Would you ask your a hair stylist for a "cobra cut"? Photo: AFP
Are animals shaking up the rules of hairstyling? That's what it seems like judging from hairstyling trends of these past few weeks, which draw inspiration from nature, if not from an actual bestiary.
A phenomenon that social media users seem to particularly appreciate, as they go all out to come up with imaginative hairstyles that are each wilder than the previous one.
The natural world and animals, in particular, never cease to be a source of inspiration for fashion and cosmetics.
After making a much remarked-upon appearance on the runways of the last haute couture week in Paris, our favourite furballs, as well as certain insects, marine animals and other reptiles, are now carving out a space in the beauty world.
A phenomenon that has not gone unnoticed on social networks, particularly on TikTok, where users now seem determined to find – and display – the most improbable haircuts, both in name and in execution.
Scissors at the ready!
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The wolf, leader of the pack
Love it or hate it, the mullet cut made a notable comeback in 2020, when much of the world was in full lockdown mode, to the surprise of everyone.
This relic of the 1970s and 1980s, mocked for decades, first made its way to celebrities like Miley Cyrus, before taking over social media and then the streets, for both men and women.
To date, the hashtag associated with this hair trend is responsible for over 380 million views on TikTok. But the haircut was given an updated name for Generation Z and for this it drew inspiration straight out of nature.
The "wolf cut" has been the haircut star all over the world, with an unprecedented craze on social networks.
Billie Eilish did much to popularise this haircut, which generated no less than 2.8 billion views on the Chinese social media.
And the phenomenon seems to have considerably inspired users, who continued to look to the animal world for more hairstyling ideas, each new one more improbable than the others.
But that doesn't mean they aren't a success.
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Butterfly, cobra, octopus
And on social media, it seems that the more eccentric the trend, the more likely it is to go viral. So there is no question of bringing out simple bobs or blunt cuts, although they're still very popular, layered cuts, shaved heads, and wavy styles are all too classic for the majority of TikTokers.
As a result, it was the "butterfly haircut" that dominated last summer.
This inspiration from nature translates into fairly pronounced layers and a cascade of wavy hair, evoking – more or less – the shape of a butterfly.
Imagination is important when it comes to these hairstyles.
Three months later, for the autumn season, the butterfly gave way to a more feared animal with the "cobra haircut", a cut based once again on layers to mix various lengths, volume, and movement.
This is a kind of new-generation layering, evoking a cobra rising up to attack its prey.
That also proved a hit with nearly seven million views on TikTok, and a lot of followers from among the circles of beauty influencers.
And as if that wasn't enough, users went even further with the octopus haircut...
The umpteenth version of a layered cut, this time this hair inspiration is far from what it looks like on a person (fortunately!) and is essentially nothing more than a combination of all the previous trends.
The world of hairstyling is turning into a true bestiary, and it could be that the phenomenon is only in its infancy.
It's time to start taking bets on the next haircut that will pay tribute to one of our favourite animals.
These creatures are becoming increasingly important in the fashion and beauty worlds, so much so that designers are even looking to dress them. After all, these furballs are natural stars and muses, for creatives in these two sectors. – AFP Relaxnews
