From interior trends to fashion, and now beauty. Quiet luxury is influencing our hair looks, from cuts to styling. Here are the most sophisticated hairstyles to covet this season, by edtior Trudi Brewer.
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The "quiet luxury" trend, also known as "stealth wealth,” favours a minimalist, logoless look that is understated yet appears exceptionally high-quality. Instead of flashy branding, it communicates prestige and refined taste through expert tailoring, muted colours, and discreet sophistication.
It’s already invaded our beauty routines, with effortlessly barely-there manicures to fragrances that whisper rather than shout. It was only a matter of time before hair trends followed suit, with understated colour and expensive-looking chic cuts - quiet-luxury hair will last any season and complement any texture or length.
From a short, low-maintenance crop to a softly layered bob, expensive-looking haircuts are more about a shiny finish and soft styling. The key to quiet luxury hair is healthy hair. Naturally glossy, with a subtle amount of movement and texture, but never overly “done.”
Here is the ultimate guide to the winter’s most sophisticated, quiet-luxury-looking hair, and the celebrity stylist creating it.
The lived in bob
While you may think of a lob as a transitional hairstyle, stylists say it’s a statement haircut. “The grown-out bob is one of the most expensive-looking cuts because it has that effortless, polished feel without looking over-styled,” says hairdresser Luke Benson.
“Sitting somewhere between the jaw and collarbone, it gives the hair movement, swing, and a really healthy-looking shape.” He adds, “It works particularly well on fine to medium hair because it makes the ends look fuller, and it’s especially flattering on oval, heart, and longer face shapes.”
styling Advice
Depending on your style, if you are blow-drying or using hot irons, remember always to apply a heat protectant and a lightweight serum to smooth. A mousse will add body and is best applied to damp hair. Use a paddle brush to blow-dry straight, or a round brush to boost volume, always direct airflow downward to eliminate frizz.
Invisible layering
Soft layering is replacing loud, choppy cuts this season. Think delicate, wispy movement instead of heavy, chunky trims. “The invisible layer cut is all about soft, hidden layers that create movement without obvious, choppy layering,” says London-based hairstylist JR Slane. “It keeps the hair looking full and healthy through the ends, which is what makes it feel expensive.” A versatile option for all hair types, this technique can be styled by letting it air-dry or blow-drying with a large round brush to create soft movement. Slane says, “It is great for oval, square, and round face shapes.”
Styling Advice
A layered cut is the best way to achieve that 90’s blowout look. Start with some root-boosting mousse or spray, applied to damp hair. Rough-dry until your hair is about 80 per cent dry, then wrap the ends around a large round brush and roll the brush to the scalp. Blow-dry outward (away from your face) to create volume. To accentuate face-framing layers, blow-dry upward and outward to get that swooping effect, to highlight a curtain fringe or long layers around the face. Once hair is cool post-blow dry, spritz with hairspray to hold your style.
The Curtain Fringe
“Curtain bangs are one of the most flattering fringe options for mature hair because they soften the face rather than dominate it,” explains hairdresser David Cassidy from Hove's Palette & Bristle. “They frame the cheekbones, draw attention to the eyes, and create movement around the front of the hair, which instantly feels more youthful.” Unlike a blunt fringe, curtain bangs blend into the rest of the haircut, providing an elegant, modern look with just the right amount of youthfulness. “A curtain fringe also creates that effortless “expensive hair” effect without looking overly styled. It still has softness and texture, just in a fresher, lighter way that feels much more elevated,” Cassidy says.
Styling advice
Keeping your curtain fringe in top shape starts in the shower. To ensure it’s glossy, detangle with a leave-in conditioner before styling. Next, blow-dry the fringe forward over your face. As you pull hair forward, make sure to curl it around a round brush to give the fringe lift. If your hair is fine, apply mousse to the round brush itself, then blow-dry it in. Then mess up the fringe with your fingers to get natural separation. A touch of styling cream or hairspray will keep it in place. Dry shampoo is an essential for those with a curtain fringe; it will help you extend your blow-dry and keep your fringe looking fresh and bouncy.
Glass hair
While it’s not technically a haircut, achieving glass hair in 2026 is all about incorporating fullness, and, of course, shine. “Glass hair is less about a completely new haircut and more about the finish, but it instantly makes any cut look more expensive,” says Luke Benson. “The key is condition, shine, and smoothness, so it works beautifully on bobs, long layers, and blunt mid-length cuts.” For styling, Benson recommends “A clean centre or soft side part, smooth blow-dry, and a shine-enhancing finishing product.” He adds, “It is best for hair that can be worn sleek, but even naturally textured hair can take inspiration from the idea by focusing on hydration, gloss, and a really refined finish.”
Styling advice
Invest in a weekly hair mask to boost shine and body. Always use a heat protector; this will help maintain shine and reduce damage from hot tools. Depending on your hair length, rough blow-drying will create frizz. Instead, attach a nozzle to your hairdryer to concentrate the airflow downward. Heated rollers are not only back in style, but they also help boost volume and smooth frizz. Finish your style with a lightweight shine-boosting hair serum or spray on the mid-lengths and ends to seal the cuticles. To tame flyaways, spray hairspray onto your hands or a fine-tooth comb, and gently smooth the surface of your hair.
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