10 Winter Haircut Trends Stylish Women Are Wearing in 2024

Trends come and go just like the seasons, and haircuts are no exception. While it might seem logical to keep your hair long as the temperature starts to drop, winter might actually be the ideal time of the year to get a little scissor happy. "Winter is always when people get the itch to change their hair,” says celebrity hairstylist and curl expert, Sophie Rose Gutterman. Honestly, it's the perfect moment to try out some of winter's best haircut trends — new year, new 'do, right?

During the fall, we saw iterations of bobs and shags slowly creep onto the scene, but that was just the beginning of the haircut craze. Winter is coming and according to the experts, we're bound to see much more of these classic styles—along with a few edgier cuts, too. "Winter haircut trends this year celebrate individuality, ease, and versatility," says Vernon François, celebrity hairstylist and Olaplex global ambassador. "From bold, edgy mullets to natural Afro shapes and classic bobs, there’s something for every personality and texture." He adds that these styles reflect a growing shift toward self-expression, adaptability, and embracing one’s unique beauty.

Gutterman and François along with celebrity hairstylists Candice Birns and Joey Scandizzo, are sharing their expert intel as to the 10 hottest winter haircut trends their clients can’t stop requesting.

Classic Shag

Stevie Nicks as hair inspiration will never go out of style, and celebrity hairstylist and groomer Candice Birns agrees. What Birns loves about Nicks’s classic shag is that unlike other styles, it's relatively low maintenance. “All it takes is a little bit of curl cream and spray, and you can walk out the door,” she says. She also notes that a cut like the classic shag works well on multiple hair textures, and that this type of face framing style is ideal for enhancing your chiseled cheekbones and snatched jawline.

Natural Afro

"More people are embracing their natural Afro hair patterns with styles that celebrate ease and structure," says François. "The focus is on maintaining volume and shape while allowing the hair’s natural beauty to shine." For the women with textured hair, getting a shaped Afro cut allows for balance between minimal styling while achieving a chic look that doesn't cause the excess tension (which can sometimes lead to traction alopecia) often associated with braided styles. Just remember that hydration and regular detangling are your best friends with this style to keep your curls looking and feeling their best.

French Girl Bob

The grip that French beauty has on American culture needs to be studied, from makeup and skincare to haircuts. However, it’s undeniable that the “French girl” bob is still trending. "A timeless style, the bob—cut between the chin and shoulders—continues to be a winter staple for its simplicity and elegance," says François. Praised for its low-maintenance yet sophisticated appeal, there are endless styling possibilities with this cut. Gutterman adds, “My favorite way to style this cut is with a round brush and a blow dryer." She recommends using a larger curling iron towards the ends to create that soft bouncy look.

Long Layers With A Side Part

“Side parts are back in a big way this season, and they pair perfectly with long layers,” says Scandizzo, celebrity hairstylist and co-creative director of ELEVEN Australia. For anyone with fine or bone straight hair that tends to fall flat, Scandizzo assures that this cut is “ideal for adding volume and structure.” Add a spritz of volumizing texture spray for a little extra lift and bounce. A heated round brush can also be a huge help to add dimension with this type of cut.

The Double Cut

This cut is for those truly experimental risk takers. Gutterman refers to it as a “disconnected cut” which is basically a hyper-severe, blunt cousin of the mullet. “This cut is bound to turn heads and make statements,” she says. It’s similar to a mullet but a more polished intentional version, and it’s best shown with straight hair, so keep that in mind.” Although Gutterman initially spotted this look on a runway, she’s been noticing more and more people experimenting with it and insists that styling it can be easy despite its appearance. “You can use a flat iron (loving the BaByliss titanium flat iron to get the hair super sleek) to really show the disconnect or play around and add some curls to the front, back or both,” she says.

Grown Out Fringe

A modern take on the grown out fringe that channels the iconic Brigitte Bardot is the tousled haircut you didn’t know you needed for winter. Birns sees this cut appealing to people who love to put their hair up in a ponytail or sport a half up half down style during holiday season, and it’s particularly popular when styled with some face framing pieces. “If you like body and movement and feel like your hair is thick, full, and luxurious, this classic long layer is for you,” she says. Keep a quality dry shampoo on hand to prevent the shorter pieces from getting greasy between wash days.

The Mullet

Both Gutterman and François are firmly on the mullet train with Gutterman insisting, “We’ve come a long way from our Joe Dirt days." We might have to thank Paul Mescal for at least some of its most recent positive pop culture moments. "Mullets are experiencing a modern comeback, blending nostalgia with individuality," says François. While this cut is celebrated for its versatility and according to François, "accents [the] bone structure, especially cheekbones and jawlines," it also makes for easy styling since it doesn’t adhere to a strict styling method. “My best advice is to let your natural texture do its thing,” says Gutterman. If you need a hint of movement, a smaller curling wand can help to create a cool, piece-y look.

The Anna Karina

The bob isn’t just one-size-fits-all and there are many variations. The long bob, or the “Anna Karina” as Birns likes to call it (after the impossibly chic Danish-French film actress and director) gets popular during the this time of the year because “women with bobs love to grow them out during the winter,” she explains. With the ends of the hair just brushing on the décolleté, the long bob beautifully enhances the neckline and “a little bit of fringe makes it flirty.” For a little twist on the classic, she recommends adding slight layers to create body and movement.

Curtain Bangs

Curtain bangs have been holding strong for the last few years and don’t seem to be cooling down. The Sabrina Carpenter effect, maybe? Either way, according to Scandizzo, long layers with curtain bangs will be having a moment this winter. “This is a classic look that people are still wearing in the winter months and is trending because it works for almost any occasion,” he says. “It’s effortlessly chic yet versatile enough to style casually or formally.” Scandizzo sees this cut working best on wavy or slightly curly hair because “the layers enhance the natural bounce.” However, the best part is arguably the fact that curtain bangs are very forgiving and the easiest of all the bangs styles to grow out.

Short Wavy Bob

The "bob family" is getting a lot of love this winter. It truly is a haircut that never goes out of style. Scandizzo says that for winter it’s all about “going slightly shorter, just above the collarbone.” This true bob makes a statement while also remaining incredibly practical, and although any hair texture can easily wear this haircut, this bob thrives with straight or wavy hair. “It can also be stunning on curlier hair with the right shaping,” he says. “It’s the perfect reset haircut for those looking to start fresh with something low-maintenance yet impactful.”

Why Trust Marie Claire?

Jaime Wilson is a freelance writer with years of experience covering the beauty industry. In her prior role, Wilson was beauty editor at Harper’s Bazaar, writing both print and digital features, and trend stories. She spoke with four of the industry's leading hairstylists to uncover their expert insights into the season's best winter haircut trends.

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Meet the Experts

Sophie Rose Gutterman

Sophie is a California-based celebrity hairstylist with a specialization in curly and textured hair. With ten years of experience behind the chair, Sophie has been featured in Italian Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and the Hollywood Reporter while growing a venerable client list including Gwenyth Paltrow, Karlie Kloss and Victoria Justice. She has styled hosts on ESPN and MTV as well as campaigns for Maybelline and Christian Dior. 

Joey Scandizzo

Joey is the founder of Joey Scandizzo Salon and co-founder of Eleven Australia and is one of Australia’s leading stylists.