London Fashion Week SS25 Show Report

Come backstage with us for London Fashion Week SS25 and find out what’s next when it comes to the hair trends your clients will be booking in for.

Show #1: Alhuwalia

The aesthetic: Designer Priya Alhuwalia leaned all the way into her mixed Jamaican and Indian heritage for a show rich in colour, prints and textures.

The hair: Backstage it was Issac Poleon who led the hair team in creating looks that were just as intriguing as the Ahluwalia designs. Poleon said the designs he created were inspired by the fabrics and textiles that Alhuwalia saw as a child, and as such the hair was both simple and detailed. Each models’ look was structured and sleek, from a twisted and elegant chignon to a sculptural updo but some would have additional super fine braids on the crown for extra detail. The highlight of the entire show could arguably be the beautiful, beaded wig worn by one of the male models which shimmered as he walked down the runway.

Show #2: Feben

The aesthetic: Feben’s show was all about finding strength and beauty in vulnerability, and the key inspiration was flamenco dancer and actress, Antonia Singla. Despite losing her hearing days after she was born, La Singla (as she was affectionately known) became known as the world’s greatest flamenco dancer.

The hair: As this collection was very much about movement in the form of the most beautiful, figure-hugging dresses, both the hair and makeup were kept simple and understated. The hair team was led by Adam Garland, Global Creative Advocate for Authentic Beauty Concept.

Backstage he shared: “The hair was simple on the surface and tapped into the character of La Singla – it had to make everyone feel strong, it had to make everyone feel powerful”.

As such the hair for each model was focused on working with their natural texture and creating soft waves and middle partings. 

Show #3: Edeline Lee

The aesthetic: Imagine a very fashionable town square; that was precisely the vibe for the Edeline Lee show. The models wore block colour dresses as they walked over cobblestones outside the historic Millbank Tower; some of them stopped to pick flowers as others read the newspaper while little girls ran across the ‘square’ carrying balloons. At one point there was even a small white puppy being walked!

The hair: Backstage Philipp Haug led the Schwarzkopf Professional team in creating looks that revolved around a strong centre parting with hair swept away from the face. Hair was first prepped with mousse and to get the strong centre parting Haug used Schwarzkopf Session Label’s The Jelly.

Show #4: Huishan Zhang

The aesthetic: The Huishan Zhang show was one of the most beautiful and dramatic shows we saw this LFW. The Chinese designer was inspired by Wong Kar-Wai’s short film: Eros, in which a young tailor falls for a beautiful client, and the resulting collection was all about that desire and sensuality.

The hair: “The hair brief was that all girls had to have their hair off their faces and all hair had to have symmetry," said lead stylist Johanna Cree Brown.

"Working with this brief, I decided to do a glossy, glued-down, slightly gothic chignon. By working with square lines and sections and positioning the chignon asymmetrically, we ensured it didn’t look too much like a wedding or ballerina style. It needed to be elegant yet cool."

Show #5: Sinead Gorey

The aesthetic: For SS25 the London-based designer took us to the prom – but this wasn’t about the picture-perfect prom queen; the show was a lot more about the anti-heroine, the outcast. As such the entire vibe of the show was part Mean Girls part Carrie, with the location being a university gym. The models flounced down the runway with their phones tucked into their clothes, wearing headphones, stacked Converse sneakers and studded press-on nails by Ella Vivii. Even the makeup, led by Aoife Cullen, had attitude, with some models even wearing cake sprinkles on their lips.

The hair: Led by Carlo Avena, the team created an array of styles; from big beautiful bows made from hair extensions, to some glam rock wigs that were very Tina Turner as well as gorgeous updos reminiscent of Irish dancers with bouncy corkscrew curls.

Show #6: Ancuta Sarca

The aesthetic: The Romanian accessories designer reinvigorated the recent trend of the ‘office baddie’ dressing models in relaxed styles that leaned into a clean 1960s aesthetic. What really added to the retro styling were the stunning lash looks from makeup artist Bea Sweet. As well as focusing on seriously glowing skin, Bea gave the models uneven and spiked lashes that focused on the ends with some lash separation for a choppy vintage look.

The hair: In charge of hair backstage was the brilliant Kota Suizu who ensured the models were sleek and sharp. Unlike the looks he created last season which were very individual, this time around Suizu gave each model a high-gloss, gelled-back style to ensure all the focus was on the accessories collection.

Show #7: Richard Quinn

The aesthetic: If any LFW show was a sign that glamour is back, it would have to be Richard Quinn. His stunning collection of detailed, embellished and elegant dresses gave us haute couture vibes and the hair and makeup was just as beautiful. Backstage head of makeup Terry Barber said the look channelled the glamour and grunge of the 90s, with sculpted eyes and supermodel contouring for a lifted appearance but kept it fresh by ditching mascara and eyeliner.

The hair: Hair was led by the legendary Sam McKnight and he said the look was all about strong modern glamour. At the back-chic chignons gave a touch of severe sophistication but each model was given a beautiful, side swept wavy fringe to keep things soft and touchable at the front.

Show #8: Di Petsa

The aesthetic: This show was a nostalgic nod to the end of summer, by way of Greek mythology and a day at the beach. Opening with a new ‘Tan Line’ print for the brand, we saw the signature drapery that Di Petsa has become renowned for combined with flowing silks and vibrant shades.

The hair: As befitting a mythological creature, the hair, led by Efi Davies, was all about revisiting the brand’s wet-look aesthetic. As such the looks were all about beautiful, effortless results using a combination of salt spray, gel and actual sand for that really beachy effect.