While the hair colour trends of 2026 point to the rising popularity of laid-back shades with earthy, dark roots, the way we’re styling our hair has taken a more “done” turn. (Re-)enter the chignon, one of the most popular hairstyles on the spring/summer 2026 runways and perennially chic. Here, we break down four different versions to work into your hairstyle wardrobe.
Ballet chignon
Worn either low or in the middle of the back of the head, the dancer’s chignon was seen at the (deep breath) Bottega Veneta, Off-White, Schiaparelli, Zimmermann, Dolce & Gabbana and Calvin Klein shows. Timeless and easy to do, use a dense bristled brush to smooth the hair back and an invisible bobble, to create the effect of a perfect bun that needs no support.
Sculptural chignon
At the Mugler and Prabal Gurung shows, models wore low ponytails with the lengths lifted to form sculptural, avant-garde bun shapes. From infinity-shaped chignons to small knots with the ends left loose (and slicked with gel), the unexpected nature of the shapes makes them a chic upgrade on a classic hairstyle.
Undone chignon
One way to make a chignon your own is to gently undo it. The sweet spot between the smooth, perfect nature of a chignon and the undone, slight unruliness of a loose hairstyle, this variation is perfect for 2026. Play with waved, undulated front pieces or an off-centre part, for a modern upgrade.
Accessorised chignon
Max Mara’s black hair ribbons injected some playful ’60s energy into an otherwise low-key hairstyle. Seen here on model Alex Consani, it’s a retro slant that can be fun to play with.
This article was originally published on British Vogue.
