Already thinking about January 2018? New year, new you – plans afoot to give your life, home, wardrobe, barnet a reboot? My hair’s either going through a full mid-life crisis, changing colour every month. Or it gets stuck in a rut, playing safe with the same cut.

Jo Gilder, owner and director of Gilded Hair, gave me the heads up on what’s hot in hair for 2018. And I’m not going to lie, I’m excited. Jo’s boutique salon in Holme Grange Craft Village, Wokingham, is a Kevin Murphy Session Salon, so she’s totally plugged into the new season trends and how they work on real people.

So what can we expect? Bedroom hair is big. Literally! Regardless of hair length, or sex, the key is for your do to be undone. Deliberately dishevelled. This is not an excuse to look a hot mess, but it does mean you don’t have to spend hours trying to straighten and gloss you locks. Laid-back, sexy and neat but not, is what you’re after. The glossy posse are old news, bed head babes rule.

 

THE LONG GAME 

Long to mid-length hair? Ruffled, hot locks is what you’re after. Top heavy, with a bit of wave and texture. This look suits everyone – think Bridget Bardot and Rosie Huntley-Whiteley. If you have fine hair, like me, then using Kevin Murphy Plumping.Wash shampoo that contains ginger root and nettle extracts and Plumping.Rinse conditioner containing Hemsleya Root rich in Oleanolic Acid) will help thicken and strength it. Then fire away with the brand spanking new Bedroom.Hair – and your “lived-in” look is complete – and it won’t feel like cardboard.

 

CURL POWER

This is an intervention, people. Step away from your GHD straighteners, you’re not going to need them. It’s time to embrace the curls. Whether you have a bit of a wave or the full curl power, you’re about to get 30 minutes a day back in your life. Imagine what you could do with it? For the time poor this is Holy Grail. The key is good cut and quality products – try Motion.Lotion or Killer.Curl – both define curls and beat the frizz.

 

GET SHORTY

Feeling bold? If you’re empowered to lob off your locks, the boyfriend crop is big for 2018. Cara Delevingne, Katie Berry and Charlize Theron are all top of the crops. If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for you – edgy, rebel hair. For the mega brave, shaven sides and asymmetric cuts also feature i 2018 trends for a bit of hidden naughtiness.

 

COLOUR ME HAPPY

Balayage was big in 2017, but the new year will see a slight shift to create hair colour that celebrates your individuality and enhances your skin tone. You’re looking for delicate, natural accents – using a hint of light copper, pink and purple. Jo is a colour wizard, and completely transformed my hair when she did it. She has suggested adding lilac to my brown and blonde to make my blue eyes pop and light up my face ( I need all the help I can get). We’re not talking a purple rinse, it’s more subtle. The result? Your colour last longer and no heavy regrowth. Amen to that.

 

HOT FELLAS

Oh hello, handsome! Looking deliciously dishevelled perched on a log. If your fella has hair (Mr Muddy is lacking a little on top), keep the length a bit longer, ruffle it up and out he goes To keep it together, run Free.Hold through his do – a flexible hold styling paste with a natural shine. For celeb inspo, think Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Jared Leto and Alexander Skarsgard.

REBEL YOUTH

The ‘come as you are’ styling continues for kids too. But of course, girls love to wear their hair up and, let’s be honest, it’s more practical for school. The thing to remember is the finished look is soft, natural and rugged. Braiding will still be huge, but tease it out to add texture. Oh, and long hair is back for boys.

Book a consultation. Jo and her team can help advise you on cut, colour and the best products. Jo will be opening her new boutique salon on January 8, 2018. You’ll still find Gilded Hair at Holme Grange Craft Village, Heathlands Road, Wokingham RG40 3AW, but it’ll be bigger and even more beautiful. Tel 0118 327 6073.