As a beauty editor, my eyes are immediately drawn to the hair and makeup looks on the runways whilst simultaneously scouring social media to find the artists behind them. It was a joy to see the quiet luxurytrend at the spring 2023 shows, full of the kind of clothes we at Who What Wear UK now refer to as Sofia Richie-approved, paired with clean girl makeup, and, in particular, low-maintenance hair.
I recently got my hair cut from shoulder-length to chin-length and now I mostly leave it to air dry, so I’m all over the low-maintenance trend. From slept-in bobs at Khaite and bedhead curls at Bottega Veneta, to slicked back buns at Jil Sander and flicked-over partings at The Row, it’s clearly minimal effort, maximum effect this season.
It’s worth noting that although the finished look often gives off an “I woke up like this” aesthetic, some thought is still required to nail a low-maintenance haircut or style. “Three elements must be prioritised when it comes to low-maintenance hair,” explains hair trend forecaster and stylist Tom Smith. “Growth patterns—like cowlicks or double crowns—curl or wave patterns, and the condition and health of the hair. I like to cut hair with respect to its natural characteristics so that it can be washed and fall into place rather than requiring lots of styling,” he says.
“There’s nothing wrong with styles that require extra work to make them look as desired, but for low-maintenance styles, honouring your natural hair state is essential. Hair should fall into place with minimal to no blow-drying or styling. Any colour should be blended up into the natural hair at the root, so as not to cause an obvious regrowth, and should be a stable tone that isn’t subject to rapid colour fade.”
Keep reading for trending low-maintenance hairstyles and haircuts as well as top product recommendations and tips and tricks from Smith.
Flicked-over partings give an effortless, undone feel.
Tie your hair back in style by investing in a fabric hair scrunchie.
The ultimate chin-grazing bob inspo. Elsa Hosk has naturally wavy hair, which works beautifully with this cut.
A current favourite hairstyle of Hailey Bieber, the half-up-half-down look is easy to achieve and works on both shorter and longer hair.
A quiet luxury look from top to toe. Who knew tucking your hair into your jacket could be so chic?
If you’re off on holiday or heading to a festival, pick up some small elastic hair bands so you can easily create mini plaits either side of your parting.
For any easy, no-fuss up-do, twist your hair around itself and hold it in place with a large claw clip.
If you have naturally curly hair like Kristen Cabatingan, think about adding texture around the front and lengths to create volume and bounce.
For textured hair, twists styled in a top knot are a summer-approved vibe. Not only do they look amazing, but this style will keep the hair out of your face in hot weather.
Curls piled on top of the head with a few sections coming down at the front always looks effortlessly cool.
This micro-bob cut and fringe combo works perfectly with the slight wave in Alyssa Coscarelli’s hair.
If your hair really isn’t going your way, just stick a cap on.
A slicked-back bun works just as well with baggy jeans and a jumper as it does with your best evening get up.
Hair accessories are the ultimate lazy-girl way to elevate a look in seconds.
“I like to prioritise a really good quality shampoo,” says Smith. “To me, this doesn’t mean the one that is the most moisturising or high-tech, but that does a really good job of cleaning and resetting your hair and scalp. Olaplex No.4C gives a really deep clean.”
A wonderful all-round shampoo that is lightly moisturising and works for all hair types, according to Smith.
An all-in-one spray that holds, volumises and texturises hair.
Nourishing hair oils mean your low-maintenance styles don’t have to compromise on shine.
Great hair starts with a well looked-after scalp.Try using a scalp scrub a couple of times a week.
