2016 marked a genuine turning point in hairstyling, the year balayage fully overtook harsher color techniques, textured waves replaced sleek perfection as the default, and a handful of trends emerged that would go on to define hair for years afterward. Looking back at this specific year offers a surprisingly practical source of inspiration rather than just nostalgia.
What makes so many of these styles worth revisiting isn’t simply that they were popular at the time, it’s that they leaned toward natural-looking texture and low-maintenance color placement, qualities that have kept them relevant well past their original moment.
This guide covers fifteen 2016 hairstyles worth bringing back, along with tips for recreating each one using today’s tools, techniques and products.
Several of these looks, particularly the color techniques, are worth planning around an appointment with a colorist rather than attempting entirely at home, since achieving the right result depends on precise lightening and toning.
Bringing a clear reference photo to that appointment also helps a colorist gauge exactly how much lightening and toning your specific hair will realistically need.
Balayage Waves
Balayage reached mainstream popularity during this period, and pairing this soft, hand-painted color technique with loose, natural waves became one of the most recognizable combinations of the entire year.
This style works particularly well on medium to long hair, where the graduated color has enough length to show its natural progression from root to end, letting the technique read as genuinely gradual rather than compressed.
A curling wand used to create loose, alternating-direction waves, brushed out gently once cooled, complements the soft, natural quality balayage is known for.
This combination remains one of the most consistently requested salon looks today, largely unchanged from how it first became popular nearly a decade ago.
Scheduling a gloss touch-up every couple of months also helps keep the color looking fresh and dimensional between full balayage appointments.
The Lob With Waves
The lob, a longer bob typically hitting somewhere between the chin and shoulders, became one of the defining cuts of the year, particularly when paired with soft, undone waves.
This cut suits most hair textures, and its versatile length works well for both straight, sleek styling and looser, textured waves depending on the occasion, part of why it became such a widely requested length.
A texturizing spray applied to damp hair before diffusing enhances natural movement and gives this cut the slightly undone quality that defined the trend.
This length has remained one of the most requested cuts at salons ever since, valued for how easily it moves between sleek and textured styling.
Asking for subtle layers throughout, rather than a completely blunt cut, also makes the transition between straight and wavy styling noticeably smoother day to day.
Rose Gold Hair
Rose gold hair color, a soft blend of pink and gold tones, became one of the year’s most popular fashion colors, particularly on naturally lighter or pre-lightened hair.
This color works best on hair that’s already been lightened to a pale blonde base, since the delicate pink tone shows most clearly against very light hair rather than getting lost against darker strands.
A color-depositing purple or pink toning shampoo used periodically helps maintain the rose gold tone between salon visits, since this fashion color tends to fade faster than more natural shades.
Because the color requires a significantly lightened base, consulting with a colorist about hair health before committing to this shade is worth doing beforehand.
A weekly deep-conditioning treatment also helps offset some of the dryness that comes with maintaining a heavily lightened base over time.
Half-Up Top Knot
A small, neat top knot combined with the rest of the hair left down offered a practical, slightly polished take on the half-up trend that was widely worn throughout the year.
This style works on medium to long hair, and it remains one of the more straightforward, recognizable looks to recreate from this particular era with little advance planning required.
Twisting the gathered top section before securing it into the knot adds texture and helps the small bun hold its shape more reliably throughout the day.
This style remains a practical, everyday option today, requiring minimal time while still looking considered and deliberate.
The Fishtail Braid Crown
Wrapping a fishtail braid around the head in a crown formation brought a detailed, boho-inspired element to hair worn for both everyday occasions and events like festivals.
This style suits medium to long hair particularly well, since the fishtail technique needs enough length to wrap fully around the head without looking thin or leaving visible gaps.
Loosening the braid slightly by gently pulling at its edges after securing it gives the crown a softer, more relaxed, festival-appropriate finish.
This detailed style has remained a recurring favorite for outdoor events and celebrations well beyond the year it first gained popularity.
Ash Blonde
Ash blonde, a cool, slightly gray-toned shade of blonde, became a particularly popular color choice, offering an alternative to the warmer, golden blondes that had dominated previous years.
This color works on most hair types, though achieving a true ash tone typically requires lifting the hair to a lighter level before toning to neutralize warmth, particularly on naturally darker hair.
A purple-toning shampoo used regularly helps maintain the cool, ash tone and prevents the color from shifting warmer between salon visits.
This shade continues to be a popular request today, particularly among those looking for an alternative to warmer, golden blonde tones.
The Textured Bob
A textured, slightly undone bob offered a more relaxed alternative to the sleeker, more polished bobs of previous years, embracing piece-y texture rather than a fully smooth finish.
This cut suits most hair textures, and it works particularly well on hair with some natural wave that enhances the cut’s textured quality without requiring extensive daily styling.
A matte texturizing paste worked through with fingertips enhances the piece-y definition this cut relies on for its slightly undone finish.
This cut has aged particularly well, since its relaxed, textured quality translates easily into current styling preferences.
Space Buns Revival
Space buns saw a significant resurgence during this year, often worn at festivals and casual events, bringing a playful, youthful energy to a technique that first appeared decades earlier.
This style suits medium to long hair particularly well, since there needs to be enough length to wrap securely into two full buns without looking sparse.
Teasing the hair slightly at the crown before securing each bun adds volume and gives the finished look more presence, particularly for festival-style wear.
This resurgence introduced the style to a new generation, and it has continued to resurface periodically in the years since.
Ombre to Balayage Transition Color
As balayage overtook the more dramatic ombre trend of previous years, many people transitioned their existing ombre color into a softer, more blended balayage look during this period.
This transitional color technique works well for anyone with existing ombre color wanting a more natural, less dramatic gradient between their base and ends.
