Granted, you might not be entering upper sixth in the autumn, but that “back to school” mood always hits, no matter your age or stage. Come the first of September, we all want that fresh pencil case feeling. As adults, we can do it by revamping our wardrobe, embracing a cosy autumn-inspired nail design, or chopping off our hair to usher in the new season.
Below, eight of the best new-season cuts for a post-summer revamp.
’90s boyfriend bob
A smooth, round shape with bumped under ends, the ’90s boyfriend bob stopped just at the cheekbone and became synonymous with the era. Named for the heartthrob curtains hairstyle popularised by the likes of Nick Carter, the nostalgic style has been updated for 2026 with an androgynous twist. Characterised by a centre-parted bob and chunky rounded ends, use a smoothing spray to encourage the hair to lay uniformly, and a curling iron or straightener to create the rounded tips.
Heart-shaped layers
Described by Hadid’s hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos as “love layers” (wedding rumours are circulating around the supermodel and Bradley Cooper, after all), heart-shaped layers curl inwards towards the face. “[There’s] a bit more lift on the roots, and the first layers start hitting a little below the chin to the tips of the hair – voluminous on the top and more narrow on the bottom,” he explained. It also creates the “illusion of contour” to instantly sharpen the face. Giannetos recommends sticking to a centre part to maximise the height at the root, which can be lost on one side when flipped.
Pixie cut
The pixie cut’s appeal is perennial. This autumn, it becomes softer and more tousled, the short hairs styled into gently flicked waves and swoops. Emma Stone and Quinta Brunson are your best ports of call for inspiration, each has been seen sporting a warm, toasted brunette version of the cut.
Tumbling waves
Whether you credit Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey for the rise in soft and romantic Greek goddess-inspired hair, or see it as the inevitable riposte to all things “clean girl”, know that this autumn is about all looking undone. “We’ve had years of slicked buns and laminated hair, where every strand has to ‘behave’,” celebrity hairstylist Luke Hersheson shared with British Vogue. “This moment feels like the opposite. There’s something much more human about hair that is soft and full of movement. It’s feminine without feeling overly done, and that’s what makes it cool and modern, rather than overly historical.” Think flyaways, frizz and wispy face-framing pieces – along with as much length as you can tolerate.
Curtain crop
A cut that blends Keira Knightley in Bend It Like Beckham, Gina Gershon in Bound and Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix, the curtain crop is one of this year’s most requested hairstyles. Some people call it a shaggy bob, others a grown-out mullet. The appeal, Sam Rubinstein, founder of London-based Rooibos salon, explained to British Vogue, is its “low-maintenance, androgynous, easy-to-style” nature. A cream or gel styler will help to bring the hair together and avoid “fluffy curtains”, while a root spray or mousse gives a little volume at the top, allowing each drape to fall, much the way a curtain would, either side of your face.
French fringe
Inspired by the late style muse Jane Birkin, a French fringe is full and floppy – like quickly shut curtain bangs – and can be cut on all hair textures. Rouje founder Jeanne Damas wears hers smooth and blow-dried, while Cara Delevingne debuted a tousled, sea-salt French fringe at Cannes Film Festival back in May. For more of a statement fringe, make like Penélope Cruz and cut shorter “Baby Birkin” bangs. They bring an Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday vibe to the style, and pair perfectly with a bob.
Poker straight
Some ’70s hairstyles remain perpetually in vogue, like Farrah Fawcett’s gravity-defying layers and Cher’s poker straight lengths. Greta Lee and Naomi Campbell are two of the most notable adoptees, while Beyoncé and Demi Moore have put their spin on the style, too. With autumn likely to be warmer and wetter than usual, a humidity-defence spray will stop hair from fluffing up. We like Color Wow’s Dream Coat (which also comes in Extra Strength for curly, coily and textured hair) for an ultra-sleek finish, as well as Amika’s Frizz-Me-Not Hydrating Anti-Frizz Treatment.
Butterfly bob
A shorter iteration of the butterfly cut, a butterfly bob mimics the wings of the creature it’s named after. “It’s characterised by long layers and owes its name to its face-framing shape, where feathered layers combed inwards provide texture and movement that evoke the flutter of a butterfly’s wings,” Natalia Infantes, co-founder and co-creative director of NiM Salon, told Vogue.
When cut to bob-length, the butterfly wings fan outwards from the face, ending somewhere between the jaw and collarbone. Look to a thickening spray for fine hair to emphasise the layers or a curl-defining cream to nourish each strand.
