The curtain fringe has been the belle of the ball this year when it comes to hairstyles.
The flattering hair trend which chicly frames the face has been adopted by Hollywood stars such as Dakota Johnson and Sabrina Carpenter.
And it seems the curtain fringe is “here to stay”, according to hairstylist Alex Fuchs.
Fuchs recently worked Australian Fashion Week as the KEVIN.MURPHY Hair Director for the MASTANI show – so it’s safe to say he knows the inside scoop on hair trends.
“It is a flattering trend and what I love about curtain fringes is that you can adjust the shape on the fringe based on the person or model’s face shape…” Fuchs tells 9honey Style.
“I think what we are seeing at the moment is rather than the fringes being slicked back, we are seeing a bit more of a cowgirl feel to it, meaning lots of body through your curtain fringes, lots of root lift that makes it look a bit country really – I blame Beyoncé for that!”
On top of the classic ponytail, Fuchs tells 9honey the biggest trend he noticed at 2024 fashion week was tailored hair looks and celebrating individuality.
“We have been seeing lots of texture, loose waves, and ponytails,” he adds.
Fuchs worked with Melbourne-founded fashion brand MASTANI to create an array of striking, slicked-back looks for their debut solo runway show at AFW.
The MASTANI show featured a collection of vibrant embellished garments with inspiration from the brand founder and creator director Kudrat Makkar’s Indian culture.
As the hair director, Fuchs created a glamorous mix of braids and ponytails on the models to compliment the fusion of contemporary and Indian runway looks.
Stylish looks at 2024 Australian Fashion Week
View Gallery
While the three-strand braid is the “easiest and most timeless” braid, Fuchs and his team executed a “more challenging” four-strand box braid on the Sydney catwalk this year.
But it’s the ponytail that seems to remain the go-to look each year – and for a reason.
When it comes to what runway look lets the garment have its moment Fuchs says a ponytail will “really elevate the overall look” and let the makeup “shine as well”.
“Ponytails or slick, tucked looks are the perfect style for the clothes to do the talking, with the hair out of the face,” he adds.
As for anyone looking to recreate the runway-ready ponytail in their everyday style, Fuchs suggests styling it low and slicked behind the ears or even trying a middle part.
The stylist’s biggest secret to perfecting the ponytail is a mix of technique and product.
Fuchs tells 9honey he completed the MASTANI looks using KEVIN.MURPHY products like the YOUNG.AGAIN Oil to give “shine, hydration, repair and also heat protection.”
And of course the godsend to keep any hairstyle in place – hairspray
As someone who knows all about the power of hairspray, Fuchs has some key tips for how to apply it correctly for optimal results.
“The amount really depends on your hair, but what is important is distance,” he shares.
“Keep the hairspray 20-30 cm away when you spray your hairspray, add a soft film all over your hairstyle and you can always layer on top,” he adds.
“So if it’s not quite enough, do a second layer. So start little, add that distance to it and then keep going.”
