Christian Siriano crimped hair just made its runway comeback, and it looks nothing like the frizzy, over-processed version many of us remember from the early 2000s. At Siriano’s Christian Siriano Autumn/Winter 2026 show at New York Fashion Week, models walked out sporting what hairstylist Lacy Redway called the ‘enchanted crimp’: a glossy, texture-led style that updates a nostalgic look for 2026.
This is not your childhood crimping iron moment. The finish here is sleek, almost architectural, pairing sharp ridges with a shine level Redway described as ‘leather-like’. If you want to try it yourself, the method and the products matter.
What the Christian Siriano Crimped Hair Look Actually Is
Redway summed up the concept plainly: ‘Inspired by folklore and modern fairytales, this look balances sleek, reflective shine with strategically placed crimped texture. Smooth hair is interrupted by delicate ridges and finished with a glossy, almost leather-like sheen, creating a look that feels both ethereal and fashion-forward.’
The key word there is ‘strategically’. This is not wall-to-wall crimping from root to tip. Instead, the iron is pressed in at varying points throughout the hair so the texture reads lived-in rather than uniform. Sporadic placement is what separates the 2026 version from the Y2K original.
According to Allure, Redway prepped the hair with Tresemmé A-List Collection All-In-One Style Primer alongside an Extra Hold Mousse, working both products through wet hair before the blow-dry. That layered prep stage is what builds the foundation for the glossy, controlled finish, skip it and the crimp will look flat rather than refined.
How to Recreate the Look Step by Step
Start with wet hair and smooth on a heat protectant. Then work in a mousse, Redway used TRESemmé Extra Hold Mousse, to add hold without stiffness. The Allure report notes that both flat and round brushes were used during the blow-dry stage to get the hair as smooth and sleek as possible before any heat styling begins. If holding a round brush and a dryer at the same time sounds like a recipe for disaster, a blow-dry brush that combines both functions will do the same job.
Once the hair is fully dry and smooth, pick up a crimping iron. Work in sections, pressing the iron in at irregular intervals rather than from root to tip in a uniform grid. The randomness is the point: you want texture that looks deliberate but not mechanical. Sporadic placement is what keeps the style on the right side of modern rather than costume.
To get that high-gloss, leather-like finish Redway referenced, press hair oil through the sections once the crimping is done. On the NYFW runway, Redway used a paintbrush (the kind used for applying hair colour) to distribute TRESemmé A-List Collection Bonding Oil through the hair, giving it that precise, almost lacquered look. Set the whole thing with an extra-hold hairspray and a mist of shine spray.
The full prep sequence matters as much as the crimping itself. Primer, mousse, smooth blow-dry, sporadic crimp, oil finish, spray to lock it in. Cut any of those steps and the result will be closer to the fried, inconsistent texture everyone is trying to move away from.
Worth Trying?
The ‘enchanted crimp’ works precisely because it leans on contrast: controlled smoothness interrupted by deliberate texture, finished with a shine that reads more editorial than retro. Lacy Redway’s backstage approach at Christian Siriano’s show gives a clear, replicable method for pulling it off at home, which is more than most runway trends offer. The full product routine from the Allure report is your best starting point.