The natural world never ceases to be a source of inspiration for fashion and cosmetics. After making a marked appearance on the catwalks of the last haute couture week in Paris, animals – as well as certain insects, marine life and reptiles – are now carving out a space in the beauty world.
The phenomenon has not gone unnoticed on social networks, particularly on TikTok, where users now seem determined to find and display the most improbable haircuts, both in name and in execution. Scissors at the ready!
The wolf, leader of the pack
Love it or hate it, the mullet cut made a notable comeback in 2020, when much of the world was in full lockdown mode. This relic of the 1970s and 1980s for men and women, mocked for decades, first made its way to celebrities like Miley Cyrus, before taking over social media and then the streets.
To date, the hashtag associated with this hair trend is responsible for over 380 million views on TikTok. But the haircut was given an updated name for Generation Z and for this, it drew inspiration straight out of nature.
The “wolf cut” has been the haircut star all over the world, with an unprecedented craze on social networks. Billie Eilish did much to popularise this style, which generated no less than 2.8 billion views on TikTok.
Butterfly, cobra, octopus
And on social media, it seems that the more eccentric the trend, the more likely it is to go viral. Layered cuts, shaved heads, and wavy styles are all too classic for the majority of TikTokers; it was the “butterfly haircut” that dominated last summer.
This inspiration from nature translates into fairly pronounced layers and a cascade of wavy hair, evoking – more or less – the shape of a butterfly. Imagination is important when it comes to these hairstyles.
Three months later, for the autumn season, the butterfly gave way to a more feared animal with the “cobra haircut”, based once again on layers to mix various lengths, volume, and movement… a kind of new-generation layering, evoking a snake rising up to attack its prey.
This has also proved a hit with nearly 7 million views on TikTok, and a lot of followers from among the circles of beauty influencers.
And as if that wasn’t enough, users went even further with the “octopus haircut”. The umpteenth version of a layered cut, it’s far from what it looks like on a person – fortunately – and is essentially nothing more than a combination of all the previous trends.
Perhaps it’s time to start taking bets on the next haircut that will pay tribute to one of our favourite animals. After all, these creatures are natural stars and muses for creatives in many sectors.