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In my dreams, I’m a girl who changes their hair every season. There’s something so deeply chic about a person who’s clued in on the hottest trends that they change their hair with the seasons. Not shockingly, this has never been my vibe. But after I previewed all the coolest fall hair trends (including the sickest red hair colors, bob haircuts galore, and my new fave hair clips), I had a change of heart. Maybe I can and should be the girl who changes her hair, especially with looks this good.
Truth be told, I’ve been sitting on some of the coolest looks I’ve ever seen after reporting on the trends at New York Fashion Week last spring and interviewing the top hairstylists in the business. And to make it easier to scroll through ’em all, I’ve collected them into this neat list, including the biggest hair color trends, hairstyle trends, and haircut trends of fall 2024. Ready to dive in? Keep scrolling.
1
The “clean bob”
Hairstylist Justine Marjan loves this sleek, “clean” blunt bob that hits right at your chin, as shown here on Gigi Hadid. “It looks timeless and chic and is great for all the fashion girlies,” she says. It’s pretty versatile, whether you wear it natural like Gigi, straight and shiny, or with a slight bend (Kristin Wiig, for example, has mastered this look). “Ultimately, it looks so healthy, shiny, and luxe,” Marjan says.
2
Fluffy bangs and curls
What’s a list of hair trends without Sabrina Carpenter? It’s not just her bangs though. For fall, we’re all about pairing those fluffy, voluminous bangs with big, bouncy curls, says Marjan. To get a similar look, ask for lots of layers throughout your hair to give major movement. As for the bangs, celebrity hairstylist Lacy Redway is all about a layered bang that sits near your eyebrows as it allows you to really play up the shape and style them.
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3
Long, curly weave
Take it from Redway: Weaves are soooo back. “I’m talking about a center part bust down, flip-over method with curly hair,” she says, like Tems’ look above. This protective style is great to leave in for one to two weeks to give you some play time with this long hair. But quick tip: Grab a bottle with an applicator nozzle for any scalp oils and dry scalp treatments you’re planning to direct on your roots to help soothe and hydrate your scalp.
4
Shaggy wolf cut
If your vibe is a lil more edgy and ~imperfect~, then you’ll love a shaggy wolf cut, because it’s v easy to style. Just peep Madeline Brewer’s hair above. Marjan says she loves “the edginess of the bangs.” And all the face-framing layers make it fun to play around with. Just make sure you keep hella texture spray on deck for roughing up the texture.
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5
Goddess braids
Ahem, braids aren’t reserved for summertime. According to Marjan, goddess braids really jive with the boho fashion and makeup trends we’re seeing for fall 2024. Halle Bailey went the more ~glam~ route by laying and swooping her edges (copy the look with some edge gel), but feel free to play into the free-spiritedness with lots of curly braiding hair and absolutely no frizz-taming efforts.
6
Face-framing fringe
Daisy Edgar-Jones is officially the star of all of my hair mood boards for fall, and it’s all because of these bangs. “They are so versatile and can really bring a new look to your cut while framing your face and accentuating your best features,” says Marjan. Her look is less ’70s than Sabrina Carpenter’s fringe; instead, it veers into Jane Birkin bang territory with a wispy, parted look. Marjan recommends prepping your hair with a strong-hold mousse before blow-drying with a small round brush towards the face for a lil volume.
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7
Sleek and shiny
“Yes, we will absolutely see lots of sleek, shiny looks this fall,” says Marjan. But it’s less of the usual slicked-back, wet look we saw the last few seasons. Instead, glass-like hair that looks like it’s been pressed and buffed is going to be all the rage. See Chloe Bailey’s hair in the above photo? Exactly that. In fact, Redway styled the hair at the fall/winter 2024 Christian Cowan runway show to embody this too. “I designed a look that was sleek in its overall appearance by having a fairy-dusted wave that lays close to the head by gelling a section of hair down with shimmer accents , then completely sleek flatiron hairs in the back of the head,” she explains.
But if you wanna get a glass hair look at home, Marjan says, “The key to translating runway to real life is making sure the hair is shiny and healthy to really give that sleek reflective quality that looks expensive.” Coat your hair in a shine spray (she loves TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protect Spray and Shine Spray, FYI, and editors love Color Wow Dream Coat) before blow-drying for a silky, shiny blowout.
8
Tousled updos
Your scalp will be elated to hear that imperfect, loose updos and buns are about to replace your third-day slicked-back situation. “The key is making sure your hair is prepped to have the texture you want to see prior to pulling it up, then bringing it up in sections,” explains Marjan.
Basically, if you want a lots of curly volume, create that look first (Redway recommends a 1- to 1.5-inch curling iron depending on your hair length to create bouncy waves), then make a small bun at the back of your head, leaving a few sections out that you can strategically twist into place while leaving some pieces loose.
But don’t let the vibe fool you: A liberal spritz of hairspray all over your head is a necessity for a look like this. Redway also suggests dousing your hair in texture spray before pinning your sections to give them more hold.
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9
Mixed-metal hair accessories
The scrunchie is so 2023, but in its place, we’re glamming our hair TF up with pony cuffs, says Redway. “These are a great little ponytail updater that can easily help transform your outfit and update your braids and updos,” she adds. We’re big fans of Doing the Most and going for a whole stack of metal hair ties (bonus points if you adopt the mixed metal approach above), but there’s a whole lotta options. As for the hairstyle, Redway appreciates a pared down look to give the accessories time to shine (think: a simple low pony or a messy bun).
