It's Official: These Are the Biggest Beauty Trends of Spring 2018

Another spring is upon us, and with it an entirely new set of beauty trends. Some are recycled (history does tend to repeat itself), others classics with a twist, and a few are completely fresh—like the flowers that will finally bloom once the seasons change.
So, to get a breakdown of everything to come, we reached out to a few expert makeup artists, hairstylists, colorists, and manicurists for their top picks for the coming seasons. There will be lilac manicures, glass skin, and, sure enough, more lobs. For the rest of the goods, you have to keep scrolling.
Hair Colour
"Spring is a perfect time for redheads to play with adding some golden and strawberry hues," says celebrity colourist Matt Rez. Or, if you've been contemplating a change to your usually blonde, black, or brunette hair—now's the time to take the plunge.
Red can add a unique, rich, dimensional look to your otherwise uniform colour. Think Madelaine Petsch, Emma Stone, and Florence Welch. "To get a lighter look," adds Rez, "keep the colour nice and bright. For spring, avoid any avoid any blue or violet undertones."
"Going brighter is always popular when the warmer months are approaching," notes Rez. Think light, beachy blonde and icy platinum to offset the springtime sunshine.
But, he recommends, "if you are planning on going much brighter by summer, start the process in spring," as to make sure to take care of your hair and keep it healthy. Rez's holy-grail products? Shu Uemura Ultimate Remedy Extreme Restoration Treatment ($68) a few times a week. That way, your hair will stay just as strong as your colour.
"Adding finer highlights inlayed with a midlight (the colour in between that ties your darkest colour to your brightest) on a brunette will create tons of movement and dimension," says Rez. He's right—the color is subtle enough to look natural, but when the warm light hits it, your hair will practically sparkle. Make sure to ask for "baby"-lights rather than your usual highlights as they're softer and more woven into your natural hair colour.
Hairstyle
"I love that women are taking more risks with their hair," muses celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan. "It seems we're all opting for shorter lengths and edgier cuts for spring—including bangs. They're one of my favorite looks as they can easily spice up a short haircut as it grows out or longer hair when you don't want to lose any length."
One of her current favourites? "Matilda Djerf's Bardot-esque, eyebrow-grazing bangs," she says. "If you're looking for something less permanent, try clip-ins like Rocky Barnes and Camila Coelho."
"Volume, volume, volume!" celebrity hairstylist Vernon François emphasises. "This trend will feature numerous looks that showcase sky-high volume—big blowouts, loose waves, high ponytails, and textured 'fros. This season is the opportunity to showcase all hair textures at their natural, and very best, state."
With warmer weather approaching, the trends are turning toward less fuss in the styling department. Instead of painstakingly blowing out your curls for fear they'll cowlick or frizz, air-dry them and let them be. Plus, shorter, cropped styles are still having a moment. So, according to celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan, keep your lobs and bobs through spring.
"With the desire to have healthier hair without sacrificing your routine," says François, "effortless hairstyles will be a focus. This trend will encompass looks ranging from air-dry styles to loose, undone waves."
Makeup
This spring, it's going to be all about super-dewy, borderline emollient skin. "This trend truly starts at the ground level," explains celebrity makeup artist Sir John, "aka how you prep your skin. To get the best 'glass' skin results, I tell my clients to follow a K-beauty-inspired routine mixed with your favorite highlighting products."
First, he says, "you should start with exfoliation. By exfoliating, you're helping to create the perfect canvas. Next, use your favourite toner followed by a vitamin C serum like Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum ($66). Then, top with a super-hydrating hyaluronic acid moisturiser."
"The final step," he says, "is to really go for the glow—I am obsessed with the True Match Lumi Highlighter ($14) right now. You can apply this all over your skin to create a beautiful glow perfect for spring. You can also use the lighter and darker shades to help create dimension and definition."
"I see some delicate details in silver and golds—like the Cupid's bow painted gold at Brandon Maxwell and silver inner-eye corners at Ralph and Russo," says celebrity makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes. "It's so easy to achieve and yet super impactful. I would go with the tone closest to your skin tone, so if you're medium to deep, go golds and coopers, and if you're fair, go silver or rose gold. However, feel free to ignore all the rules and go maximum contrast."
"I'm so into matching your mascara to your tinted eyeliner," says Sir John. "In the makeup world, we're embracing color more and more. Now, spring is the time to really go for it. Opt for a vibrant eyeliner and then top it off with ASOS Crayola Mascara in Blue ($20). Blue helps to give you this unique, fun look and adds extra dimension versus using one or the other."
Nails
Gray polishes are having a moment. Whether it's a solid, light gray or a bit of nail art, no doubt you'll be seeing a lot of the neutral shade come spring. "Nail art is still on everyone's mind, but it will come into play a bit differently with minimalistic properties," says Deborah Lippmann, founder and creative director of her namesake brand. "Negative space and colour blocking will be popular trends for those wanting to experiment with nail art while maintaining a simpler, more low-key look."
"Consumers will also take more of an interest in metallic to create a more statement look in the coming season," says Lippmann. Jin Soon Choi, manicurist and founder of JinSoon, agrees: "We've seen a lot of interest in quintessential floral spring shades, an artsy, feminine lavender, as well as nail polish effects that are emblematic of spring but in a less predictable finish."
"I have been seeing a growing popularity of neutral shades with opaque finishes," says Choi, "such as off-white creams. They make for a clean, restrained, classy spring look." Lippmann agrees: "Stark white is making a comeback. People are going crazy for it."
There's nothing better than a fresh crop of beauty trends to start the new season, no? Try out your favourite and let us know your thoughts by tagging us on Instagram (@byrdiebeauty.au).
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