AW TRENDS
THE RUNWAY REPORT
The AW26 runways revealed the hair trends set to shape the season ahead, with storytelling replacing perfection and personality taking precedence over polish
DI PESTA HAIR: TONI&GUY SESSION TEAM
The AW26 runways signalled a shift in hair trends, moving away from polished, playful styling towards looks with depth, contrast and character.
Hair became an extension of storytelling, reflecting themes of travel, heritage, control, rebellion and romanticism. Some designers leaned into exaggerated reality – windswept lengths, matte finishes and organic imperfection – while others embraced sculptural structure and architectural chignons. Whether softly dishevelled or tightly controlled, every look served a purpose – enhancing silhouette, echoing inspiration and amplifying individuality.
HAIR LEAD: DANILO GIANGRECO CREDIT: MATTEO VALLE
UPDO INSPO
At Dreaming Eli’s AW26 show, Danilo Giangreco, Revlon Professional UK and Ireland Artistic Ambassador, took inspiration for the hair from the Mary Antoinette era, taking references from the 1800s with a modern twist. Hair on the runway featured rolls and high volume for an after party feeling with an intentionally dishevelled twist.
HAIR LEAD: NARAD KUTOWAROO CREDIT: @NICIEBERLPHOTO
WHIMSICAL BRAIDS
For Naomi Hart’s show, ‘The Sovereignty of Stillness’, Sally Beauty partnered with UNITE Haircare, led by Narad Kutowaroo. The hair team created distressed fishtail braids infused with added texture that was whimsical yet intentional, where fluffy, natural movement met crafted detail. Soft, loose pieces were left to frame the face, giving an effortless, romantic edge.
HAIR LEAD: ANTHONY TURNER
“WE WANTED AN EXAGGERATED SENSE OF REALITY IN THE HAIR. LONGER HAIR LOOKED WEATHERED AND WIND-BEATEN, TO REFLECT THE NARRATIVE OF GOING FROM ONE PLACE TO THE NEXT – OR SOMETHING THAT ONCE WAS AND NO LONGER IS. MEANWHILE, SHORTER HAIR WAS BRUSHED AND REARRANGED TO REFLECT TRAVEL ON HORSEBACK, WITH MISTAKES WITHIN THE HAIR DEMONSTRATING THE POWER AND CONTROL OF THE ELEMENTS.”
Anthony Turner for Sebastian Professional at Simone Rocha
HAIR LEAD: EFI DAVIES
EMBRACING TEXTURE
The hair at Di Pesta’s AW26 show featured distressed textures and sculpted, commanding shapes – echoing the collection’s reimagining of Medusa as a symbol of divine feminine rebirth. The TONI&GUY Session Team, led by TONI&GUY International Artistic Director and British Hairdresser of the Year, Efi Davies, introduced texture as an embodiment of emotion, woven into the personality of each look, to reinforce the collection’s ritualistic spirit.
HAIR LEAD: ANNA COFONE
FREE FROM CONTROL
For her show ‘Walking on Eggshells’, Pauline Dujancourt was inspired by the story of witchcraft throughout history; how women were controlled and restricted. This behaviour was reflected in the hair, which was led by Anna Cofone for Olivia Garden, with small silhouettes at the front and sides created to showcase conformity. Through the back, and from a side profile, the hair looked matte and messed-up – a representation of women breaking free from control.
HAIR LEAD: EUGENE SOULEIMAN
“IT WASN’T ABOUT IMPOSING A LOOK – IT WAS ABOUT TAKING HER NATURAL TEXTURE AND PUSHING IT FORWARD. THE RESULT WAS ROMANTIC YET GROUNDED, WISPY YET DELIBERATE.”
Eugene Souleiman for KEVIN.MURPHY at Erdem, on styling each model to feel like herself in favour of individuality