Straight off the runway: LFW’s new hair obsessions

London Fashion Week swept past, highlighting the fresh, the recycled and the innovative. Hair trends had become evident on the runway as always, similarities between styles emerging across otherwise unrelated collections – as if designers, without coordinating, had all sensed the same shift in the air. Following these trends needn’t mean a dramatic haircut; small styling changes can bring a LFW spin to your everyday. 

With over two decades of experience in hairstyling and haircare, Philip Downing, Hair Stylist & Bed Head Creative Director, has broken down three runway-inspired trends, making the high fashion looks adaptable at home. 

VIN+OMI’s recent show explored the 80s New Romantics, big volume, quiffs and side-flipped styles. The show explored themes of speaking out through thoughts and actions, using fashion as their platform to demonstrate their art in using waste as creative resources. To achieve this nostalgic style with soft wearable volume, Downing suggests,  “Part your hair further to one side than usual, so more hair falls on one side of your face. Blow-dry the front sections away from your face, keeping the volume soft for an effortless finish. For extra lift, gently backcomb small sections at the roots with a small brush.”

The Queen For a Day thickening spray is the grail product for this look, allowing for volume support and malleable texture, finishing off with the Hard Head Hairspray to lock it in. 

Taking inspiration from Gossip Girl, this look draws on influences seen across Simone Rocha’s Spring Collection, Oscar Ouyang’s sophomore collection, and Gui Rosa – think polished partings and preppy, soft waves and slick slicked bobs. Hair should move naturally rather than look stiff or overly styled. “For longer hair, divide damp hair into large sections and loosely twist each one. Let it dry naturally, then gently separate the twists with your fingers to create soft waves. For a bob, let your hair air dry, then use your fingers or a round brush to turn the ends slightly outwards.” Downing’s expertise draws towards frizz-taming products, keeping the hair contained in soft natural waves. After Party applied on wet or dry hair will attain the smooth and shiny look with a finish fit for the runway. The Masterpiece Hairspray for lasting hold and light reflecting shine.

H&M’s Rococo-meets-rock ’n’ roll runway hair inspired Downing to share how to bring a rebellious edge to everyday styling with tousled volume, slick finishes and “barely-there waves”. The Rock ’n’ Roll Romanticism encapsulates it all, more voluminous crowns, wet-look fringes; historical influences with contemporary treatment running through the show. “I’ve coined them the ‘Barely There Waves’. By alternating the direction you wrap hair around your heated tool, and only focusing on the mid lengths, you’ll achieve a lived-in, non-uniform feel.”

For the decidedly rock ‘n’ roll attitude  “A slick, wet-look finish, work Manipulator Texture Paste through damp hair, then use your fingers or a comb to shape it into place.”

London Fashion Week’s hair story this season was less about reinvention and more about personality – soft volume, effortless waves and lived-in texture that still feels considered. Downing’s side part, twist-dried waves or a touch of texture paste through damp lengths, have the same takeaways: most wearable runway trends are easiest to follow.