What is Gen Z hair?

Generation Z, or Gen Z for short, refers to the cohort of people born between 1997 and 2012. This generation is known for its unique sense of style and embrace of individuality, especially when it comes to hair trends. Gen Z is all about playing with different textures, colors, cuts, and styles to create a look that reflects their personality and mood. From mullets to blob cuts and everything in between, Gen Z hair is defined by its willingness to experiment and break with tradition.

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When did Gen Z hair trends start?

Gen Z hair trends started to take off around 2015. This generation grew up with social media and used platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to express themselves creatively through their personal style. The rise of social media gave Gen Z an outlet to share and popularize new hair trends that went against the mainstream. As more Gen Zers began dyeing their hair bright colors, getting shaved designs, and cutting their own mullets and shags at home, these edgy styles caught on quickly among their peers. Celebrity influencers like Billie Eilish also contributed to the popularity of Gen Z hair with her iconic neon green roots and oversized clothes. Over the last 5-8 years, Gen Z hair has established itself as daring, playful, and boundary-pushing.

What are some common Gen Z hair trends?

Here are some of the most popular Gen Z hair trends right now:

Mullets – short in the front and long in the back. Often paired with shaved designs.
Shags – heavily layered, choppy cuts with bangs.

Buzz cuts – super short all around.
Pixie cuts – very short cropped hair.
Blob cuts – short, rounded cuts that create a “blob” shape.

Curtain bangs – long bangs parted down the middle.
Money piece highlights – bright highlights framing the face.
E-girl/e-boy hair – dark roots with bright colored tips.

Braids – colorful box braids, braided ponytails, etc.
Space buns – two buns on top of head resembling Princess Leia.
Shaved designs – geometric patterns, words, etc. shaved into undercut.

Bleached brows – bleaching/dyeing eyebrows very light.

What influences Gen Z hair trends?

There are a few key influences behind Gen Z hair trends:

Individuality – Gen Z values self-expression and using style to reflect their unique identity.

Art/music movements – Gen Zers take inspiration from punk, grunge, hip hop, and indie subcultures.
Gender fluidity – Playing with both traditionally masculine and feminine styles.
Nostalgia – Trends like mullets harken back to retro decades like the 80s.

Anti-mainstream – Rebelling against conservative hairstyles through edgy cuts and colors.
Social media – Platforms like TikTok and Instagram allow trends to spread quickly.
Celebrity culture – Gen Z follows the style of musicians, influencers, and actors.

Diversity/inclusivity – Embracing styles from different cultures and communities.

In summary, Gen Z hair is all about boldly expressing oneself and rejecting beauty standards. Trends are often sparked by nostalgia, music subcultures, and celebrity influence but ultimately come back to creative self-expression.

How has Gen Z impacted the hair industry?

Gen Z has had a noticeable impact on the professional beauty industry:

More demand for vivid, fashion-forward hair colors versus traditional highlights.
Rise in popularity of modern mullets, shags, pixies, and very short styles.
Increased requests for shaved/buzzed styles with carved designs.

More creative freedom for stylists to experiment with edgy cuts and trends.
An expectation for salons to offer gender neutral services.
Greater emphasis on consultation to create personalized looks.

More inclusive marketing and imagery that doesn’t just fit one beauty standard.
New styling products aimed at tricky trends like mullets and shags.
A shift away from blow outs and smooth hair toward undone, choppy texture.

The popularity of accessories like claw clips, hair jewelry, and colorful hair ties.

Gen Z is driving a movement away from polished, conventional beauty standards and giving stylists creative license to embrace unique forms of self-expression. As a result, the professional hair industry is becoming more experimental, customized, and inclusive.

How do you style Gen Z hair trends?

Here are some tips for styling the most popular Gen Z hair trends:

Mullets:

Use volumizing mousse and texture spray to get height and separation.
Blow dry the top up and away from the face.
Curl longer pieces in the back with a curling iron to accentuate length.

Use dry shampoo to soak up oil at the roots.
Add colorful accessories like hair clips and headbands.

Shags:

Apply texturizing cream through the ends and use your fingers to define pieces.

