Clean girl makeup is on its way out, and unsurprisingly, clean girl hair is nowhere to be found at fashion month Fall/Winter 2026. While polished slicked-back updos and flyaway-free hair looks are slowly disappearing, brands like Simone Rocha and Collina Strada are leaning into hair looks that are just as bold as they are messy.
This season, hair dominated all of the runway’s best beauty moments. While garments are undoubtedly the star of the collections, beauty details like hair play a pivotal role in shaping the designer’s vision. Whether it’s Medusa-inspired leather looks at Di Petsa or back-to-school plaid vibes at Coach, bed head seemed to capture the essence of multiple shows.
Similarly to the toned-down, minimalistic makeup looks designers have come to rely on at fashion month, undone hair has become a key component of character dressing — where matted strands and brushed out curls turn into an outward symbol of the effortless yet rebellious cool girl. At Sinead Gorey, haphazard updos gave us a taste of the British pub girl, while fluffy curls at Pipenco paid homage to its Romanian roots.
On the other hand, messy hair looks can also speak to the signature aesthetics of fashion month designers by reimagining their classic beauty code for a new era. Although Simone Rocha has become known for its intricate updos and ribbon-weaved braids, its FW26 show dabbled with frizzy long hair to complement the dreamy and feminine motifs. Similarly, Collina Strada’s NYFW show emphasized the brand’s affinity for playful beauty with tousled looks for every hair type.
Although we may spend hours perfecting our hair looks by gluing down loose strands and coating it all in a thick layer of hairspray, the runways are here to remind us that sometimes messy hair is just as chic. Ultimately, undone hairstyles prove that a little disorder is just as deliberate as the most complex look — all while requiring way less time and effort.
While you’re here, read about K-pop’s newest beauty ambassador.