Working with a colorist to soften the harsh line between the natural root and the previously lightened ends achieves this smoother, more graduated transition.
This shift in coloring philosophy toward softer, lower-maintenance techniques has largely defined how hair color has been approached ever since.
The Wavy Shag
The shag saw renewed popularity during this period, paired with loose waves to create a look that felt both nostalgic and current, balancing texture with movement.
This cut works particularly well on hair with natural wave or texture, since the choppy layering depends on movement to avoid looking simply uneven.
A texturizing mousse applied to damp hair before diffusing enhances the natural movement this layered style is built around.
This particular combination of cut and styling has resurfaced repeatedly in the years since, cementing its place as a genuinely lasting look.
Micro Fringe
A dramatically short, blunt fringe cut well above the brow line offered a bold styling statement, standing in contrast to the softer, longer curtain bangs also popular during this time.
This style works well on straight to slightly wavy hair, where the fringe’s blunt, structured line is easier to maintain than on very curly textures.
A flat iron used briefly on the fringe section, followed by a light-hold styling product, keeps this dramatic, structured bang looking crisp.
Because it requires frequent trims to maintain its precise shape, this style suits anyone comfortable with more regular salon visits.
The Braided Half-Up With a Bun
Combining a braided top section with a small bun, rather than a simple twist or gathered ponytail, added extra detail to the widely worn half-up trend of the year.
This style suits medium to long hair, and it works particularly well for anyone wanting a bit more visual interest than a plain half-up style provides.
Braiding the top section before gathering it into the bun adds texture and helps the small bun hold its shape more securely throughout the day.
This combination style remains a practical, everyday option, balancing detail with a reasonable amount of daily effort.
Bronde Hair
Bronde, a color technique blending brunette and blonde tones together, offered a lower-maintenance alternative to full blonde color while still incorporating noticeable dimension and lightness.
This color technique works particularly well on medium to dark brown base hair, where the blended blonde pieces add contrast without requiring dramatic lightening.
A gloss treatment applied periodically between color appointments helps maintain the blended, dimensional quality this technique depends on.
This color remains a popular choice today, often cited as a genuinely low-maintenance way to add dimension without a dramatic commitment.
Its grow-out also tends to look considerably softer than a solid all-over color, which is part of why it remains such an easy, low-stress choice.
The Sock Bun
Using a foam or fabric donut to create a full, evenly rounded bun offered an easy technique for achieving a polished updo without the skill typically required for a traditional chignon.
This technique works on most medium to long hair lengths, and it’s a practical option for anyone wanting a neat, structured bun without much technical styling skill.
Securing the hair firmly around the donut base with bobby pins spaced evenly around its circumference achieves the smooth, rounded shape this technique depends on.
This tool-based technique remains a popular shortcut today for anyone wanting a polished bun without significant styling experience, particularly for last-minute events.
Curtain Bangs Emergence
Though curtain bangs would go on to see even greater popularity in later years, this particular period marked their emergence as a widely worn, face-framing fringe style.
This style suits most hair lengths and textures, and its versatility as it grows out is part of why it became such a lasting trend beyond its original year.
A round brush used to curve the fringe sections away from the face while blow-drying helps train the curtain shape and keep it from falling flat against the forehead.
This fringe style has gone on to become one of the most consistently requested cuts at salons in the years since it first emerged.
Trimming just the fringe every four to six weeks, rather than waiting for a full haircut, also keeps this style looking intentional as the rest of the hair continues growing out.
Final Thoughts
The hairstyles from this year reflect a broader shift toward softer, more natural-looking techniques, whether that meant balayage replacing harsher ombre color, textured waves replacing sleek straightening, or curtain bangs beginning to replace more severe, blunt fringes.
Bringing any of these styles into a current routine works particularly well since many of the techniques, especially balayage and textured waves, have remained popular well beyond their original year and continue to be widely requested at salons today.
Whether you’re recreating a full look or simply borrowing one element, like a soft wave pattern or a color technique, these styles have proven flexible enough to feel current even a decade after they first emerged.
Talking through your hair’s current condition and history with a colorist before committing to any of the lightening-based looks here is also worth doing, since a healthy base makes a significant difference in how any of these color techniques ultimately turn out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Balayage Still a Popular Technique Today? Yes, balayage has remained one of the most consistently requested coloring techniques since this period, valued for its natural-looking, low-maintenance grow-out.
What’s the Difference Between Ombre and Balayage? Ombre typically creates a more distinct, two-toned transition between the root and ends, while balayage uses a hand-painted technique that produces a softer, more gradual blend throughout the hair.
Are Space Buns Appropriate for Everyday Wear? While they became especially associated with festivals during this period, a more subdued, less teased version of space buns works fine for everyday casual wear as well.
How Do I Maintain a Fashion Color Like Rose Gold? Fashion colors like rose gold require a color-depositing toning shampoo used regularly, along with washing hair less frequently in cooler water to slow down fading.
Is a Micro Fringe High-Maintenance? Yes, relatively speaking. Because it’s cut so short and sits directly on the forehead, it typically needs trimming every two to three weeks to maintain its precise, blunt line.
Which Style From This Period Has Aged the Best? Balayage color and curtain bangs have arguably had the most lasting influence, both remaining widely requested and worn well beyond the specific year they became popular.
Do I Need to Lighten My Hair for These Color Techniques? Several of them, particularly rose gold, ash blonde and bronde, generally require some degree of lightening, so consulting a colorist about the healthiest path to your desired shade is worth doing before committing.
How Long Does It Typically Take to Achieve One of These Color Looks From Dark Hair? Going from a significantly darker base to something like rose gold or ash blonde often requires multiple sessions spaced several weeks apart to protect hair health during the lightening process.