Hair is the fashion accessory we’re born with, but it’s also subject to trends as well as our own whims.
This season, there were a lot of it – in fact, copious amounts piled onto individual heads.
On the outskirts of the recent shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris, piles of cloudlike curls and piecey pixie cuts caught the eye.
What started out as a "mark this for later" observation about a few more Afros than usual around the New York shows culminated in a parade of big hair by the time Paris Fashion Week arrived.
It seemed to be the season of going natural, but as I observed these boundless styles, I began thinking about what exactly the term “natural” means now.
Even a “natural” Afro, by today’s style standards, means something different from what it did a decade or two ago.
Read more: The rise of beauty maxxing, and no, it's not about dramatic makeovers
Many of the big hair styles captured seemed immaculately manicured, perfectly permed or methodically primped to turn out the softest, most manageable chaos possible.
It’s a sight to behold when a fashion week guest steps out of a car in front of a show to have a gust of wind catch the faintest of edges.
Not everyone had a bounty of hair to play with. But that didn’t seem to stop those with shorter hair from adopting a similar logic.
Bobs and shags appeared to have stepped out of the same salon chairs as their more bombastic counterparts. On the other end, there were blunt cuts high above the shoulder and precision middle parts.
Every mood, and every outfit, seemed to demand a different style. – ©2026 The New York Times Company
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Standout hairstyles of the Spring/Summer 2027 fashion weeks
Sculptural braids during Paris Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
A voluminous afro during London Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
A centre part during Milan Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
A centre part during Paris Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
A hair style featuring streaks of colour during Paris Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
A hair style featuring streaks of colour during Milan Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
A hair style featuring streaks of colour during Paris Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
Bleach blond hair during Paris Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
A close shave in a bright colour during New York Fashion Week.Photo: The New York Times
Sculptural braids during London Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
Carefree curls during Paris Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
Sculptural braids during Milan Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
Carefree curls during Paris Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
Short hair styles during London Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
A short hair style during London Fashion Week. Photo: The New York Times
