Hot hair in 2005

For men, the fringe is in and the Mohawk is out -“ definitely out. And girls, put away those hair irons and let it hang naturally.

That was the verdict of three top Sydney hairstylists when we asked which hairstyles will be hot in 2005.

Brad Ngata, of Brad Ngata Hair Direction, Darlinghurst, said grown-out, longer hair is definitely in for guys.

Sort of a cross between Oasis, Jet and Powderfinger. It’s that grungier, longer length that I love, declared Ngata, recently voted Sydney’s best hairdresser in a Sydney Morning Herald poll.

We’ve also been doing a lot of colour on boys as well -“ really contrasting colours. Dark tones right next to pale colour. It puts a bit of texture into what would normally be quite flat, he said.

As for the Mohawk: Enough already! Grow it out!

With girls there’s a bit of an 80s geometric thing happening, and natural curl is still in.

Ngata believes anything Gwen Stefani (pictured above) does is cool, and he’s had a lot of women asking for Stefani-esque bleaches. The boho look, as worn by Alfie actress Sienna Miller, is also becoming popular, he said.

Hamish Glianos from Mahogany Hair, Potts Point, agrees boho chic is the look for girls in 2005. He also mentions actors Miller and Natalie Portman as trendsetters for this style.

A natural, less structured, worn-in approach is being taken to hair, Glianos said, adding that colours to keep an eye out for are natural, almost ashen tones.

Glianos agreed the mini-Mohican is out for guys.

Men are becoming more tailored with tapered napes and elongated, smoother fringes which are swept across the face, he said, pointing out actor Adrian Brody and band Franz Ferdinand (pictured left) as examples.

Shane Henning, creative director of Noddy’s on King, Newtown, agreed with Ngata that the cool style for men is a longer dishevelled look. The Mohawk is yesterday’s news, he said, while grown-out mullets are in.

If you like your hair short and you’re cute, go for the Ben Watson Carnivale look -“ I’m talking about the character Nick Stahl played in the ABC series, said Henning, four-time Hairdresser of the Year. That’s a very groovy, short, sort of dishevelled-on-top 50s look.

For girls, he said, curly, wavy, natural and big hair is in. As for colours, Go for peachy blonde or brunette -“ and more solid colours are in now, he said.

Brad Ngata Hair Direction, 273-275 Goulburn Street, Darlinghurst, phone 9281 1220.

Mahogany Hair, 91-93 Macleay Street, Potts Point, www.mahoganyhair.com.au, ph 9331 0111.

Noddy’s On King, 88 King Street, Newtown, phone 9550 6402.