Spring 2019 Hair Trends Straight From the Runway

Images: Imaxtree

Sometimes hair can play second fiddle to makeup as we become preoccupied with all of the glitter, electric shades and inventive ways to apply products. That definitely was not the case at the Spring 2019 shows. Hairstylists and colorists ensured that the hair looks had equal billing on the runways in New York, London, Milan and Paris.

If you’re not looking for a new haircut, there was plenty of styling inspiration to be found. The biggest hair trend involved statement hair accessories and led to many strong microtrends, including unboring headbands and hair flowers. Proving that embellishment isn’t always necessary to make a statement, big, bold, beautiful hair was celebrated along with romantic retro styles. And there was a movement to cast aside smoothing hair products and embrace wispy tendrils.

If you’re looking for a more drastic hair makeover, there’s always the rainbow hair color, which has been trending in one form or another for a few years. On top of models sporting their own candy-colored locks, select shows worked with hair colorists to create totally cohesive looks for the collections, like the whimsical faded pastels at Marc Jacobs and the charged overdyed locks at Matty Bovan. There were also more low-maintenance ideas featuring wigs, streaks and extensions that still had plenty of unicorn appeal.

Read on for the eight biggest Spring 2019 hair trends to start experimenting with now.

The 8 Best Spring 2019 Runway Hair Trends to Try

Big and Beautiful

The brushed-out curls at Nicole Miller didn't need a wind machine because they had plenty of movement. Let this inspire you to put down the anti-frizz products and embrace a woke-up-like-this look.
Big and Beautiful

Natural curls at Escada were worn full and proud. Swept-over parts enabled every twist to be showed off for a #hairgoals effect.
Big and Beautiful

Many runway shows celebrated models' natural hair. The Pyer Moss presentation was a glorious event with model after model showcasing the beauty of Afro-textured hair in all lengths and styles with nary a clip to hold it back.
Big and Beautiful

Hair was pinned back at Paul Costelloe, but it wasn't pinned down. Curls and shorter strands were given free rein to go where they pleased. And it worked in everyone's favor because it made locks look beautifully thick.
In Full Bloom

First, Mansur Gavriel gave us floral studs for Spring 2018. Now, we're getting tiny scattered daisies for a flower child effect.
In Full Bloom

Rodarte didn't just have floral crowns, the show had floral hair sculptures. Floral designer Joseph Free and hairstylist Odile Gilbert constructed the mesmerizing creations using fresh roses, tulle veils and the occasional shot of metallic paint.
In Full Bloom

Flower hair accessories are something of a signature for Dolce & Gabbana. This season, flowers came in crowns, sprigs, ear embellishments, full headpieces and all-over designs as seen in this blooming natural updo. You can practically smell the roses.
Unicorn Hair

The gravity-defying ponytails adorned with Ashley Williams' signature barrettes were bold, but the yellow, dusty lavender and salmon pink hair colors took things up a notch — or make that several. Colorist Alex Brownsell used Bleach London hair colors for the troll-inspired look.
Unicorn Hair

#WokeUpLikeThis hair was enhanced with multicolored streaks at Collina Strada. The playful look will make you want to bust out hair chalk and color random sections of your hair.
Unicorn Hair

The Marc Jacobs show made all pastel hair fans' hearts flutter thanks to the faded dye jobs. Redken Global Color Creative Director Josh Wood dyed all 37 models' hair different wishy-washy shades to coordinate with the collection.
Unicorn Hair

While some went soft, Matty Bovan went electric with overdyed strands. Josh Wood collaborated with hairstylist Syd Hayes to come up with a look that would match the collection. The result was electric fuchsia, teal and blue bouffants and buzzed styles.
Head-Turning Headbands

Headbands were supersized to the point where they could almost be considered hats at Prada. Then they were topped with studs and bows. The statement headwear tied into the 60s gamine look, which featured wispy, uneven bangs and exaggerated Twiggy eyeliner. A handful of models received proper crops from hairstylist Guido Palau.
Head-Turning Headbands

Ryan Lo brought plenty of Disney magic with models looking like modern-day Snow Whites with glitter-trimmed bow headbands, glossy hair and lacquered red lips.
Head-Turning Headbands

Saint Laurent delivered plenty of cool girl styling tricks and ideas to the traditional preppy headband. Embellished bands were worn low on the forehead with hats. What would Blair Waldorf say?
Head-Turning Headbands

Simone Rocha made it clear that the headband is the real party hat with elaborate bands embellished with feathers, sequins and beads.
Beachy Hair

Not quite wet-look or bedhead, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini helped everyone understand what the new breed of effortless hair was on the Spring 2019 runways with this style created by hairstylist Sam McKnight.
Beachy Hair

The entire beauty look at Hellessy made it seem like models jumped from the sand to the runway. Hairstylist Justine Marjan created the effortless hair with a "half-wet" wave effect that didn't leave locks dripping.
Beachy Hair

The Jonathan Simkhai show had proper surfer girl hair. Hairstylist Odile Gilbert created the beachy waves by gently braiding strands, then taking the plaits out. A few mini braids with beads(!) were added to complete the "in vacation mode" vibe.
Out-of-the-Ordinary Hair Accessories

The claw clip came back in Spring 2018 and Marco de Vincenzo wants to make sure it isn't forgotten again. Models' French twists were decorated with multiple clips and hair combs for a triple blast-from-the-past look.
Out-of-the-Ordinary Hair Accessories

The Spring 2019 shows had plenty of flowers so it only made sense to see some insects. They came in the form of the golden butterfly clips at Antonio Marras. There's no question about it. These bold beauties are nothing like the glitter-dusted clips we fell for the first time around.
Out-of-the-Ordinary Hair Accessories

Feather hair accessories are available, but they're nothing like the black and blue creations hairstylist Sam McKnight dreamed up for Dries Van Noten. Models wore pieces of all shapes and sizes, from feather fringes to caps to winged looks.
Out-of-the-Ordinary Hair Accessories

The ruffled organza headpieces at Delpozo could almost be classified in the flower category. Models may have lost some of their peripheral vision, but we all know fashion has its sacrifices.
Retro Romance

Get the teasing comb out to start recreating the gravity-defying crowns at Richard Quinn. What made the look modern was that hair wasn't shellacked to within an inch of its life.
Retro Romance

Kudos to Brock Collection for injecting a half-up bun with plenty of retro charm via a relaxed, parted look.
Retro Romance

Bows topped hats, clothes and hair at Emilia Wickstead. In fact, models with longer locks got a double dose with bows adorning the tops and tails.
Retro Romance

Pigtails were looped back around and tied with an elastic for a sweet effect at Bora Aksu. Select models' locks were topped with crochet-headbands-cum-hats that threw the look back a few more decades.
Wispy Tendrils

When hair wasn't masked with the aforementioned organza headpieces at Delpozo, shorter pieces were given free movement around the head. Tempting as it may be, resist the urge to slick flyaways down.
Wispy Tendrils

Preen upgraded from wispy to windy with a "hair in my face and don't care" finish. It's an edgier look, but a moderate version could be worked into a bedhead style. Just make sure you can still see.
Wispy Tendrils

The parting on the tops of models' heads may have been very sleek at Mary Katrantzou, but there was plenty of piecey texture going on with the ends. Front sections of hair were left out of the updo to add some softness.