Instagram's It Girls Agree—These Are the Only Hairstyles That Matter for Fall
Here's every look you should consider recreating the second the temperature takes a dip.

- Under a Knit Bandana
- Textured Bun
- Glossy Curls
- Slicked-Back Bun
- Elegant Topknot
- Sleek and Straight
- Claw Clip Updo
- High-Volume Ponytail
- Curly Cut
- Face-Framing Strands
- Nineties-Inspired Bob
- Wispy Bangs
- No-Fuss Braid
- Textured Bob
- Big, Bouncy Blowout
- Golden Goddess Braids
- Effortless Waves
- Ribbon Details
- Italian Bob
- Hush Cut
- The "Wet" Ponytail
- Sporty Headband
- Messy Bun
- Chunky Grunge Braids
- Curtain Bangs
- Why Trust Who What Wear?

Fall fashion and beauty are finally in full swing for 2025, and we're turning to Instagram's It girls for endless hair inspiration this season. Not only are they notorious for their ability to take any style and show a million ways it can be worn off the runway, but they're also pros at identifying the popular styles before they pick up speed. We've scrolled through hundreds of Instagram posts from the most recognizable content creators, models, and fashion people to compile the hairstyles they've been all over lately. Get ready to screenshot for inspiration and shop for the best products to help make them happen!
Under a Knit Bandana
Everyone needs a trusty bandana to keep their locks in place with little to no effort or time spent worrying about a finished look. Here, Mary L. Jean wears her bandana with a sleek bob.
Textured Bun
The reigning queen of aesthetic-led beauty trends, Hailey Bieber, has been spotted rocking what could only be described as a messy ballet bun. The style features textured face-framing strands and cascading tendrils pulled loose from the bun.
We love Verb's Ghost Air Dry Whip to create ultra-textured hair looks that are all about being imperfect. The product is ideal for all hair textures and works to smooth and define your hair while reducing frizz.
Customer Review: "I love how my hair feels and looks after using Ghost Air Dry Whip. It's easy to apply and doesn't really have a scent. My hair is easily styled without having to put the work into it but It doesn't leave my hair weird the next day."
Glossy Curls
The last weeks of summer may very well have been dominated by the "cowboy copper" hair color trend, but this fall, we're fully expecting chocolate-colored curls as the breakout star of the season, as worn here by New York–based content creator Maggie McCormack.
Looking for a hairspray that will provide the hold for your curls without transforming them into a crunchy miss? The Soft Style Soft Sculpting Spray Gel will lock your curls in place while keeping your hair smooth and soft.
Customer Review: "Love, love this hairspray. It's lightweight but still has enough hold for my fine hair. It is not drying either. I hate hairspray that makes your hair feel like a rock and this does just the opposite."
Slicked-Back Bun
A slicked-back bun is a fast and fuss-free style that looks effortlessly chic. Everyone from model Jasmine Tookes to socialite Sofia Richie Grainge has been photographed wearing it while attending spring 2024 fashion shows in New York, Paris, and Milan.
To get your hair into that flawless slicked-back bun, use Emi Jay's Angelstick. It smoothes the strands and slicks pesky flyaways using a blend of nourishing castor seed oil, sunflower seed wax, murumuru butter, and vitamin E.
Customer Review: "The Angelstick is so easy to use and perfect for on the go. I love to use it to tame fly a ways for up-do’s and also to set my babyhairs in place. Not greesy at all, and perfect for every day use!"
Elegant Topknot
Elegant topknots are popular year-round and will continue to dominate well into the fall. Symphani Soto is pictured here wearing the cool-girl-approved style with loose strands escaping from the updo to complement her face-framing strands.
To create the cascading tendrils that give this topknot its finishing touch, we recommend using a 1–2 inch curling iron. Our top pick is the Conair Instant Heat 1/2-Inch Curling Iron because it heats up quickly, is easy to use, and creates gorgeous curls every time.
