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Romantic hair has emerged as one of the biggest trends for spring 2026 and stars on the BAFTA red carpet definitely understood the assignment. The look of the night? Soft and wispy “wisteria bangs” that add just the right amount of dreamy romance.
As the name implies, wisteria bangs evoke the look of the delicate, free-hanging flower with wispy, face-framing fringe. The look is a simple way to style curtain bangs or front layers. Instead of a high volume, 70s-coded swoop, wisteria bangs favor wispy texture and natural movement. They fall effortlessly out of an updo and never look overly styled. Think: the flyaways on your favorite Jane Austen heroine fresh off a misty horseback ride.
We're fresh off the method-styled “Wuthering Heights” press tour and smack in the middle of a new season of Bridgerton, so it makes sense that we're yearning for a bit of romance. Wisteria bangs are the easiest way to add a little main character energy to your styling routine. The best part? You don't actually need a full fringe to get the look. Keep reading to see which stars wore the trend, plus, tips from their stylists.
Wisteria bangs and French twist
Emma Stone's undone updo is particularly simple to DIY—with the right product cocktail, that is. Celebrity stylist Mara Roszak shared that she treated Stone's hair damp hair with Air Thickening Spray and Root Lift Spray from her brand, Rōz, and sealed her mid-lengths and ends with Milk Hair Serum. After blow-drying, she pinned Stone's bob back into a "90s French twist,” leaving out her cheekbone and jaw-length front pieces. Roszak then used the ghd Chronos Curve Max Wand “to curl a few soft pieces in the front and back.” The result is a natural, windswept look that creates the same flattering face-frame as bangs, without the commitment.
Wisteria bangs and long layers
Sadie Sink's cut incorporates more traditional curtain bangs, which hit just below her brows and cascade into her shorter layers. But for the BAFTAs, her wispy styling nailed the wisteria bangs effect. To get the look, celebrity stylist Halley Brisker used the ghd Styler flat iron and Olaplex products to define Sink's layers. (Pro tip: “It’s important not to drop out the body created during the blow dry, so just a very quick pass over is needed ensuring to bevel the ends.”)
To get this romantic, piecey look—as opposed to a high-volume, uniform curtain bangs like Sabrina Carpenter—try using a styling cream to shape your fringe and a wide tooth comb to separate your strands.
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Wisteria bangs and toussled updo
Kerry Washington opted for wet-look wisteria bangs paired with a toussled updo. Her look proves that asymmetrical face-framing pieces can be just as flattering, leaving her bangs exposed on only the left side of her face. Compared to Stone and Sink's renditions, Washington's bangs appear more product heavy and free-form—ideal fringe inspo for curly textures. To get a similar look, try scrunching and shaping your front layers with a generous pump of curl mousse or air-dry cream.
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Wisteria bangs and bixie cut
Prefer a more modern edge? Best Leading Actress winner Jessie Buckley wore her bixie cut completely slicked back—except for her sleek front pieces, which hung over her face. Stylist Jenny Cho used the GHD Mini Styler to create the slick-straight texture. It appears that she locked in the shape with a strong-hold styling gel, bringing Buckley's exposed front layers to a sharp end.
Wisteria bangs and face-framing layers
And although true ‘wisteria bangs’ require, well, bangs, it's also possible to style longer front pieces to the same effect. Actor Ellie Bamber doesn't have short face-framing layers that would naturally come loose from an updo, but she still left her long front pieces hanging out in delicate, natural-looking waves.
To master the ‘wisteria’ spring hair trend, the trick is to weigh down your ends with product and avoid too much precision. You may habitually avoid touching your bangs, but this style is definitely hands-on. Opt for soft, piecey texture, and don't be afraid to pull apart your strands with your fingers.
Grace McCarty is the associate beauty editor at Glamour.
