The year 2020 brought a lot of change into our lives — from working from home as the new normal, salons being closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, and people having more time than ever to experiment with their look.
It feels hard to know how to style our hair on our own or even what to do with it when you’re constantly at home. What’s the point of blowing out your natural hair tonight if your virtual workout class tomorrow morning is just going to sweat it out? Should you bother fluffing out your “day one” braid out so you can achieve that “day five” volume for your big meeting? So many questions.
It’s been hard adjusting to this new way of life, and our hair, hair styling and hair routines haven’t been exempt from all the ongoing change.
With those factors in mind, wigs are a really good go-to option. They serve as a protective style (when you’re taking care of your hair underneath), give you the freedom to switch up your look whenever you choose, and most importantly, they give you the flexibility to adjust your look to your lifestyle. Because versatility is key moving forward, I spoke with Brittany Johnson, a licensed hairstylist and senior content manager for Mayvenn Hair, about the top wig trends to keep on your radar for 2021.
Trend 1: Going Ginger
With Rihanna and SZA making headway for this trend in recent years, ginger colored hair is staying around for the new year, too. According to Johnson, ginger is “one of those colors that still feels fun and fresh.” Also, similar colors like “strawberry, reddish blonde, and auburn tones are a way for people to try going lighter without committing to going salon blonde.”
With any colored hair, upkeep is crucial so that the hair doesn’t feel damaged and the color lasts as long as possible. When asked for tips on how best to maintain a ginger colored wig, she said: “For upkeep I think one of the most important things is making sure your styling products are color safe.”
“Red, even though it’s super fun, is one color that fades quickest, so just making sure that your shampoos, co-washes, and everything you’re using is sulfate free and color safe is going to do a huge job in keeping that color for longer.”
Trend 2: Natural or Not?
What’s the point of getting a wig that mimics the look of your natural hair if it takes just as much work? I had that question, too. While I’ve always loved a “natural looking” wig, during the pandemic I’ve been looking for wigs that can match my “WFH casual chic” without all the work my natural hair requires. When it comes to styling and maintaining a wig that mimics the texture of a blowout on natural hair, Johnson recommended removing your wig when you sleep so “your style will last way longer.”
That’s the main key to rocking natural looking wigs with minimum effort. She added, “You might have to do a little brushing out in the morning or spritz it with a little deep conditioner, depending if it’s on the curlier natural hair side or if it’s more of a blowout look like the kinky straight trend. But one of the main things is setting that style before you go to sleep so you can literally just wake up and then put the wig on your head.”
To offer further instruction, she added, “I think sometimes when you tack [your wig] down all the way with more of a glue-based product instead of something more temporary like a Got2B glue gel, even though the lace will lay down longer, it’s also going to be more upkeep because you have to treat it like you’re sleeping with your own natural hair.” In essence, “If someone can take off their wig when they’re sleeping and then lay it flat on the nightstand or on top of a wig head, it’s going to be much easier to preserve that style for days and days on end.”
Trend 3: Waves for Days
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If the natural hair trend seems like it might still be too much work for your routine going into 2021, Johnson mentioned that body wave textured hair is a classic go-to — perfect for beginners, staycation vibes, and those who just want a low-maintenance style.
Talking about this classic trend, she said, “When you’re hopping on that Zoom call or just hopping out for a quick store run and your mask is on, your hair is still a major form of expression nowadays. Body wave is one of the textures where you can braid it up and set it and just wear it like that for a week or so.”
While the style might eventually get a little frizzy or a little too wavy, she noted, “It’ll kind of look like that effortless bedhead, beachy wave, that just works. I think it’s one of those textures that can be straightened really easily and is a quick switch-up if you’re going on a virtual date or whatever it is for the day to day.”
Describing the texture as “just the combination of feeling good, wanting to express ourselves, and also something that’s not super hard to do,” Johnson emphasized that “letting the waves do their thing is just so easy and [is] the balance a lot of us are looking for right now.”
Trend 4: Carefree Curls
Similar to the previous trend, Mayvenn reports curly wigs will also be a big hit next year. The main difference between Waves for Days and Carefree Curls is the texture of the wigs.
The latter trend is characterized by either deep wave or water wave texture, described by Johnson as a “tighter C-shaped curl that’s going to be closer to a natural hair 3a or 3b.”
According to the hair stylist, these textures “rely on more moisture, leave-in sprays, and curl products.”
“As far as the styling goes, more detangling… a little more work than a body wave or a loose wave.”
Johnson added that in the care booklets Mayvenn sends with an order, the brand emphasizes the hair being thoroughly detangled.
“Almost like with your natural hair,” she said. “If you haven’t detangled for like a week or so and then you go through, it feels like you’re losing so much more hair then you normally would. When you start seeing those knots and tangles, taking care of them at first just limits the extra pulling of the hair.”
Speaking more to the “carefree” aspect of what separates Mayvenn’s curly wigs from the rest, Johnson was clear that if a customer ends up not feeling the level of maintenance their curly wig requires, the company offers 30-day returns and exchanges on their orders. Simply put, she said, “For us the term ‘carefree curls’ comes from the combination of knowing that no matter what we have your back. Mayvenn makes it more carefree. If you love it or you don’t we’ll take take of you.”
Trend 5: Bold “Bronde” Highlights
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While I had an idea of what the term “bronde” might mean, I was excited for Johnson to give me the 411 on the details of this 2021 trend.
“In color speak, it’s the combination of how it sounds: the in-between balance of blonde and brown,” she explained. “You’re not committing all the way to blonde, but then you’re a little more lighter then traditional brown hair.”
In terms of execution, Johnson said the bronde trend “can come in the form of highlights and lowlights, more of a hand-painted balayage technique, or it can be an all-over color.”
“It’s really that thing of ‘Hey, I’m going to add some brighter pops of color here, but I’m not ready to go all the way to like a 27 or a 613,” she added. “It’s become more of a year-round color… especially with the ‘no-rules craziness’ of this past year, people are going brighter when they feel like it.”
While wearing wigs altogether might be daunting for some, Johnson said, “It’s okay to start with a U-Part wig or a lace closure wig and kind of build your way up to a frontal. Anytime a wig has less lace on it, it’s going to be easier to style, lay down, and blend with your own hairline.”
If you need the extra help, the hair expert shared that Mayvenn has over 1500 hairstylists around the country who make custom wigs, so finding your new go-to style for 2021 shouldn’t be too hard. Overall, when deciding what trend might be your best fit for the new year, Johnson encouraged people to just go for it. Her final tips to ensure your best wig-wearing experience in the new year include choosing a texture that works for you, remembering to cleanse your unit properly, and considering your lifestyle when picking your wig and texture.