Customer Review: "[I] Have several of these and they're always great quality and last for years. No funny smell, curls right and the swivel cord makes it easy to use. Temperature gage is easy to set and stays put. Not too big to handle."
Sleek and Straight
You heard it here first: Sleek strands with slicked-back sections will be everywhere over the next few months. We're taking notes from one of model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's Milan Fashion Week looks for this one.
After dedicating ample time to styling your hair, there's nothing worse than watching your strands slip from place. To replicate this chic style, use bobby pins that deliver ample hold like the ones above by Conair.
Customer Review: "The [Conair] bobby pins are very sturdy. I've had them for a while now and none of them have broken!"
Claw-Clip Updo
Keep your chunky claw clips! Claw-clip chignon styles are popping up everywhere on our For You pages as we head into fall. It's the perfect effortless style for everyone with schedules that don't include much wiggle room for more detailed styles.
Are you loving Jill Wallace's checkered claw clip featured in the picture above? While we're not sure which one she's wearing in the shot, Casa Clara's Allegra Clip is just as cute and practical.
Customer review: "Love this claw clip. I have super long thick hair and even though this clip is a medium size it holds all my hair super well. looks cute and is very very durable! Highly recommend."
High-Volume Ponytail
Looking for a quick, five-second hairstyle that will pair perfectly with all your fashion-forward fall looks? Try re-creating a fun and flirty high-volume ponytail like the one worn by content creator Mishti Rahman.
The key to this trendy ponytail is adding volume to the roots. This volumizing spray by Color Wow delivers all-day volume using clear, flexible volume-pumping resins that settle on each individual strand. Simply spray onto the roots, blow-dry, and style.
Customer Review: "This product is great. It was designed to thicken the root and add lift, but I've been using it as a pre-treatment in combo with the Color Wow Curl Enhancer and it keeps my curls all day, softly, with real staying power and doesn't go flat!"
Curly Cut
If you have naturally curly hair and are tired of the extra steps it takes to style it every day, it might be time to finally schedule a curl cut at your salon. That way, you can wake up with pre-styled, healthy-looking curls. Emmanuelle Koffi has the right idea!
Whip frizzy curls and coils into shape by running the Santo Curl Mousse through your hair for pillowy volume and touchable hold. This mousse is ideal for both wash-and-gos and protective styles and defines curls to perfection.
Customer Review: "Wow beautiful curls! My hair has some movement still and doesn’t feel stiff. It helps with my frizz and even has helped in the humidity. It smells sooo good! I have gotten compliments on the scent already."
Face-Framing Strands
Sometimes, it's the little details that upgrade a hairstyle from cute to iconic. The next time your hair is up in a bun or ponytail, take cues from Emma Leger and pull out some face-framing strands to bring attention to the face.
Nineties-Inspired Bob
Nineties-inspired hairstyles are in again, and we're all for it. Give your bob the throwback treatment by adding a zigzag headband for added intrigue. Extra points if you match your headband to your frames!
Your days of getting headaches while wearing headbands are over! Kitsch's Zigzag Headbands are designed with long, wavy teeth for a comfortable nonslip grip for a stylish, slicked-back look.
Customer Review: "These headbands have exceeded my expectations. They are comfortable (I was worried that I would have a headache after wearing for a few hours, but no) I am really enjoying these. They give my hair more volume and are an easy way to style when I am in a hurry."
Wispy Bangs
Blunt hairstyles may be trending again, but we're also seeing a sudden rise in wispy, long bangs that fall right around the eyebrows, as modeled here by Megan Adelaide Vega. The wispier, the better, we say.
Creating picturesque wispy bangs is all about adding the right amount of texture with the help of a lightweight product. Living Proof's Full Texturizing Foam delivers up to three times more texture on wet or dry hair without weighing it down.
Customer Review: "So glad I purchased this! I have thin hair that frizzes in ANY humidity. This made my hair appear thicker and no frizz! Amazing! Also, product does not feel heavy or greasy on hair. Hair looks and feels natural."
