Hair styles and colors have increasingly become more important among youth culture as an expression of individuality. Not only can dying one’s hair result in profound effects in creating one’s style, but it’s inexpensive to do and relatively easy to change.

Key themes over the last few months and moving into fall are not the typical splash of pink for example, which was a reverberation of old-school Gwen Stefani circa 2002, but rather, having one long strip of hair tiered or layered in various colors. Pink, black, blue, purple, white, and red are among the key colors for this. In some ways, it achieves the look of a braid, without one’s hair actually being braided.

As you go through the following sets of images however, it’s apparent that those that use various color, also tend to have a multitude of hair accessories, usually plastic small barrettes or headbands, facial piercings, and corresponding necklaces or sunglasses. So basically, one’s hair is a key accessory, then surrounded by other forms of expression. The results in some cases actually make the apparel less important because so much emphasis is on the physical aspects of the body vs. what’s worn on it. This marks a unique change in the direction of what is fashion.

In addition, we’ve also added some examples of popular choices in hairstyles and cuts, ranging from the Shaun White-influenced long hair parted on the side, to black, angular indie cuts, to grown-out afros and Mohawks.

As young people continue to become more inventive with individual style, which is especially prevalent in the United States, hair will continue to be among the leading indicator of changes in fashion trends.