Use a spritz of sea salt spray for gritty, imperfect texture.
Naturally air dry or diffuse for extra volume.
Style with mousse for moveable hold that isn’t crunchy.

Finish with hair oil on the ends to reduce frizz.

Buzz Cuts:

Apply beard oil or moisturizer so scalp doesn’t get too dry.
Buff in styling cream or wax to add shine and flexibility.

Gently pat down flyaways or stick up pieces.
Use a sunscreen spray to protect your scalp from sun exposure.

Space Buns:

Split clean, dry hair evenly down the center into two sections.

Smooth hair with a boar bristle brush to make sure there are no tangles.
Gather each section atop your head and secure into a tight bun with a hair tie.
For extra hold, crisscross bobby pins over the base of each bun.

Finish off with strong hold hairspray.

The key to styling Gen Z hair is using products that provide texture, volume, and flexibility for molding unconventional cuts. Letting hair air dry instead of over-styling also helps achieve the desired undone finish.

What do parents think of Gen Z hair trends?

Gen Z hair trends have elicited mixed reactions from parents:

Some are open-minded about their kids expressing themselves through unique styles.
Others feel trends like shaved heads, mullets, and colorful dye jobs are too extreme.
Some parents impose rules like no shaving above a certain point on the head.

Certain styles like pixies and buzz cuts are controversial for girls, but more accepted for boys.
Parents often worry about the upkeep required for high-maintenance trends.
There are concerns around damaging hair with excessive bleaching or dyeing.

More conservative parents favor natural hair colors and feminine styles for girls.
Some compromise by allowing temporary colors that wash out or clip-in extensions.
Many parents come around and adjust once they see how much self-expression means to their teen.

While shocking at first, most parents ultimately want their kids to feel confident and happy. By setting reasonable limits around permanence and maintenance, many find ways to support their teen’s developing style.

Do Gen Z hair trends work in professional settings?

The bold, experimental nature of Gen Z hair trends presents some challenges in professional environments:

Heavily shaved styles, unnatural colors, and extreme lengths may go against company policy.

Office culture tends to favor polished, conservative hairstyles.
Having an approachable, professional appearance is valued, especially in client-facing roles.
Some companies require natural hair colors to align with their branding.

There can be racial bias against natural Black hairstyles like braids or locs.
Standard hair policies often discriminate against cultural hair styles.

Many Gen Zers express themselves outside work but opt for more mainstream styles on the job. However, as Gen Z enters the workforce, their influence could drive positive changes like:

Workplaces embracing diversity and adjusting biased hair policies.
Greater acceptance of natural textures and protective styles.
Letting employees show their personality through hair to a reasonable degree.

Focusing more on experience and skills versus conforming to norms.

Smart employers will find ways to demonstrate inclusion while still projecting professionalism. With compromise, Gen Z hair can absolutely belong in the workplace.

Do Gen Z guys wear their hair differently than previous generations?

Yes, Gen Z guys are breaking tradition when it comes to men’s hair:

Growing hair longer, embracing man buns, ponytails, and shoulder-length styles.
Coloring or highlighting hair in bright, unnatural shades.
Shaving intricate patterns or designs into sides/back.

Wearing “pretty” styles like soft layers and face-framing pieces.
Styling with barrettes, clips, headwraps, and accessories.
Getting perms and waves to add texture and volume.

Whereas older generations favored very short, masculine cuts, Gen Z guys are embracing looks once deemed “feminine.” They are part of a movement towards gender-neutral, expressive hair. Trends like the modern mullet and curly perms help guys stand out and show their creative flair.

Gen Z Male Celebrity Hair Inspiration

Celebrity	Signature Style
Harry Styles	Shoulder-length locks, hair accessories
Timothee Chalamet	Long curly hair, man bun
Lil Huddy	Dyed black mullet
Bad Bunny	Bold colors, nails, jewelry

Conclusion:

Gen Z hair is all about creative expression, inclusion, and demolishing tired traditions. While shocking to some older generations, these edgy styles reflect a generation using hair to embrace who they authentically are. As Gen Z continues to chart its own path, there’s no doubt these trendsetters will keep influencing how hair is perceived as an art form of individuality. One thing is for certain – with Gen Z in charge, the future of hair will be anything but boring!