Set against the backdrop of the French Riviera, the Cannes Film Festival delivered a standout showcase of cool cuts and vintage glamour
The Cannes Film Festival is renowned for its unique blend of cinematic history and Riviera chic. At the 79th annual event, celebrities stepped out in styles that ranged from undone, natural curls to sculpted, Old Hollywood updos.
Whether it was classic vintage glamour or contemporary, effortless movement, the hair looks on display offered plenty of inspiration for salon professionals. Here, leading industry experts break down the most memorable hair moments and share the styling secrets to achieving these red-carpet results.
Gillian Anderson’s Voluminous Curls
Bruno Marc Giamattei, Senior Creative Director at Joico, said: "Gillian Anderson’s voluminous curls commanded attention on the Cannes red carpet, oozing with texture and definition. This look is all about intense volume, texture and a radiant, high-shine glossy finish. My secret weapon to achieving show-stopping, glass-like hair is the new Dream Blowout Glass 72-hour Frizz Fighter by Joico. It is a must-have when styling big, voluminous hair.
"Gillian’s hair paired perfectly with a multi-dimensional biscotti blonde which allowed her curl pattern to shine. This tawny, biscotti blonde is perfect for the transition into the brighter months, with a cool acorn base and subtle blonde pieces blended throughout, mimicking where the sunlight would hit the hair."
Lucas Bravo’s Tousled Cut
Simon Shaw, President of The Fellowship for British Hairdressing and Global Artistic Director for Wahl UK, said: "Lucas Bravo’s tousled cut echoes his effortlessly cool French vibe. With the cut’s textured finish creating natural volume, Lucas’ choppy cut had long layers blended throughout to inject extra body and movement. When it comes to styling, I would opt for products which create light, touchable texture, without becoming too stiff. You want a style that holds its shape but still feels effortless. His wispy fringe is all about texture and dimension, harmonising nicely with his sharp bone structure and dominant features. Lucas has a square face shape, so the combination of a wispy fringe and the medium-length hair softens his more prominent features without overpowering them."
Taylor Russell’s Natural Curls
Chris Grimley, textured hair specialist and owner of Fusion Hair Co., said: "Taylor Russell let her natural curl flow at the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival. Sporting a Schiaparelli gown, her dark brown curls were pinned loosely behind her ears, with a few curly wisps hanging loose, giving the look that cool-girl vibe that Taylor exudes. What made the look so eye-catching was the decision to let the hair flow naturally – the softness and dimension of the curls made the look feel intimate yet edgy."
Caylee Cowan’s Retro Waves
Alex Thaddeus, owner of Alex Thaddeus Hairdressing, said: "Dressed in a gorgeous champagne Carolina Herrera gown, Caylee Cowan took to the Cannes red carpet, paired with detailed, glossy retro waves. The updo featured incredible texture, as well as some perfectly placed kiss curls which elegantly framed the face, giving the look an Old Hollywood feel with a modern twist. The look made a statement, bringing a highly polished and structured flair to soften the face."
Odessa A'Zion’s Effortless Updo
Suzie McGill, International Artistic Director at Rainbow Room International, said: "One of my favourite looks I saw on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet came from Odessa A'Zion. Many stars took to the carpet wearing long, glamorous gowns, and I love that she switched things up and wore a suit from the Dior Spring 2026 menswear collection. The look felt authentic to her style, and paired with a more effortless hairstyle, her full look was understated but stood out from the crowd.
"Her effortless curls looked to have been tied back into a ponytail, before a bun was created using pins to create a more voluminous, almost undone look. The key with this type of look is that it looks very effortless, embracing the hair's natural curls or waves, and enhancing them with a texturising spray to add further body and texture to the hair, in addition to grit and hold for the updo. To finish the look, section out two pieces of hair at the front of the face to give the style added softness and to help frame the face."