No-Fuss Braid
Short on time? Re-create model Anaa Saber's New York City style by pulling your hair into a messy braid and leaving out a couple of textured strands to look like an effortlessly cool model off-duty.
These hair elastics were designed to keep thick hair up without causing any breakage to your delicate strands. What's more, they're extremely durable.
Customer review: "I love these! Lightweight, keeps my hair up all day without having to redo it, and most importantly it doesn’t give me major headaches like every other brand I’ve used. Highly recommend for hair quality hair bands that don’t break."
Textured Bob
Laura Harrier's textured bob created by hairstylist Rikke Gajda for New York Fashion Week is the stuff of dreams. It keeps her glowy makeup front and center while adding a bit of edge to her otherwise timeless look.
Use this R+Co dry styler to create soft volume and hold for the effortless, second-day hair look we'll be seeing everywhere with season. The Velvet Curtain Cotton Touch Texture Balm is also great because it combats frizz and flyaways.
Customer Review: "I use this every time I blow-dry my hair. It leaves my hair feeling beautifully soft without the extra greasiness that other texture balms have in the past. I love this product."
Big, Bouncy Blowout
You can't wrong with a classic blowout. Sabina Socol shows us her take on the style with volume, shine, and epic layers. Maybe you should consider taking this pic with you on your next trip to the salon for inspo.
Use a few spritzes of this volumizing blow-dry mist to repair and protect your hair from styling damage and speed up the styling process. It's also humidity-resistant, heat-resistant up to 450°F, and creates a soft, shiny finish.
Customer Review: "The BEST blow-dry spray that I've ever used. I love it! Great volume and shine. I highly recommend this product."
Golden Goddess Braids
Goddess braids (also commonly referred to as bohemian braids) were trending all summer and don't seem to be going anywhere for this fall. Soto opted for an ombré blonde finish that complements her skin tone perfectly.
To help extend the wear of protective hairstyles, it's crucial to keep your scalp well-oiled. We love this nourishing hair oil by Mizani because it's fast-absorbing, lightweight, and helps minimize frizz while restoring shine.
Customer Review: "I love this oil! It smells amazing, it’s light and it doesn’t leave my hair feeling greasy. I only apply it to my scalp and I know longer have issues with my scalp feeling itchy and dry."
Effortless Waves
Once again, Sofia Richie Grainge has taken a style we all know and love and made it look beyond luxurious. It's frizz-free and perfectly coiffed and has just the right amount of bounce. In other words, it's the ideal hairstyle for all your more formal fall affairs.
For soft, frizz-free waves, invest in a medium-hold, matte-finish styling like the Matte Waves Texture Lotion. This Oribe product will help define waves and natural textures without drying out or weighing your strands down. It's like magic!
Customer Review: "I have tried so many products and this is the only one that gives me soft bouncy and waves, no frizz, no crunch. Love, love, love! Worth the money!"
Ribbon Details
Remember when we ID'd ribbon hairstyles as one of our favorite NYFW beauty looks for this year's shows? Well, it's also taking the fashion world by storm off the runway. We're in love with how Mobina Peiman styled hers!
This season, embrace coquette hairstyles by sprinkling your strands with hair ribbons like these by Amazon brand Bmobuo. What we love most about this six-piece set is that they're attached to clips for easy placement and removal.
Customer Review: "I bought this pack of bows for vacation to go with my dresses! I love the variety of colors for the price point. The bows are made nicely for the price, and stay in your hair. Overall, I am so happy I purchased these bows!"
Italian Bob
Glamorous Italian bobs are finally giving French bobs a run for their money. Fashion-and-beauty creative TyLynn Nguyen wears her with flicked-under ends for instant bounce and shape.
You can never have too many finishing hair sprays. This one by Shu Uemura delivers a long-lasting, buildable hold for all your texturized blowouts, slicked-back buns, and chic updos.
Customer review: "This hairspray did wonders. I sprayed it on my edges and it held them in place all day. Moya Hold Hair Spray also adds shine to my hair."
