We sometimes look to the streets and Instagram for hair inspiration, but we can always count on the runways to be overflowing with fresh hair ideas. Per usual, the Fall 2019 shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris were brimming with enough new looks to keep us going until the next batch of shows.
After four weeks of shows and countless blowouts, some key trends emerged. Statement hair accessories were a major player this Fashion Week, like they were in previous seasons. This time, more traditional styles (headbands and barrettes) were mixed with unexpected materials, supersized proportions and surprising things being repurposed as hair accessories. See: Chromat.
Those who have suffered headaches from tight, gravity-defying styles will be pleased to hear that low hairstyles were one of the most dominating hair trends of the Fall 2019 season. Buns, ponies, braids and twists were often fastened at the nape of the neck or just above it.
It wouldn’t be fashion month without beauty teams paying homage to the past. We saw tributes ranging from subtle to unashamed recreations. (Looking at you, crimped hair and disco looks.) No matter the vibe, volume was present.
A surprising trend of super-sleek, heavily gelled partings emerged — often alongside multiple other hair trends within the same show, a common occurrence this season. Sometimes, a number of trends were showcased in one model’s look.
Ahead, see the seven key hair trends Fall 2019 has to offer.
Images: Imaxtree
The 7 Fall 2019 Hair Trends From the Runways That Caught Our Attention
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Showy Hair Accessories
Forget bling being relegated to necks and ears. Area had models' heads shimmering to the max thanks to rhinestone hair pieces.
Hairstylist Jawara kept the rest of the look simple by fixing the ornate headwear to low ponytails.
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Showy Hair Accessories
Shrimps is a master of kitschy-cool accessories. Unsurprisingly, the Fall 2019 presentation had some of the most standout accessories, including outsize beaded headbands and this furry creation.
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Showy Hair Accessories
At Bora Aksu, models wore crochet head pieces by Maison Pristine. The ornate head gear blurred the lines between hats, headbands and crowns.
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Showy Hair Accessories
Hair wizard Guido Palau tamed models' windswept, stringy locks with randomly placed barrettes. Because this was Versace, the hair clips were embellished and oversized.
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Super Sleek
Richard Quinn presented an option for what to do when bangs just cannot be tamed: Part front layers down the center and shellac them to the forehead. The effect can still be achieved with longer lengths.
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Super Sleek
The Fendi Fall 2019 show was a tribute to Karl Lagerfeld in all aspects. Hairstylist Sam McKnight paid homage to the late designer with low, stiff ponytails. The super sleek, curvilinear front pieces referenced the hairstyles of the 1930s, which was when King Karl was born.
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Super Sleek
The Prada show had many off-kilter references from Wednesday Addams (extra long braids) to Snow White, as shown here. All of the hairstyles featured heavily gelled roots with stick-straight parts.
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Super Sleek
The frizz-free side bangs were as pristine as the clothes at Emilia Wickstead. Some gelled styles were topped with hats, including this white cap.
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Volume for Days
Beehives were taken sky-high at Erdem. Hairstylist Anthony Turner sculpted models' strands into the classic 1950s/1960s hairdo with a slight alien-esque shape, courtesy of the extended curve at the back of the head.
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Volume for Days
Big hair is back. Bouncy strands at the Naeem Khan Fall 2019 show demonstrated the beauty of pageant hair. Celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan kept the finish soft instead of helmet-hard.
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Volume for Days
And the biggest hair award goes to ... Ashish. In real life, an eighth of this voluminous look would be plenty, but we love how Sam McKnight really went for the cartoon-ish doll effect. He created the gravity-defying finish using hair products from his own line on wigs.
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Volume for Days
Hair was so gloriously full and thick at Michael Kors that a wide-angle lens was likely needed to capture a full lewk. Those who didn't have naturally textured hair were given a bit, OK a lot, of help courtesy of Orlando Pita and his curling tongs and crimping irons.
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Low Hangers
Hair was refreshingly fuss-free at Preen. Manes were tied into a low pony and seemingly left alone. If pieces came undone, or there were a few bumps, it was all alright in the relaxed style.
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Low Hangers
The triple golden barrettes stacked at the hairline were lovely at Lela Rose. The back was just as pretty thanks to the twisted straight ponytail.
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Low Hangers
At Brandon Maxwell, hair was all twisted up. Hairstylist Bob Recine morphed a low ponytail into the spiral style by coiling pieces and pinning them in place.
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Low Hangers
Wavy low ponytails were fastened with embellished barrettes or velvet ribbons at Oscar de la Renta for a low-key glamorous finish. The look, courtesy of Odile Gilbert, ticked multiple fashion month hair trends.
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A Little Bit Retro
Sam McKnight dreamed up a variety of looks for Ryan Lo that were inspired by 1950s Hollywood glamour magazines. This not-too-stiff quiff had a modern edge to it.
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A Little Bit Retro
There's more than one way to do wavy hair. The soft texture at Zimmermann was focused around the face. It brings to mind extremely relaxed pin curls.
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A Little Bit Retro
Rejina Pyo served up plenty of vintage inspiration. Whether hair was parted down the middle or on the side, it was all about touchable, bouncy curls.
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A Little Bit Retro
The updo at Badgley Mischka checked a couple of trends thanks to its low finish and non-basic vibe. The bit of volume in the front gave a nod to retro elegance and made it so much more than a gym pony.
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Show Ponies
Perched on the top of the head with a statement hair clip, the updos at GCDS were the definition of ponytail envy with their thick, bouncy tails.
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Show Ponies
The beauty look was blinging from all sides at Christian Siriano. Ponytails were as dazzling as the face embellishment thanks to the chain fastenings courtesy of hairstylist Justine Marjan.
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Show Ponies
The predominant look at Emilia Wickstead was sleek and chic front layers, often topped with a statement hat. But the MVP award went to this bow-adorned high ponytail.
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Show Ponies
Why tie up a ponytail with an elastic when it can be twisted and fastened with a patterned scarf, like at Roberta Einer?
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Show Ponies
The ponytail game and ice queen vibes were strong at Byblos, with “crystallized” updos that nodded to the theme of the show. Note the way the shimmering hair coordinates with the frosted mascara.
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Upgraded Braid Game
The Chromat show highlighted the gorgeous versatility of braids. The ends were secured with plastic "clips" by hairstylist Kien Hoang. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed they were the tops of water bottles. The unique "accessory" played into the plastic over-consumption theme of the show and presented a unique beauty look that recalled the Lucite jewelry trend.
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Upgraded Braid Game
At Max Mara, the final braided look varied, but the wispy gelled texture was seen throughout. Hair guru Sam McKnight finished braids into chignons (as shown here) or secured waist-skimming side braids with leather cord.
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Upgraded Braid Game
Tousled texture was the focus at Nicole Miller, but JZL the Empress stole the show with her rainbow braids. The ombré color was enough to evoke My Little Pony Vibes, but the coordinating beads and flowing pigtails took it to the next level.
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Upgraded Braid Game
The wispy tendrils and sleek center parts gave way to trailing low braids at Tory Burch. The hip-skimming styles were only revealed when a model turned.
