Fashion Month 2026 Round-Up: Expert Hairstylist Reveals Biggest Hair Trends

As fashion month wraps across the major fashion cities, the runway shows once again give an early look at the hairstyles we’ll likely be seeing everywhere over the coming months. From New York, London, Paris and Milan, fashion week has long been where beauty trends begin to emerge.

We spoke to hairstylist, Joshua William, who styled hair at the Oh Polly show and shared his thoughts on the trends emerging across the runways, to get a clearer picture of what hairstyles really stood out this year.

From natural texture and subtle volume to longer lengths and relaxed glamour, many of the looks seen this season offer plenty of inspiration for everyday hair.

Natural Texture Is Taking Centre Stage

One of the biggest takeaways from this season's fashion weeks was how natural the hair looked. Rather than perfectly sculpted waves or overly polished finishes, stylists leaned into individual textures and softer styling for both models and celebrities.

Joshua explained: “There’s a clear shift towards natural texture and softness in hair. Rather than heavily constructed styles, we’re seeing looks that feel authentic to the individual, whether that’s natural waves, curls, coils, or softly air-dried finishes. Fashion as a whole is leaning into personal identity, and hair is following that same direction.”

Each fashion capital interpreted the trend slightly differently. Joshua added, “London embraced effortless, lived-in texture. The hair felt touchable and expressive, with diffused movement and barely-there styling that enhances the model’s own pattern rather than masking it.

“Paris’s sleeker looks weren’t as rigid either; they maintained a natural flow and healthy shine. The emphasis across all cities was on beautifully prepared hair and softness that photographs well without looking overworked.”

One of the standout moments during London Fashion Week was the Oh Polly show, where natural texture really did take centre stage!

Joshua, who styled model Romee Strijd’s hair for the show, said: “Texture is important, but it should feel soft and fluid rather than overly defined. In Romee’s look, for example, the waves weren’t tight or uniform; they were brushed through to create that seamless, bombshell movement.”

Joshua also described how the look was designed to feel glamorous while still maintaining a light, natural finish.

“We wanted to create a bombshell blow-dry that still felt soft and ethereal. The focus was on movement and volume, but with a lightness that kept it romantic rather than overly structured.”

Across the different cities, the common thread was hair that looked healthy, soft and effortless, styled to embrace natural texture rather than hide it.

The Return of the Side Part

A subtle but impactful trend making a noticeable comeback this season is the side part. After years of centre parts dominating runways and red carpets, the side part is starting to reappear, bringing volume and softness with it.

Joshua said: “Partings are playing a huge role. The return of the side part instantly changes the energy, adds natural volume, a hint of romance and a slightly nostalgic feel that works beautifully with longer, looser lengths.”

The look was particularly noticeable in New York, including on the runway at Zankov, where many models wore deep side parts paired with natural texture. Joshua explained: “New York definitely leaned into long, loose and softly styled hair this season with the addition of a strong side parting.”

The best part about this trend is how easy it is to recreate, along with instantly refreshing the everyday hair-down style. Simply moving your parting can instantly alter the shape and movement of longer hair, making it one of the easiest ways to update your look without a full restyle.

Relaxed Glamour: Long Lengths and Soft Volume

Long, flowing hair also appeared repeatedly throughout fashion month, both on the runway and the red carpet. However, the volume we’re seeing feels softer and more natural than the dramatic styles of the past.

Joshua added: “There’s something incredibly powerful about long, fluid hair as it creates instant impact on both the runway and the red carpet, but still feels timeless.”

He also noted that modern volume is less about exaggeration and more about healthy fullness: “The volume we’re seeing isn’t rigid or overdone. It’s about healthy fullness and density, with hair that looks strong, conditioned and expensive.

“Volume is definitely a hero. The lift through the crown and fullness through the mid-lengths create a glamorous silhouette, but it still needs to feel touchable. Strategic blow-drying, the right brush work and, if needed, subtle extensions can help build that soft density without it looking heavy.”

Recently, hair extensions have also been used in a more subtle way than before. Rather than dramatic transformations, stylists are using them to add gentle length and movement, helping to create the romantic, flowing effect seen on runways.

Joshua said: “When blended properly, extensions enhance natural texture rather than overpowering it, creating an almost ethereal quality that still feels believable and modern.”

The result is hair that appears glamorous but still effortless, with long lengths that move naturally instead of looking too structured.

The Oh Polly show was a great example of this relaxed glamour. Long, loose curls and brushed-through waves appeared across both models and attendees, creating a romantic look that felt polished but still natural.

Joshua explained the thinking behind Romee Strijd’s hair for the show: “Relaxed glamour strikes the perfect balance between polish and effortlessness. Soft waves and flowing lengths create a romantic, feminine silhouette that feels modern and aspirational without being rigid.”

He added: “These styles work so well for a commercial, influencer-led show because they strike that balance between aspirational and achievable. Long, soft waves and flowing lengths feel glamorous on camera, but they’re also instantly recognisable and wearable for the audience watching.”

The result was hair that looked polished on camera while still maintaining the soft movement seen across many of this season’s runways.

Wearable, Everyday Trends

Unlike runway hairstyles in the past, the hairstyles emerging this season translate easily into everyday styling. Joshua believes this is one of the biggest reasons these trends are resonating.

“The beauty of this season’s fashion week hair is that it’s incredibly wearable. Because the focus is on natural texture, softness and healthy movement, it already feels closer to real life.”

Rather than copying runway styles exactly, he suggests simplifying the vision by enhancing natural texture, adding a deeper parting or introducing subtle fullness through the lengths with extensions. These can all help recreate the same soft, romantic feel seen on the runway.

Joshua also emphasises working with your natural hair rather than against it.

“The key to making it accessible is simplifying the execution, not the idea. Instead of a perfectly polished wave, you can enhance your own natural texture with a diffuser or a loose bend through the mid-lengths.”

For those wanting to experiment with longer styles, subtle additions of length or volume can also make a difference.

“Even the use of extensions can be adapted, as it’s less about dramatic transformation and more about adding soft length or fullness to create that romantic shape. When blended well, it should feel effortless rather than obvious. Ultimately, it’s about embracing what your hair naturally wants to do and refining it.”

Lightweight extensions, such as clip-in extensions or fill-in extensions, can help add movement and volume while keeping the overall look soft and natural.

Ultimately, Joshua says the focus should always come back to healthy-looking hair with lots of shine and movement.

The Hair Trend Takeaway for 2026

Looking across the shows, a clear theme emerges: healthy, natural-looking hair is leading the way. Soft texture, longer lengths and movement all play a role in the styles dominating the runway this year.

Whether it’s brushed-out waves, diffused curls or subtle volume, the focus is on hair that feels effortless and expressive.

Most importantly, these are trends that can easily be adapted for everyday styling, both on and off the runway!