The red carpet at the 2026 BAFTA Awards delivered a masterclass in modern glamour, proving once again that hair can be just as headline-worthy as the gowns. From effortlessly sculpted waves to sleek, architectural updos, this year’s standout styles balanced timeless elegance with fresh, fashion-forward twists. Celebrities embraced everything from glossy, minimalist finishes to bold textures and statement accessories, showcasing how the right hairstyle can elevate an entire look.
In this article, we take a closer look at the best hairstyles from the 2026 BAFTAs, breaking down the trends, techniques, and inspiration behind each unforgettable moment - and how you can recreate these red-carpet looks in your own way.
Women's Hairstyles
Kerry Washington always looks gorgeous on the red carpet, but this updo is one for the books for sure! Curling long hair before placing it into an updo instantly elevates the style, adding softness, movement, and dimension. The curls create natural volume and texture, which helps the updo appear fuller and more romantic rather than flat or overly structured.
This technique also allows the hair to interlock more easily, helping pins stay secure and ensuring the style lasts throughout the evening. This style is ideal for showcasing your neckline, earrings, or detailed outfits, while still maintaining an elegant, feminine feel. Leaving a few curled pieces out at the front to form a subtle, side-swept bang beautifully frames the forehead and softens the overall look.
These loose strands around her face break up the updo's structure, adding a touch of effortless glamour and preventing the style from appearing too harsh. This hairstyle particularly flatters oval, heart, and square face shapes, as the side-swept pieces help balance proportions and highlight cheekbones.
Jessie Ware looks astonishing with this bold, curled hairstyle that cascades around her shoulders and neck to perfection. Straightening the hair enhances shine and smoothness, allowing the cut to look sharp and well-maintained, while lifting it upward adds height and structure.
This subtle elevation helps elongate the face and gives the overall style a more refined silhouette. Incorporating a middle parting into this look adds balance and symmetry, which is especially flattering for those who want a neat, controlled finish. A centre part allows the bangs to fall evenly on both sides of the face, naturally framing your features without overwhelming them.
This even distribution softens the forehead area while highlighting the eyes and cheekbones, creating a harmonious appearance. The combination of straight texture and upward styling also works well in both professional and casual settings, making it highly versatile. It’s particularly suited to oval, square, and heart-shaped faces, as the middle part enhances natural proportions. Medium densities benefit most from this look, as the hair has enough body to hold shape while still maintaining a sleek, lightweight feel.
Chase Infiniti shows off her stunning natural hair density and texture with this afro updo, pulled back for formal events you might be attending. Tying your afro into a bold, sleek back-updo offers a powerful combination of style, practicality, and protection. Smoothing the hair back and away from your eyes instantly creates a clean, polished finish while allowing your facial features to take centre stage.
Your cheekbones, brows, and jawline become more defined, giving the overall look a confident, lifted effect. At the same time, keeping the top sleek adds contrast and structure, which beautifully highlights the natural volume and texture of the afro gathered into the updo. This style is also incredibly practical. Securing your hair up and off your face reduces daily manipulation, helps protect your ends, and keeps your strands contained in windy or humid conditions. It’s an ideal choice for busy days, workouts, formal events, or any setting where you want to feel put together without constant touch-ups. A bold afro updo makes a strong style statement. It celebrates natural texture while presenting it in a refined, intentional way. The sleek-back top adds elegance, while the fullness of the afro adds drama and personality - creating a look that is both empowering and effortlessly sophisticated.
If you do not have a lot of time to style your hair before you go out, then Ellie Bamber’s style is something you want to try. Styling your medium-length hair straight and up creates a clean, modern look that feels both polished and effortlessly confident. Straightening the hair enhances shine and smoothness, allowing the cut to look sharp and well-maintained, while lifting it upward adds height and structure. This subtle elevation helps elongate the face and gives the overall style a more refined silhouette. Incorporating a middle parting into this look adds balance and symmetry, which is especially flattering for those who want a neat, controlled finish. The middle part allows your bangs to fall evenly on both sides of your face, naturally framing it perfectly. It’s particularly suited to oval, square, and heart-shaped faces, as the middle part enhances natural proportions. Medium densities benefit most from this look, as the hair has enough body to hold shape while still maintaining a sleek, lightweight feel.
Men's Hairstyles
Paul Thomas Anderson starts us off by showing the beauty of salt-and-pepper hair, styled short yet formal at once. The shorter sides instantly create a cleaner, sharper outline around the head, giving the overall look a polished and professional finish. At the same time, the added length on top allows for styling flexibility, which is an added bonus in our eyes. This contrast in length also helps create the illusion of thicker hair, making it a great option for men with fine to medium hair densities. Keeping your facial hair short and neatly groomed complements this hairstyle perfectly. A trimmed beard or subtle stubble maintains balance and prevents the look from appearing too heavy or unkempt. Short facial hair enhances the clean lines of the cut, drawing attention to the jawline and cheekbones while keeping the overall appearance refined and modern. Oval faces benefit from their balanced proportions, the structured sides enhance square faces, and round faces gain definition and height from the longer top. It’s a confident, adaptable choice that suits both casual and formal settings effortlessly.
Ryan Coogler is next on our list and for good reason! Styling coarse hair into well-defined, tight cornrows offers both practical and aesthetic benefits. This protective style keeps the hair neatly secured, reducing daily manipulation, minimizing breakage, and helping retain moisture - which is especially important for coarse textures. Tight, precise braiding creates a clean, structured appearance that highlights the hair's natural density and strength, while offering a low-maintenance routine once installed. Cornrows can be worn in simple straight-back patterns or more intricate designs, allowing for subtle individuality without sacrificing a sharp, polished finish. Pairing this look with a well-defined moustache that neatly frames the upper lip enhances the face's overall structure. A carefully groomed moustache draws attention to the mouth and balances the strong lines created by the braids, adding maturity and character to the style. Together, tight cornrows and a defined moustache create a confident, intentional look that feels both culturally rooted and fashion-forward.
Conclusion
The 2026 BAFTA Awards proved that red-carpet hair is all about confidence, individuality, and expert craftsmanship. From sleek, polished finishes to soft waves and intricate updos, each look showcased how the right hairstyle can completely transform an overall appearance. These standout moments were not just about following trends - they were about wearing a style that enhances your features, complements your overall appearance, and reflects your personality to perfection.
If one of these BAFTA-inspired hairstyles caught your eye, simple let us know and we'll add it to our library of hairstyles on our virtual hairstyler to show you exactly how each style will suit your face shape, hair type, and coloring. It’s the easiest way to experiment with red-carpet glamour without committing to the cut or style just yet.
And if you haven’t found a look you 100% love, don’t worry. We have thousands more hairstyles waiting for you to explore and try on on our website - from subtle everyday elegance to bold, statement-making transformations. Your perfect hairstyle could be just one click away.
