Hair Trends That Became Outdated In 2024 & What To Do Instead

With the new year just around the corner, many of us are aching for a change, and often, this yearning involves a new hairstyle. This means that it's the perfect time for us to examine which hairstyles are about to be deemed boring and so last season. With some help from fashion and red carpet hair and makeup artist Luna Viola, we've gathered a list of styles that you should steer away from if you're looking for a new 'do, as they're decidedly outdated. Furthermore, Viola gave us several alternatives, specifically explaining that darker colors and bobs are on the rise in popularity right now.

"The trend is definitely shifting from icy tones to darker toned blonde such as butter, beige, honey, and strawberry shades," she exclusively tells Glam. "Low lights are also in to add a slightly darker and more natural dimension [to the hair]." As far as haircuts go, Viola tells us that "bobs of jaw length with soft layers are meant to be the trend for 2025, with or without soft side bangs." 

Now, we should clarify that if you love any of these out-of-style trends, we encourage you to keep rocking them. After all, trends come and go, and your 'do might just be hot again before you know it. And regardless, your preferences are all that matter at the end of the day. With that established, here are the hair trends that became outdated in 2024 (and the best ones with which to replace them).

As much as it devastates us — and will likely sting for you, too — icy-blond hair is not it anymore. "[Platinum blond] is being replaced by warmer blond tones that are still bright but more natural looking," Luna Viola shares exclusively with Glam. "2024 is all about healthy, luscious hair — and the once super cool icy tones are not matching that look."

If you have platinum-blond hair and are considering going a tad darker, consult your hairstylist to figure out which shade of blond best suits your skin undertone. And if you don't know what your skin's undertone is, trust us — it matters, and we can help you figure it out. Now, if you have darker hair and are considering going platinum, we recommend starting off slowly and choosing a more natural shade of blond first. After all, you can always go lighter if you don't end up liking it. A major downside of platinum-blond hair is that maintaining it is more expensive than most think, so the fact that it has become outdated is going to make plenty of bank accounts happy.

Bobs have been very popular lately, and if you've been thinking of exploring this shorter, low-maintenance hairstyle, our expert recommends staying away from graduated — meaning longer hair layers at the back of the head and shorter layers closer to the face — and asymmetrical styles. "This very bold statement cut has been popular for years, and it has lately been replaced with the Italian bob," Luna Viola explains exclusively to Glam. "The Italian bob is a much more effortless style that requires no [blowout]. The layers are softer and more round, also called ghost layers, maintaining the fullness of the base," she adds.

In fact, the Italian bob looks incredible with any hair texture — just make sure that you consult with your hairdresser and explain to them how your hair naturally dries. That way, they can personalize the haircut to your needs, ensuring that minimal styling is necessary when you wash your hair. Ultimately, we raved about the Italian bob back in 2023, even calling it the chicest take on short hair, and nearly two years later, we're still obsessed with it.

The balayage hair trend has been popular for about a decade now, so it's really unsurprising that we're finally seeing it leave the trendy hair scene. "This popular hair color technique is phasing out in favor of less extreme contrasts," Luna Viola shares exclusively with Glam. "The overly saturated blonde is becoming less popular, with more natural color transitions without extreme color changes."

Of course, this doesn't mean you can't have any highlights in your hair. In fact, highlights and lowlights are great ways to add dimension and movement to your look, but you can keep them more modern by asking your hairstylist for shades that aren't too contrasting to your base. In the end, your hair should look like you've got naturally sun-kissed highlights from spending too much time outdoors — not like you've spent hours at the hairdresser. And if you're ready for a subtle hair change that is totally on-trend, may we suggest spongelights, which can give you sun-kissed locks all year?

The late '90s and early aughts have been at the forefront of fashion and beauty trends for a couple of years now, and while we adore some of what the decades gave us, there are a couple of trends we really hoped wouldn't come back — one of them being chunky highlights. Unfortunately, chunky highlights became popular again earlier this year, and many celebs even rocked the trend. However, it seems that this retro look is out of style again. "Less is more when it comes to highlights," Luna Viola exclusively explains to Glam. "The '90s chunky bold colors are definitely out, giving way to more subtle techniques that add dimension as opposed to creating a statement look."