Hush Cut
Have you tried out the hush cut yet? Check out how stylish it looks on Allison Ho. The trend has its roots in Korea and is all about layers and bangs while being incredibly low-maintenance. Flattering on all face shapes, this is one style we'll keep an eye out for this fall.
Skip the blow-dryer with the help of this clean, salon-grade styler by Odele. It offers a perfect air-dry finish every time by locking in moisture and locking out frizziness while adding shine and texture.
Customer review: "I used this product after washing, on damp hair, to style my waves. It looked perfect! A little goes a long way, smells light and clean. It gave me pretty, non-frizzy waves."
The "Wet" Ponytail
Embrace your inner siren by trying an ultra-textured ponytail this fall. The secret? Pairing a nonsticky hair gel with a cream for a chic finish. To avoid having wet-feeling hair, lock down the style with a high-shine serum or holding spray.
To re-create this look, get your hands on a lightweight styling gel to run through your hair as you pull it up into the ponytail. This one by J Beverly Hills provides moisture, subtle style support, and enhances shine.
Customer Review: "This is the best styling gel I've bought! It doesn't leave your hair 'crunchy,' and it works really well holding your hair back when you want to do a sleek bun or pony. So glad I found this."
Sporty Headband
We'll also be seeing a lot more sporty headbands as a trending hair accessory this season. Try wearing it with straight hair parted at the center as Jean did in this shot. The best part? It's probably one of the cheapest accessories you can get your hands on.
ALO's Performance Conquer Headband is perfect for keeping your hair out of your face and serving some major tennis core–inspired style whether you're on or off the courts.
Customer Review: "This headband is literally perfect. It's perfect for working out and just cute to put on!"
Messy Bun
With all this talk about buns for fall, we can't leave out one of the most popular variations. For a night out on the town, Leger wore a messy bun that we haven't stopped thinking about since it popped up on our IG.
Use this translucent dry finishing spray to add instant volume, lift, and texture to any hairstyle. Its unique formula features raw silk powders and light holding polymers.
Customer review: "Such an amazing finishing texture spray. It gives good grit to the hair and makes your style look a little more lived-in!"
Chunky Grunge Braids
One of the most unexpected hair trends this season is the meteoric rise of chunky grunge braids on and off the runway. Here, New York–based model Chanel McKinsie wears her thick two-strand braids accessorized with safety pins.
Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs will also be popular this season. Whether your hair is in a bun, a ponytail, or free and loose, you can count on curtain bangs to add the right amount of intrigue to any fall outfit.
Use a blow-dryer and a large round brush like the Oribe Italian Resin Large Round Brush to create bouncy, voluminous curtain bangs that would rival those of Sabrina Carpenter.
Customer Review: "Great to get those large voluminous waves. Doesn't tangle in my coarse hair. Really like!"
Why Trust Who What Wear?
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.

Maya Thomas is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.
-
I'm Having an English Countryside Fall—20 Beauty Finds That Whisper "Escape to the Cotswolds"
New season, new favorites.
-
The Queer Hair Revolution: How Bright Colors Became an Act of Self-Affirmation
From punk red to slime green, bold hair isn't just a style—it's a signal.
-
TikTok Can't Stop Talking About CBK's Butter-Blonde Hair—Here's How to Pull It Off
She'll forever be hair goals.
-
Not Just the Wolf Cut—16 Androgynous Hairstyles to Save for Your Next Salon Visit
Effortlessly cool.
-
This Celeb Hairstylist Created "the Rachel"—Now, He's Launching an Iconic Haircare Line
Exclusive details ahead.
-
The Results Are In, and Our Haircuts Are Booked—Discover the 11 Bob Trends Officially Defining 2025
So far, so good.
-
Mocha Mousse Waves in L.A., Romantic Updos in Paris: The 6 Hair Trends Fashion People Can't Stop Wearing, Per J.Lo's Stylist
Prepare to swoon.
-
2025 Is Officially the Year of Flirty, Short Cuts—7 to Consider for Your Next Salon Trip
They're everywhere RN.