The Philosophy of 'Undone' Texture
Before you pick up a single product, it’s important to understand the goal. London’s iconic hair moments are rarely about pristine, perfect curls or stick-straight strands. Instead, stylists focus on what they call “lived-in” or “undone” texture. This
season, backstage pros celebrated natural movement, creating styles that looked styled days ago, yet still intentional. The idea is to enhance, not completely manipulate, your hair's natural pattern. It’s a move away from rigid, overdefined waves toward hair that moves, bends, and breathes. The look whispers “I have great hair” rather than screaming “I spent hours on my hair.” It’s less about copying a specific runway look and more about borrowing the core principle: hair that has touchable, soft, and believable movement.
Start with the Right Foundation
Great texture begins in the shower, but maybe not how you think. Celebrity session stylist Syd Hayes advises against starting with overly clean, slippery hair. If your hair is freshly washed, create a base with a light mist of dry shampoo or a salt spray on damp hair to provide some necessary grit. This prevents the style from falling flat. When you do wash, consider a cleansing cream that cleans without stripping natural oils, leaving hair soft but not too slick. The goal is to set the stage for styling by giving your hair a workable base that isn't fighting you every step of the way.
Elevate Your Air-Dry Game
The easiest way to achieve an authentic, undone look is to lean into air-drying—but with a strategy. Simply washing and walking away can lead to frizz or flatness. The modern approach involves applying a lightweight product to damp hair to guide its natural shape. A weightless air-dry crème or a volumizing mousse applied from roots to ends can add subtle structure and control frizz while the hair dries. As it dries, use your fingers to tuck hair behind your ears or gently scrunch it to encourage its natural bend. This technique is about coaxing, not forcing, your hair into a shape that feels effortless and personalized.
Master Imperfect Heat Styling
When you do use heat, the key is imperfection. Instead of meticulously curling every section in the same direction, alternate directions and leave the last inch or two of the ends straight. This prevents the style from looking too 'done.' Another pro technique is to use a curling tong to create loose, irregular bends rather than perfect ringlets. After creating a wave, a light spritz of a dry texture spray while it's still warm can help set the shape in a more organic way. The goal is to create movement and interest that looks like it just happened to fall that way. Think less about creating curls and more about adding subtle, random texture throughout.
The All-Important Finishing Touches
This is where the magic really happens. A good texture spray is the most crucial product in your arsenal. Backstage stylists use them constantly to add shape, volume, and definition without stiffness. Unlike hairspray, a texture spray gives a more pliable, matte finish. Apply it in light layers, lifting sections of your hair and spraying from a distance to build texture gradually. For added separation and to control flyaways without creating a heavy, greasy look, warm a small amount of texture gloss or pomade in your hands and run it through the mid-lengths and ends. The final rule is knowing when to stop. The aim is a soft, 'sweaty' finish, not a helmet of product. A little imperfection is what makes the whole look feel modern and cool.
