This Is the Most Surprising Hair Trend To Look Out for in 2025, According to a Celebrity Stylist

Even though we’re a bit past the “new year, new year” part of 2025, it doesn’t mean that we still can’t reinvent ourselves when it comes to our hair. And if you’re unsure what might be trending this year, Parade spoke with Sally Hershberger, an entrepreneur and celebrity hairstylist who’s been in the business for decades about the best 2025 hair trends you need to know about.

Hershberger is known as the creator of the “Sally Shag” and has done iconic shags for Meg Ryan, Miley Cyrus, Joan Jett and more. Plus, she's worked with other celebrity clients, including Dr. Jill Biden, Kris Jenner and Lisa Rinna, to name a few. So she’s seen her fair share of trends come and go and has a good idea of what’s to come and what you should try this year.

Read on to find out the most surprising hair trends of 2025 and what you should leave behind in 2024. Plus, the hair trend she’s begging women over 50 to try in 2025.

Related: 7 Best Hairstyles for Thin Hair Over 50, According to Celebrity Stylists

The Hairstyle You'll See Everywhere in 2025

We’re only two months into the new year, so you might think it would be hard to predict or suggest a 2025 hair trend. But Hershberger knows exactly what hairstyles might trend this year.

“Korean air bangs,” Hershberger tells Parade when asked about hair trends she predicts for 2025. “They are a global takeover.”

She shares that she loves how Korean air bangs look, saying they “frame the face beautifully.” Again, Hershberger is the creator of the “Sally Shag,” so it’s safe to say she’s an expert on layers and bangs.

Also known as see-through bangs or just air bangs, Korean air bangs are wispy bangs made up of thinner pieces of hair between your eyebrows and eyelashes, per Hair.com. Like curtain bangs, these air bangs are a less blunt way to do bangs and are really great if you don’t want to take the full-on bang leap just yet (or at all).

Unlike curtain bangs, though, Korean air bangs don’t consist of chunky pieces and are the same length across. Curtain bangs are meant to feather or cascade away from your face, whereas Korean air bangs are just airy bangs situated in the middle of your forehead.

The reason they’re called Korean air bangs is because of their popularity in Korea and with K-pop idols. And with K-pop’s continued popularity in the United States, it’s not surprising that Hershberger is seeing this trend popping up a lot more in 2025.

Related: 7 Cute Hairstyles for Short Hair, According to a Celebrity Hairstylist

The Most Surprising 2025 Hair Trend, According to a Celebrity Stylist

The most surprising 2025 hair trend Hershberger foresees is a serious blast from the past: digital perms.

Unlike perms in the past, which are called “cold perms,” a digital perm uses heat rather than a chemical solution to perm your hair. Just like a “traditional” perm, a digital perm breaks your hair strands to reform them into curly hair (but again, with heat and not chemicals). Since perms were so big a few decades ago, the resurgence of perms in this new way is definitely the surprising part for Hershberger.

“Perms were popular in the 80s, it's been like 40 years,” Hershberger shares. “We never thought we would go back to that 80s vibe so it's kind of surprising but also wonderful to come back to this in a more stylish way.”

What Hair Trend Should You Leave in 2024?

With Hershberger predicting that air bangs and perms are going to be big this year, there’s still room to leave some hair trends behind in 2024.

“I'm sick of seeing those obvious curling-iron waves,” Hershberger says. “I don't like the way it looks very obvious that these were made with curling irons.”

While she’s referring to waves that look very fake, in general, the waves made with a three-barrel waver tool are included in this category as well.

Related: The 6 Best Hairstyles for Women Over 50, According to Celebrity Stylists

The Hair Trend Hershberger Is Begging Women Over 50 To Do

When it comes to women over 50, Hershberger has many famous clients in that demographic like Dr. Jill Biden, Hillary Clinton and Kris Jenner. So with her experience and knowledge, what is the one hair trend she would love for women over 50 to try?

“I love the French bob which is very versatile and very ladylike,” Hershberger shares. “It's kind of perfect for women over 50. This hairstyle is very ladylike, very French and very rich.”

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• Sally Hershberger, an entrepreneur and celebrity hairstylist who has been in the business since the late ‘80s. Known as the creator of the “Sally Shag,” she has done iconic hairstyles for Meg Ryan, Dr. Jill Biden, Joan Jett, Kris Jenner, Miley Cyrus, Julia Roberts and more. Her Sally Hershberger Salons are located in Nomad NYC, Uptown NYC and Los Angeles.