Beauty's Maximalist Turn for A/W26

Who What Wear reports runways are swinging from minimalism to bold nails, eyeshadow, and long hair.

According to Who What Wear, the Autumn/Winter 2026 runways have decreed a return to maximalism after seasons of pared-back backstage beauty. The outlet's beauty editor, who says she has studied fashion week looks for over a decade, reports that fun is finally being had with hair, makeup, and nails again: bold nail art replaces bare nails, eyeshadow palettes come out of retirement, and bobs are being grown out into long lengths. Even the more out-there trends, the outlet argues, remain wearable. One remnant of minimalism persists — bold blusher is notably absent this season.

After bold blush dominated feeds, makeup bags, and new launches for most of the decade, the outlet reports that cheeks this season are barely there. At Victoria Beckham, Fendi, and Altuzzarra, models wore delicate, natural flushes like those from a brisk walk on the first cold autumn day, while Ralph Lauren placed blusher lower on the cheek for a windswept effect. Who What Wear quotes makeup artist Lucia Pica, who drew on portraits by Tamara de Łempicka at Victoria Beckham, describing skin that stays 'beautifully transparent and perfected' with a gentle touch of pink bringing 'fresh, unexpected warmth.'

Who What Wear reports the boldest changes came above the shoulders. Chanel showed holographic silver dusted on lids and hair, Carolina Herrera went metallic purple, and Acne Studios winged apple green and electric blue from the sockets. Nails made a renaissance too: long almond nails with aura art and reverse French tips appeared at Christian Cowan and Harris Reed, bold blues at Proenza Schouler, and jewel-like iridescent nails at Chanel — which manicurist Ama Quashie tied to the collection's caterpillar-to-butterfly fantasy, calling nail art escapism 'even on the smallest canvas.' Hair swung long, with waist-skimming pre-raphaelite lengths at Chloé and Acne Studios and halo-like curls at Holzweiler and Patrick McDowell, enhanced rather than altered from natural texture.

While the runway maximalism plays out on magazine pages, Yahoo reports a different kind of beauty movement grounded in community: Frizz Fest, the annual celebration of natural beauty and Black culture founded by Leslie and Val Hughes, returns to Tower Grove Park in St. Louis on Saturday, Sept. 19, in its ninth year. Yahoo reports the free festival, running noon to 7 p.m., has grown to nearly 10,000 attendees and will feature more than 50 small businesses, food trucks, local artists, a headlining set by Mississippi singer Kirby, and a new sensory-friendly youth zone developed with Serving Our Communities Foundation. As Leslie Hughes told Yahoo, 'however you wanna show up that makes you feel like you, that's the most beautiful version of yourself' — a fitting coda to a season when beauty, per both outlets, is getting expressive again.