If Michelle Williams' recent switch from ultra-pale blonde to medium, almost-strawberry blonde is any indication, there's going to be a big shift away from fair hair this year. "The new blonde is less icy and white -- more buttery blonde," says Shorter. "It's flattering on most skin tones and easier to maintain." Brunettes will also be going warmer. Instead of shiny blue-black highlights, Potempa likes natural, honey-colored streaks. "Ask your colorist to match your strands to golden flecks in your eyes. The result will be a glistening, light-reflecting shade."
Photo 11/11
In: Long, wispy bangs
Out: Blunt bangs
Blunt, Cleopatra-inspired fringe is out. Instead, opt for eyelash-grazing layered bangs this year. "I especially love bangs in the fall and winter," says Shorter. "And I prefer them long and wispy -- it's less severe." This look is also perfect if you want to grow out the bangs you got in 2011 without the awkward in-between stage. They blend in with the rest of your cut and can be easily swept to the side.
It's impossible to predict every hairstyle and color that will go from Hollywood fad to full-on, mainstream trend. Did anyone really think Lauren Conrad's multi-colored hue or Katy Perry's hot-pink bob would have women everywhere filling their beauty-supply-store baskets with Manic Panic?
But top stylists do have something like a crystal ball when it comes to hair trends: They�re the ones who create the trends in the first place. They work on Fashion Week shows more than six months before the actual season, and then they recreate those runway looks on celebrity clients. In turn, the stars hit the red carpet and set the trends in motion among the masses.
Even if you aren't looking for the "it" cut or hottest color for your 2012 hairstyles, there are plenty of high-tech salon treatments, fresh-looking updos, and braiding techniques worth trying. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, here's what you should be doing to your hair in 2012 (Katy Perry's latest, craziest styles not included).
