Are you considering a new look for the New Year? If you’re keen to put 2020 behind you (and who among us isn’t? 2020 isn’t likely to win any ‘best year’ award anytime soon), then what is a better way to signal a fresh start than a new hairdo?
But which style should you choose to stay on trend? The weird and wonderful fashions we see on the red carpet might look fabulous for an evening. Still, they’re not necessarily everyday workplace dos.
To help shine some light on what’s popular in different areas, the hard-working team at All Things Hair has sat down and done some serious data crunching. The result? A state-by-state guide to the most popular hairstyles in the US. Now, no matter where you live, you can instantly check the most popular hairstyle in your state.
What does the US hairstyle map reveal?
The freshly launched US hairstyle map provides insights into every state's preferred style, from a choice of three: box braids, balayage, and perms. If you’re not familiar with the terms, let’s take a moment to look at what each one involves.
Box braids are when the hair is divided into square sections and then braided, with each square forming the basis of a single braid. Once braided, the style should last for a good six to eight weeks before you need to redo it. Box braids sometimes include synthetic hair, which is braided in with the wearer’s natural tresses for a fuller look.
Braiding hair in this way is a protective style that dates back over three millennia, having been traced back to Namibian women in the Nile Valley. However, the term ‘box braids’ is much newer, popularized by Janet Jackson in the 1990s. While the braiding itself takes time, the style's versatility means it is popular with women across the US. We’ll take a look at just how popular in a moment.
Balayage, meanwhile, is a much newer technique. It consists of hand-painted highlights that provide a natural look. It is easy to maintain and where new growth blends far more smoothly than it does with traditional highlights. The name comes from the French verb ‘balayer,’ which means ‘to sweep,’ as this is the technique used to apply the color to the hair.
The balayage technique gained prominence in the 1970s, but its popularity has boomed over the years. It is an ombre style, which means shading the hair from dark to light. Still, balayage generally starts higher up the hair and doesn't necessarily light all tips (as ombre tends to do).
And then there are perms – or permanent waves, to give them their full name. From tight, corkscrew curls to soft, loose waves, perms deliver curls lasting for several months. While the first perms were created using heat (way back in 1872), some can perfect it using chemical treatments, though often with the heat still involved.
US hairstyle results, state by state
The All Things Hair US hairstyle map shows a clear preference for perms over and above balayage and box braids. More states have perms as their favorite hairstyle than the other two styles put together.
In total, 33 states have perm as their most popular hairstyle. Almost every northern state has this as its preferred style. Only North Dakota bucks the trend (balayage is the most popular hairstyle there). Other than North Dakotans with their hand-painted highlights, everyone from Washington and Oregon (west) through to Pennsylvania and Virginia (east) prefer braids or balayage.
The same is right up the country's western edge; from Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas to California, curls reign supreme. Alaskans and Hawaiians also prefer perms to either box braids or the subtle colors of balayage.
The second most popular style is box braids, which All Things Hair found to be the preference in 12 states, many of them in the country's eastern part. A clear swathe from Louisiana and Arkansas up the eastern seaboard showed box braids to be their favorite style. Florida is the notable exception in this area, with residents there preferring perms to braids.
Balayage was the least popular of the three hairstyles, with only four states championing this style: North Dakota, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. However, this is the newest of the assessed three hairstyles. But, there is a chance that analysis in the coming years could show that balayage’s star is still rising. And the reason could be the increasing number of women embracing this ‘new’ coloring technique.
Hairstyle diversity
While large blocks of the United States show exact preferences for a particular style, the eastern tip stands out as the most notably diverse. With hairstyle favorites changing from state to state in various patterns, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont favor perms. Still, residents of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts are more likely to opt for balayage. New York and New Jersey, meanwhile, have box braids as their preferred style. This trend is echoed along the eastern seaboard and into the southern states (except Florida and Virginia).
Suppose you're considering a new style for 2021. In that case, there's undoubtedly much to be learned from the preferences that All Things Hair has identified. Is it necessary for you to be on-trend for your local area? If so, then it's likely that a perm could be the style for you if you live in the US's northern or western parts. If you're from the southern or eastern states, on the other hand, then box braids could be the way forward. Or will you be a rare exception who jumps on board with the newer trend of balayage? Whichever you choose, wear your style with confidence in 2021!
