The return of high-maintenance hair: Why polished styles are trending
Elegance and indulgence are making a comeback.
Over the last few years, ‘effortless’ and ‘undone’ have been two of the biggest beauty buzzwords. From beachy waves and textured bobs to ballerina buns and bottleneck bangs, there was a huge emphasis on the ‘I woke up like this’ aesthetic.
High-maintenance hair was distinctly out of fashion, but now those in the know are coming round to the idea that embracing an elegant look and investing a little bit more in your hair pays dividends in the long run.
“Glamorous, more ‘done’ styles are back,” says artistic director Alfie ONeill. “This coincides with the focus on fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Bigger, glossier hair looks healthier, more put-together and more polished, whereas undone textures can look a bit dry.”
Paul Edmonds believes the move towards indulgent styles is the modern version of the ‘lipstick effect’, where consumers spend more on affordable luxuries when the economic outlook is uncertain. “It's a cyclical thing. Financially, a lot of people are feeling the pinch at the moment,” but they see the value in a salon visit.
Paul continues, “I was doing one of my clients yesterday, and she was saying, ‘I love coming here, because it's not just about the haircut. As soon as I lie down in the backwash, I escape from my life at home and have some pampering time and someone looking after me.’ I think that's quite important.”
Here, Paul and Alfie explain what high-maintenance hair means, why it’s no bad thing, the trends they’re loving at the moment, and how to style a high-maintenance look…
WHAT IS HIGH-MAINTENANCE HAIR?
We often talk about high-maintenance hair as if it’s a negative, but a cut or colour look that takes longer in the salon can actually save you time at home.
“It should be low-maintenance from the point of view that you come in, get your colour or cut done, then if it's the right haircut and style, it should be easy for you to keep at home,” Paul says. “That way it becomes low-maintenance.”
High-maintenance doesn’t mean elaborate up-dos or waves that drop the minute you walk out the door. It means looks created with hairdressing techniques that only experienced stylists and colourists can do, whether it’s a tightly cropped pixie cut, flowing locks with lots of layers, or a bouncy blowout. These are the kind of looks the team at Paul Edmonds excel at, from perms and precision cutting to foilayage and Airtouch colour.
THE BENEFITS OF INVESTING IN YOUR HAIR
The value of high-maintenance hair comes down to two factors, Paul says. “It's about how you feel about yourself, and it's what you project.”
He compares a luxury haircut or colour appointment to anchoring your wardrobe around a few well-made designer pieces. “If you buy something special, like a classic blazer, you can wear it with high street brands and make your whole outfit look expensive.”
A fantastic haircut is the ultimate accessory, and when you find a style that flatters your features, it’s a game-changer.
“It’s an amazing thing to see when people have big changes done,” Paul says. “You can see that their whole expression changes; you see them walking a bit taller when they leave the salon, because they feel good about themselves.”
Paul Edmonds London is second to none when it comes to luxury haircare, and our stylists are always happy to let clients in on their styling secrets so you can, Alfie says, “create salon-worthy hair at home with ease using the right products and tools.”
HIGH-MAINTENANCE HAIR TRENDS
The concept of high-maintenance hair covers a wide range of styles, from short to long, and includes lots of the hottest hair trends of 2025.
At the moment, Alfie has seen a lot of demand for “stronger looks for women, like bobs, crops, and layered hair with lots of personality – those are really fun to do. Women are finding their own style that works with their face shape and embracing individual looks.”
There were plenty of polished hair looks to complement the catwalk fashion at the recent spring/summer 2026 show, Paul notes. He particularly liked “Tom Ford for the high-gloss glamour with a sexy edge, Prada for its cool modernity, Ashish for the joie de vivre – an antidote for this moment in time – and Jill Sander’s beautifully chic minimalist tailoring.”
By definition, high-maintenance looks will require more regular trims, Paul says. “With shorter haircuts, you probably need to have them cut every month to six weeks, and if you have a fringe, you're probably going to be coming in every month.” Fringe trims are, of course, complimentary at Paul Edmonds London when you’ve had a cut with one of our stylists.
As for men’s hair, longer styles will still be trending through autumn and winter, Alfie says. “Men are definitely growing their hair and using tools and products to create polished, free-flowing hair.”
Multi-tonal colour is still the dominant colour aesthetic of 2025. While elaborate techniques such as balayage and foilayage may take longer to perfect in salon, they last longer in terms of upkeep when a root tap or root smudge is added, Paul says. “You end up with a luxurious finish which looks natural, and it can last quite a while because as the roots grow out, you don't get a definite line.”
HOW TO STYLE HIGH-MAINTENANCE HAIR
The right products provide the perfect finishing touch when you’re styling your hair at home and give protection when using heated tools.
“Shu Uemura Essence Absolue is always my go-to product if you've got long hair,” says Paul. “If you put that on first, not only does it help protect the hair from the heat, it actually pushes out the water so it dries quicker.”
Alfie favours Oway Flux Potion for “glossy full hair with movement” and the brand’s Styling & Finish Nurturing Drops, which he describes as a “light weight oil serum that holds the hair together.”
For boosting volume, Paul recommends Shu Uemura Netsu Design styling creme or Oribe Maximista Thickening Spray. “If you’ve got curly hair, the Love Curl range from Davines is great, and for shorter styles, you normally want to give texture with a wax like Shu Uemura Kumo Hold. It's not too greasy, and it holds the hair in place.”
The power of polish
High-maintenance hair used to be seen as a bad thing, but now more and more people are cottoning on to the fact that an indulgent haircut or colour look is a sound investment.
Not only is a luxury salon visit a form of self-care, the confidence you get from a fabulous new ‘do is nothing short of priceless.
Ready to experience the joy of high-maintenance hair? Book an appointment at Paul Edmonds London.