10
Voluminous blowouts
In a shocking departure from all the slicked-back buns of yesteryear, big hair is the moment. Whether you try a ’90s-esque Rachel Green blowout or incorporate bouncy curls like Olivia Culpo, this style is all about hair that’s been zhuzhed and fluffed.
First order of business? Make sure your roots are v clean by sudsing up with a clarifying shampoo to remove buildup, which can weigh down your hair and make it look flat, says Marjan. Then it’s all about your tools. A hair-dryer brush is fab for this style if you’re not a wiz with a typical round brush and blow dryer. Just scrunch some mousse or volumizing spray in your roots before running a round brush through your roots in sections, then pinning them up with a velcro roller to cool, suggests Marjan.
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11
Bright blonde
It might feel counterintuitive to go for a platinum-blonde dye job for fall, but isn’t that what makes it so cool? Taking cues from Camila Cabello, above, Kendall Jenner, and Beyoncé, a creamy, ultra-bright blonde feels current and unique in a sea of dark hair colors. After your salon appointment, make sure you’ve got an arsenal of hair-bonding treatments at the ready though. You’re gonna need ’em if you wanna prevent and heal damage, bb!
12
Mid-length cuts
Jordyn Woods’s haircut fully proves that a grown-out bob kinda slays too. TBH, this look can be done in a bajillion different ways (bangs, no bangs, side part, middle part, curls, waves, coils—you name it). Have a consultation with your hairstylist before the cut to go over all of your options and get a tailored look to you, depending on your hair texture and color, your maintenance levels, your goals, and more.
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13
10k Goldlights
According to celebrity hairstylist Matt Rez in a previous Cosmo story, this is going to be the hottest hair color of fall 2024. But...what is it exactly? It’s a golden blonde color with super-shiny, golden highlights “that have a cool reflect for the perfect sparkle,” he shared. “They are blended yet impactful and run through the lengths in ribbon form.” It’s all about creating a high-contrast look, and it’s hella low-maintenance for, say, a pop star on tour (ahem, Tate McRae).
14
Fresh ginger
Red hair in fall just makes sense. I don’t make the rules! But I’m obsessed with this iteration on Lindsay Lohan for 2024, which is lighter, fresher, and softer than the traditional copper or ginger hair color. But even though this color is light, it’s still prone to fading quickly. Invest in a copper color-depositing conditioner to coat your hair in twice a month (FYI: If the color is too deep, mix in a little plain conditioner to sheer it out.)
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15
Micro bob
Not quite a bob but not quite a pixie cut, Redway is convinced we’ll see ultra-short cuts like the micro bob this fall. Greta Lee’s iteration feels a bit spiky and edgy (thanks to a micro bob/bang combo), but this can also go in a more ~demuretsy~ direction with softer styling.
16
Old Hollywood waves
Yes, you absolutely should be treating regular-ass functions like a Hollywood awards show. It is awards season, after all. Treat your hair to some glitz and glamour with big, smooth waves à la Kylie Jenner. The most important element of this look, though, is making sure your curls hold on for dear life. Redway recommends scrunching in an extra-hold mousse to help prep your hair. After you wrap each curl around the barrel of the iron, catch it in its shape in your hand and pin it to your head until it fully cools down. This will help set the ringlet and encourage serious hold all night long.
“Once your hair is completely dry, use your fingers and/or a flat brush to brush curls be achieve the voluminous look,” Redway adds. For even more volume, flip your head upside down, then spray in some hairspray to set it even more.
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17
Black cherry hair color
Okay, yes, I did go on a tangent about light-red hair, but this deep, reddened brown color is also the moment (!!). Even better, you can pretty easily re-create it with just a color gloss. Beware: This shade will require some major upkeep (think: twice a month color-depositing conditioner, cleansing with sulfate-free shampoo formulas only, and a monthly hair gloss).
18
Expensive bobs
Dare I say, anything in relation to Zendaya feels rich as hell. But this bob is giving elegant AF, thanks to these smooth, velvety waves. My go-to method for achieving the look at home is using the curl attachments on a Dyson Airwrap (or one of these similar Dyson Airwrap dupes), because it perfectly creates that soft texture. However, you could also achieve this wave using a round brush and blow dryer (or, ofc, a hot-air brush) by twisting your hair around the tool to create curls.
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Meet the experts:
- Justine Marjan is a celebrity hairstylist and TRESemmé ambassador based in Los Angeles. She’s worked with Gwen Stefani, Ashley Graham, and Shay Mitchell.
- Lacy Redway is a celebrity hairstylist and lead TRESemmé hairstylist based in New York City. She’s well-versed in styling all hair textures, including creating braids, working with weaves, and installing wigs. She's worked with mega celebs, including Tessa Thompson, Tyla, and Hunter Schafer.
- Matt Rez is a celebrity hair colorist at in Los Angeles. He’s known for working with some of the biggest celebs in the business, like Hailey Bieber, Madelyn Cline, and Demi Lovato.
Why trust Cosmo?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from hair-growth shampoos to “hair Botox.” She’s an authority in all hair categories but an expert when it comes to fall hair trends.
Beth Gillette
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.