos (four no less) will all embody elegance without erring on the side of caution.

Traditional neat chignon is an easy and chic style for day or night for 2010. Even a sleek, tidy chignon should feel natural and sophisticated. For a fresh 2010 take on the chignon, try a highly textured low bun like what I did! I did it in less than a minute while making this post and asked the IT Guy to take a quick shot.

The Two Top Knots

Top knots were popular on the street in 2009. It conveys a young and playful look. In 2010 topknots are best in two forms: the sleek and the messy top knot.

Sleek top knots are nothing but tidy buns that sit right at the top of the head. (The one you saw at Marc Jacobs and Nina Ricci for Spring 2010.) This hair style best sit dead centre of the head, but can also work slightly off to the side. These top knots work best with straight hair neatly brushed upward and slicked into place with the top knot twisted around neatly and fastened. You may also try plaiting the hair first before twisting it into a top knot for a variation.

For a messy top knot, just sweep the hair up and fasten haphazardly. The effect is one of nonchalance and effortlessness. In this hair style volume is key, thus some help from teasing and hairspray might be needed. This works well with hair that has some soft waves and texture to it and best on hair with subtle highlights and lowlights.

The Up-do Hair Twist

In 2010 the classic French Twist is great when disheveled, as yet another chic yet carelessly thrown together look - tiwsts and rope braids! Twist hairstyles can also take the form of strands of hair twisted and then pinned to create interesting shapes. Rope twists, or rope braids, have also sprung up as another new style for Spring 2010. This style is simply achieved by twisting two strands of hair, then winding the strands around each other to form a 'rope'. This style can be left to cascade down the shoulder much like the side braid below; tied up into buns; or twisted around the head like a milkmaid braid

So that's it! Happy hair styling!