If you love the bold brightness that chunky '90s highlights can give, consider going for Scandi highlights instead. The Scandi hairline has been popular for a while now, and because of its natural look, we believe it will continue to be a popular choice for anyone who wants to add some lightness to their hair. And since it focuses on adding highlights to frame your face (rather than having them all over), it's not as damaging as chunky highlights.

If you adore your extensions, we're sorry to tell you that they just aren't that popular anymore. "Fake hair and extreme colors are not making the cut for 2024, extensions and excessively long hair included," Luna Viola shares exclusively with Glam. "People are moving towards more natural lengths and textures and very low maintenance styles. The more natural, the more chic is the 2024 motto," she adds.

Of course, there are exceptions, but it all really depends on the extensions. First, they shouldn't be visible; if we can tell that your hair is comprised of a lot of extensions, they're probably not done well. But, while extensions, at least as we usually know them, are heading out of style, that doesn't mean they aren't being used anymore. If you're adding extensions solely for the purpose of having more volume (and not length), we totally approve. In fact, at-home clip-in extensions are an easy way to add some extra oomph to your look without any commitments. We've even gathered the 10 best clip-in extensions for effortless volume so you don't have to spend a full day researching.

Anyone who lived through the early aughts remembers that straightening was a part of everyone's daily hair routine. Of course, this was not only time-consuming but also a big cause of hair damage. With Y2K trends coming back in style, super-sleek and straight hair has also had its moment. However, this time around, we realized that the trend, unless you have naturally ultra-straight hair, is very damaging, which is why it's losing popularity again.

Instead, soft waves and texture, which give off an enchanted fairy vibe, are sitting at the forefront of the current hair trends. "This style offers a dreamy, undone look that's effortlessly chic. It's all about embracing natural texture and enhancing it with soft, flowing waves that aren't overly styled," celebrity hairstylist Rossano Ferretti explained to Glamour, adding that a texturizing spray is this style's best friend. We attribute the rise in popularity of this hairstyle to the numerous at-home overnight curl methods that have found their way into our nighttime routines thanks to social media. After all, who doesn't want to wake up with perfectly wavy and voluminous hair every morning? One of the best heatless curls methods doesn't even require any extra products, making it very attainable.

Whether we're talking about curve bangs, the dramatic hair trend that takes curtain fringe to the next level, or nostalgic skinny fringe, one of the biggest bangs trends from the '90s, different types of bangs have been trending for a while now, and this trend isn't going anywhere. In fact, haircuts without face-framing pieces or bangs are out of style at the time of writing. "Adding face-framing layers or a skinny fringe is a great way to bring interest to longer hairstyles, especially if you enjoy wearing your hair up," Ryan Forsythe, the artistic education director at Trevor Sorbie, shared with Glamour. "Face-framing layers enhance movement around the face, drawing attention to your features, while a skinny fringe can create a soft, edgy look."

Of course, some people simply think they look better without bangs, but the truth is that most people who believe that bangs don't suit them just haven't found the right ones. We get it: Between a straight-across fringe and bottleneck bangs, there are way too many options to choose from. Because of this, consulting with a trusted hairstylist is a must. After all, they will take into account things like your face shape and hair texture when suggesting which route to go — and chances are that you'll leave the salon as a die-hard lover of bangs.

Grungy hairstyles have been on the rise, and with that, over-washing of the hair has become something that isn't only damaging but also simply uncool. "[Over-washing] your hair can strip the hair follicles of their natural oils and signal to the body to produce more oil on the scalp, but [under-washing] your hair can lead to a buildup of grease, sweat, and product on your strands," board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Michele Green explained to Glamour. "Finding the balance between the two is crucial to having healthy hair follicles and strands."

