Best of 2022: The Styles and Colors Our Clients Loved Most
Every year brings its own wave of trends, but what really matters is which ones resonate with real people living real lives. As we look back on 2022 at Sofia Loren Salon in Boca Raton, we are reflecting on the styles, colors, and treatments that our clients fell in love with. Some were viral sensations that translated beautifully from screen to salon chair. Others were quiet favorites that steadily grew in popularity. Here is our year in review, straight from the people who matter most: our clients.
The Color That Defined 2022: Expensive Brunette
If we had to name one color trend that dominated our salon this year, it would be expensive brunette without hesitation. This rich, multidimensional brunette look became the most requested color service in our salon from spring through the end of the year. Clients who had been blonde for years asked to go darker. Natural brunettes came in wanting to elevate their existing shade to something more polished and luxurious.
What made expensive brunette so popular with our Boca Raton clients was its low maintenance nature combined with its high-impact appearance. In a city where women are active, outdoors frequently, and exposed to sun and salt water, a color that grows out gracefully and looks better with time rather than worse is invaluable. The subtle babylights and glossy finish that define expensive brunette only get more interesting as they interact with natural sun exposure.
We also saw a significant number of clients combining expensive brunette with face-framing highlights, often called money pieces. The combination of rich, dimensional brown throughout the hair with lighter pieces around the face created a striking frame that looked effortlessly glamorous.
The Cut Everyone Wanted: Butterfly Layers
The butterfly cut was the clear winner in our cutting department this year. This layered style, with its distinctive face-framing shorter layers cascading into longer lengths below, was requested by clients of all ages and hair types. What made it especially popular was its versatility. Whether a client had fine hair that needed volume at the crown, thick hair that needed weight removed, or wavy hair that needed shape, the butterfly cut delivered.
We noticed a particular surge in butterfly cut requests among clients who were also getting curtain bangs or the newer bottleneck bangs. The combination of a face-framing bang with the butterfly’s graduated layers created a cohesive, flowing look that was both trendy and timeless.
The Treatment Everyone Needed: Scalp Care
This was the year that scalp health went mainstream, and we felt it in every appointment. Clients started asking about scalp exfoliators, scalp serums, and in-salon scalp treatments with a frequency we had never seen before. The understanding that hair health begins at the scalp finally reached the mainstream, and our clients embraced it enthusiastically.
Our professional scalp treatments became one of our most popular add-on services, with many clients booking them as a recurring part of their salon routine. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Clients reported less itching, less flaking, more volume at the roots, and healthier-feeling hair within just a few treatments.
The Surprise Hit: Reverse Balayage
We did not expect reverse balayage to gain as much traction as it did, but it became a genuine favorite among clients looking for something different. The technique of placing darker tones at the ends with lighter roots appealed to clients who were tired of the traditional balayage look and wanted to make a statement.
Several of our long-time blonde clients used reverse balayage as a gateway to going darker. Rather than making an abrupt shift to brunette, the gradual addition of deeper tones at the ends allowed them to ease into a new look. Many loved it so much they continued darkening over subsequent appointments.
Glass Hair and the Quest for Shine
The glass hair trend confirmed something we have always believed: nothing beats truly healthy, shiny hair. Our gloss treatments and keratin services saw a notable increase as clients chased that ultra-reflective, mirror-like finish. In South Florida’s humidity, achieving and maintaining glass-level shine requires professional help, and our clients understood that investment.
We also saw increased interest in bond-building treatments like Olaplex and K18, which clients rightly recognized as foundational to achieving shiny, healthy hair. The understanding that structural hair health translates directly to visual shine became widespread in 2022.
Men’s Grooming Reached New Heights
Our men’s services grew significantly in 2022. The textured crop was the most requested men’s cut, followed closely by modern fades and longer, flow-style cuts. More men than ever before came in for color services, whether covering gray, adding subtle dimension, or making a bold color statement.
The men’s grooming conversation expanded beyond just cuts to include scalp treatments, conditioning services, and styling product consultations. Men in Boca Raton are investing in their appearance with the same intentionality as women, and our salon has been proud to provide a welcoming environment for clients of all genders.
Extensions Continued to Grow
Hair extension services remained strong throughout 2022, with micro-link extensions emerging as the preferred method for many of our clients. The damage-free installation, natural movement, and suitability for fine hair made micro-links the go-to choice, particularly for first-time extension clients who were nervous about potential damage.
We also noticed a trend toward more natural-looking extensions. Rather than dramatically increasing length, many clients opted for extensions that added volume and thickness to their existing length. The goal was not to look like they were wearing extensions but rather to look like they had naturally thick, full hair.
The Products That Stood Out
On the product front, 2022 was the year of multi-tasking hair care. Clients gravitated toward products that served double duty: heat protectants that also smoothed, leave-in conditioners that also fought humidity, and oils that conditioned while adding UV protection. The desire for simplified routines with maximum results drove product choices throughout the year.
Hair perfumes emerged as a delightful new category that our clients embraced with enthusiasm. What started as a novelty recommendation became a consistent seller as clients discovered the pleasure of beautifully scented hair.
What We Learned in 2022
The overarching theme of 2022 at Sofia Loren Salon was intentionality. Our clients were not blindly following trends. They were selecting the ones that aligned with their lifestyle, their hair type, and their personal aesthetic. The trends that resonated most were the ones that offered genuine improvement in either appearance, hair health, or maintenance ease, ideally all three.
We also learned that education matters. The more we shared knowledge about topics like hair porosity, scalp health, and proper product usage, the more our clients invested in their hair care routines. An informed client is an empowered client, and empowered clients have the best hair.
Book Your Appointment at Sofia Loren Salon
Ready to start 2023 with a fresh look inspired by the best of what worked this year? Visit Sofia Loren Salon in Boca Raton for a consultation that will help you find the perfect style, color, or treatment for your hair goals. Call us at (561) 444-0720 or book online at sofialorensalon.com.