Keon Washington of Greenville, SC works his craft at Wavelengths Barbershop, a shop that cuts, fades, colors and specializes in locs, braids and twists. Keon is also a member of the Cosmoprof Beauty Artistic Team for the past five years and is apprised of the latest techniques and looks that influencers are wearing on social media.

He says, “Mid to longer length styles are BACK and texture is in! A lot of riskier, edgier cuts are coming back as well as perms. Craft cutting is on the rise, and so are the cuts that require more precision and technique. Variations of mullets and disconnected cuts with low or tapered sides and longer length on top are growing in popularity too, such as messy faux hawks.” 

Aside from just cutting hair, Washington takes his customer service to the next level, “I always make it a priority to teach all of my clients on not only how to style their hair at home, but also how to upkeep their hair, what products to use and what a smart regimen looks like. I also share social channels, companies, magazines and sites that pertain to their specific hair so that they can do their own research and learning.”  

Washington shares two stylish looks we’ll be seeing more of in the New Year: 

The Afro

"This hairstyle is a classic and an often very confusing and tricky one for those who aren’t familiar with natural textured hair. To maintain and upkeep an Afro in this style, it’s imperative to determine what the client's future plans are with the hair. If they are going to wear it like this, then hydration is priority, as textured hair tends to dry out and break faster with no proper upkeep. I always recommend clients do a moisture mask or conditioning treatment once a week. The “pick and pat” technique is the key to this style, so long as it’s properly upkept and clean, then the client needs to just pick the hair out and pat it down to a shape they like, as this hair can be molded into many shapes. Trimming is a necessary component of this style as well," Washington says.

Textured Mullet

"The mullet is wicked fun with all the shape and definition," Washington says. "The beautiful thing about it is how many ways you can cut and wear it. We all know it to be shorter in the front top and longer in the back. The key to maintaining this look is keeping those curls hydrated, at all times. If your client doesn’t have natural curls, perm the hair for the voluminous texture. To style this look, apply curl gel, mousse, or whatever curl product of choice, and let gravity and nature do its thing. Letting this style air dry will give maximum curl definition."