Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Bouffants

We thought when we spotted Dua Lipa wearing this nostalgic hairstyle at the 2021 BRIT Awards [4] it was a one off. But when celebrity after celebrity started rocking the voluminous 'do — from Andra Day to Anya Taylor Joy — we realised the bouffant was here to stay this year.

It's hard to say what's triggered the return of the bouffant, but what we can be sure of is why people keep coming back to this midcentury coif. "It's because it's very flattering. It's drama, and whilst it can definitely be over the top, it can be very underplayed as well," hairstylist Sam McKnight told POPSUGAR. "Plus, I think a bit of height always makes people feel a bit taller, and a bit grander, and a bit more done if you like. And I think the best way to do them, the modern way to do them, is to have it kind of really undone and have it not look too perfect."

A bouffant can be worn with an updo, like Dua Lipa did, a ponytail, or a half-up hairstyle. However you wear it though, the key is to build up volume. To re-create the look at home, the key is to start with a light wave, which means breaking out a large curling iron if you have straight hair, or blow-drying your hair smooth if you have curly hair. Or, if you're looking for a quick way to go about it, blow-dry three sections of hair at the top of your head and roll into three large Velcro rollers, leaving the hair to completely cool before removing them. Next, mist your roots and the hair at the crown of your head with texture spray, like Hair by Sam McKnight Easy Updo Spray [5] (£25). Separate hair at the top of the head into slim sections and backcomb gently with a comb. Smooth the surface with a soft bristle brush, create your style (updo, ponytail, or half-up), and finish with a final mist of hairspray .

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Bouffants

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Extra Long Braids

Extra long hair has been getting more and more popular amongst celebrities each year, but after nearly a year away from salons, all of us are seeing a lot more length than we're used to. "I'm seeing a lot more long hair on the red carpet," hairstylist Adir Abergel [6] said after helping numerous celebrities like Dylan Penn and Marion Cotillard get ready for the Cannes Film Festival. And most recently, Storm Reid stepped out wearing this floor-length braid totalling a whopping three feet. [7]

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Extra Long Braids

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Baby Bubble Braids

This look combines two of our favourite hairstyles right now — bubble braids and baby braids — to make one of the sweetest styles for autumn: baby bubble braids. We first saw the style on Gigi Hadid, who served as inspiration for Sophie Sugarman with this look on Laura Whitmore. [8]

For the Love Island presenter's look, Sugarman first prepped the hair using the Ouai Heat Protection Spray and the GHD Platinum Plus Styler, creating soft beachy waves throughout Whitmore's buttery blonde-coloured hair. For the main event, the bubble braids, Sugarman took two stands at the front of Whitmore's hair and created little bubbles by securing clear no-snag elastics a few centimetres apart. She repeated this process until all nine of the elastics were in place and teeny bubbles were formed, creating the effect by pinching and pulling the hair into place.

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Baby Bubble Braids

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Faux Locs

This autumn, more and more people are choosing to wear faux locs [9] as an alternative to box braids. The reason being is that they allow someone to wear locs without the commitment of locking hair for an extended period of time. "With Afro hair, protective styling like braids, faux locs, and crochet braids remain popular," said Smith.

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Faux Locs

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Undone Bun

The ultimate cool-yet-a-little-lazy style is the undone bun. "It's a timeless look for us," said George Northwood. "It's a style that's always been around, but for autumn, I'm feeling a textured, slightly messy bun or pony — it's elegant but wearable." To achieve this look, Northwood recommends keeping the sides of the hair quite tight and then using Undone by George Northwood Volume Spray [10] (£15) to add height and texture on the top of the hair.

Hairstylist Dom Seeley particularly loves this look with a middle parting. "The middle part keeps it effortlessly cool, but the hair up pops the cheekbones and gives you a sculpted snatched effect on the face, so it's great for day or night," he said.

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Undone Bun

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Embellished Headbands

Headbands are back! Well, they never left, but embellished headbands are ideal for autumn 2021 because they're easy to style and look incredible. "More is more" when it comes to hair accessories for Seeley. "Chunky and dainty with a mix of textures, fabrics, and metals whilst staying in the same tonal family give hair a cool feel," he said. Friend agrees, "I always like to style hair with a pretty headband. Embellished headbands will be popular this autumn. I particularly love some I recently bought from Eugenia Kim that are beautiful."

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Embellished Headbands

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Coi Leray Braids

"Coi Leray braids" have seen a 214 percent increase in search on Pinterest over the last month, so expect to see the braided hairstyle — named after the rapper Coi Leray who famously rocked it — everywhere this autumn.

Coi Leray braids are jumbo knotless braids [11] with a curled ends. "These braids are such a fun, unique look and are super trendy right now," Jamila Powell, founder of Naturally Drenched [12] and owner of Maggie Rose Salon [13] in Florida, previously told POPSUGAR. "The best part about Coi Leray braids is that you can put your own spin on them and tailor them specifically to your own style and taste."

To learn more about how to recreate the look, check out our how-to here [14].

— Additional reporting by Danielle Jackson

Autumn 2021 Hairstyle Trend: Coi Leray Braids