At the beginning of the year—and for some time before that—the only hairstyle making beauty headlines was the bob. Not anymore. The biggest winter hair trend right now is made for those with long hair—the “French new wave” is everywhere. Everyone from Priyanka Chopra to Irina Shayk and Dua Lipa has tried the trend, which is a “subtler take on cool-girl hair with gentle waves and less pronounced texture,” according to hairstylist Syd Hayes.
While Pre-Raphaelite curls—seen all over the red carpet at the Met Gala back in May—have been another popular hair trend this year, the French new wave look is more undone and effortless, with lots of texture, but with a brushed-out feel. “It feels sophisticated and more elevated than a classic, flat, beachy wave,” says Hayes. “Think looser, wispier, and grown out, but with a glossy finish.”
The kind of hair our Parisian counterparts are especially good at, the French new wave is perfectly imperfect with a polished edge. “It feels like second-day hair, but with shine and minimal effort— the perfect winter-ready haircut,” adds Hayes.