Every season brings a shift – in mood, in wardrobe, in the way we want to wear our hair. And Autumn/Winter 2026 is one of the most exciting yet. From ultra-polished glass finishes to soft, romantic textures, and the return of the most elegant updo in the French canon, there is something here for everyone. Here’s what Clare is most excited for this season. And here is how to achieve it,
Glass Hair – The Ultimate Shine Moment
If you want one word to sum up the most talked about hair aesthetic of the season, it’s glass. Ultra-polished, ultra-sleek and intensely light-reflective – Glass Hair is the look that turns heads in every room you’ll walk into.
What I love about this trend is how wearable it is in so many different forms. It could be a slick-back ponytail with not a single strand out of place. Alternatively, it could be an almost wet-look short cut that feels sharp and modern. It could also be an immaculate, luminous bun. Or the crown jewel of them all – the expensive topcoat-shine bob. This style is smooth from root to end with a finish so glossy it barely looks real.
The secret to getting Glass Hair right is entirely in the products – and it starts before you even pick up a brush.
For maximum shine and frizz protection, I always recommend beginning with a Kérastase Fusio + Gloss treatment in the salon. It penetrates deep into the hair fibre for a lightweight, long-lasting glass glaze that genuinely transforms the surface of the hair. Book your Fusio + Gloss here.
At home, I’m a huge fan of Color Wow for this look. Start by prepping damp hair with the iconic Color Wow Dream Coat before blow-drying. It creates an invisible waterproofing layer that locks out humidity and creates that mirror-like smoothness. Then finish with Color Wow Mistical Shine Spray on dry hair for the most reflective, almost unnatural gloss you’ve ever seen. It’s the finishing touch that takes a good blow-dry to a genuinely exceptional one.
For slicking back any strays, a natural bristle flat brush – I love the GHD Dresser – is the best tool for the job. It distributes the hair’s natural oils as it smooths. This adds to that healthy, luminous finish rather than fighting it.
Glass Hair also works beautifully as a way to showcase the richer, deeper autumn colour palette we’re seeing this season. The high-shine finish brings out every nuance of tone. These range from warm ambers and cognacs to deep champagne brunettes, giving colour incredible dimension and life.
Modern Romance – Soft, Undone and Completely Effortless
In perfect contrast to Glass Hair, the other defining look of the season couldn’t be more different in feel. And yet, it’s equally as beautiful. Modern Romance is about soft, airy, touchable hair that looks like it just happened. It is feminine, light, playful and completely unstructured.
Think tumbling waves, fluffy curls that bounce with every step, or a loose updo with face-framing pieces falling softly around the edges. This is hair that moves, that catches the light gently rather than reflecting it dramatically. It looks just as gorgeous at the end of the evening as it did at the start.
My key styling tip for this look is to resist the urge to over-smooth. Don’t drag the brush from root to tip – let the hair keep some of its natural texture and movement rather than ironing it all out. When using a tong or wand, keep the hair moving around the barrel rather than holding it in place. This stops the curl from looking too set or structured and gives you that gorgeous undone softness instead.
For a finishing product, I always reach for Techni Art Volume Panache – a texturising spray that enhances movement and volume while keeping hair looking light and airy rather than stiff or product-heavy. Add a few spritzes through the lengths, scrunch gently and you’re done.
Modern Romance is wonderfully versatile too – it works on any length, with or without layers, and is genuinely ageless. It sits right in the middle of relaxed and romantic. There is something so lovely about hair that look touchable these coming seasons.
The New Chignon – The French Pleat Returns
The classic French pleat is back – and it has never looked more relevant. This season’s chignon isn’t the rigid, formal up-do of decades past. It’s been reimagined in multiple iterations, each with its own personality, and there is a version here for every style, every occasion and every mood.
For a groomed, architectural finish – think structured and polished, with a smooth waved panel added at the front for elegance and refinement. This is the version for black-tie events and moments when you really want to make an impression.
For a statement look – go big. Added volume, real drama, a silhouette that fills a room. The bold version of the chignon is a genuine showstopper.
For a carefree, understated finish – leave out pieces around the face and though the crown for a soft, romantic silhouette that feels effortless rather than effortful. This is the everyday chignon, the one you can wear to work and then straight out to dinner without anyone questioning it.
Whichever version you go for, always finish with a strong professional hold spray to keep everything in place throughout the day and evening. My two favourites are Techni Art Infinium and Color Wow Texas Hold’em – both give excellent hold without any stiffness or visible product residue.
And the final touch? Jewellery. A statement earring or a layered necklace does something magical to a chignon – it draws the eye to the face and neck and makes the whole look feel complete and considered. Don’t skip it!
Autumn/Winter Colour – Rich, Warm and Beautifully Unified
The colour story for Autumn/Winter is one of the things I find most exciting about this season – because it feels like a real departure from what we’ve seen over the last couple of years.
Summer was all about sun-bleached highlights, streaks and ribbons of light. This season, we’re moving towards something more unified, more fluid and infinitely more luxurious. Think seamless, glossy global colours – colour that flows from root to tip with depth and richness rather than contrast and definition.
The tone are warmer, deeper and richer. Earthy, grounded, autumnal. Amber and cognac are having a real moment – burnished, warm and incredibly flattering on almost every skin tone. Babylights are still present, but they’re being used to add subtle dimension rather than brightness, integrated seamlessly into the base rather than standing apart from it.
And the biggest colour shift of the season? The move from milky tea blonde to chai blonde. This is a deeper, warmer, more complex tone that flirts the line between blonde and brunette. It’s sophisticated, incredibly wearable and looks stunning in the glass-hair finish we talked about above.
Champagne brunettes are another look I’m really excited about – a rich brunette base with just enough warmth and golden reflection to stop it feeling flat or heavy. The light catches it beautifully and the result is one of the most naturally stunning colour effects I’ve seen in years.
If you’re thinking about an autumn colour refresh, , book a consultation with your Headmasters stylist and talk through which direction feels right for you. And for more on how to look after your colour through the season, our autumn hair reset guide has everything you need.
Ready to Try One of These Looks?
Whether you’re drawn to the high-shine drama of Glass Hair, the soft romance of undone waves or the timeless elegance of a new-season chignon – our stylists are ready to make it happen.
Find your nearest Headmasters salon and book today. And for daily autumn inspiration from Clare and the rest of our team, follow us at @headmastersuk on Instagram.