Now, if you're someone who runs to the shower at the first sight of greasy hair, we're here to inform you that greasy-looking hair has kind of been in style lately. From Prada to Miu Miu, numerous fashion shows have showcased models with greasy-looking and slightly messy hair recently. Of course, we don't want you to get any awkward looks, so we're not saying to go full-on grease ball to the office, but embracing your natural oils and working your strands into a half updo will result in a fun and healthy hairstyle. 

Then, for a night out, you can go even bolder with a proper wet-hair look. To achieve this, you'll need a lot of hair products, but the end result will be worth it. More specifically, leave-in conditioner, mousse, and lots of hairspray are your best friends here. "When finishing this look I want to make sure that all the hair is saturated in product and the hairline and part are all controlled," celebrity hairstylist Castillo explains to InStyle. And even if you opt to embrace the grease only once or twice a month, trust us — your hair will thank you.

Anyone who loves a classic lob will be disappointed, as the hairstyle just isn't as trendy as it used to be. If it's touching your shoulders, it's definitely too long, so you'll need to decide whether you want to chop it or let it grow out. If you're asking us, we vote for the chop, especially as the trends are gravitating toward dramatically shorter bobs. Moreover, the shorter you cut it initially, the longer you can go without it reaching that lob length, saving you time and money while staying trendy.

"The jawline bob is trending for 2025," celebrity hairstylist Jennifer Korab explained to Glamour. "This sleek and polished cut is perfect for winter, complementing the season's affinity for structured styles that pair seamlessly with scarves and coats," she added. "Its bold, tailored vibe also aligns with the growing emphasis on individuality and empowering style choices." However, depending on your hair texture, it might need some additional styling in the morning, especially if you want to achieve that fresh, salon-blowout look. But hey, that's nothing that a round brush and some patience can't solve.

The sleek bun has been a staple hairstyle for many of us ever since it rose to popularity a couple of years ago. It's convenient, it works with dirty hair, and it instantly adds a refined and sophisticated touch to our look no matter what we're wearing. However, we can't deny that the hairstyle has been overdone — go outside, and chances are you'll see at least a dozen of them. And in terms of trends, this usually means that a style is headed toward the not-so-cool-anymore pile.

Instead of the classic sleek bun, try going for a messy, '90s-like updo. It may take a bit more practice, but it can easily work just as well with slightly dirty hair. "For this look, I think layers that start just below the cheekbone, graduating with slightly longer bits around jaw length, are an ideal length that will easily blend into your hair when it's down," celebrity hairstylist Christian Wood explained to Harper's Bazaar. Since this messy hairstyle isn't as tight as a sleek bun — and it's often created with the use of a claw clip — it's also better for your hair, which can easily be damaged by tight hairstyles worn too frequently. "Over time, prolonged use of high-tension hairstyles can result in permanent hair loss due to irreversible damage to hair follicles," trichologist Sophia Emmanuel explained to Well + Good. Luckily, this is easily avoided by simply being mindful of what hairstyle you're rocking most frequently — and, if it's tight, changing it.

Perhaps the most significant hair trend that's becoming increasingly outdated is over-styled tresses. Of course, there are times when your hair needs to be styled to perfection, but if you're constantly using heat tools and dying your hair, we hate to break it to you, but that's not what the current hair trends are about.

Instead, styles are shifting toward accepting what nature gave you, whether we're talking about your hair's texture or its natural color. And if you just so happen to have hit the age where gray hairs are popping up, it's perfectly acceptable and actually very stylish to embrace them. Numerous celebrities, including Jane Fonda and Andie MacDowell, have paved the way to accepting aging hair, and if they can accept their texture and color, so can you. In fact, there's no denying that those who embrace their natural hair often give off a more nonchalant and unforced coolness than those whose every single hair has been put into its designated place. 

Now, if you want to be even more familiar with the current beauty and fashion fads, check out what a stylist told us are this winter's most outdated coat trends.