The Emmys Red Carpet Crowns Boho Waves the It Hair Trend for Fall

E! Illustration/Getty Images

If last night was any indication, the era of ultra-sleek, slicked-back red carpet hair may finally be loosening its grip. Long, loose boho waves flooded the 78th Emmy Awards red carpet, with Sarah Pidgeon, Olivia Munn, Quinta Brunson and Selena Gomez all embracing touchably soft, effortlessly wavy hair.

For the past several years, red carpet beauty has been dominated by the same nostalgia driving fashion: first the ’90s revival, then Y2K, followed by the minimalist “clean girl” aesthetic. Hair followed suit with slicked-back buns, snatched ponytails, sculptural updos and polished styles designed to look almost impossibly smooth.

But the trend cycle is turning once again. Fashion has already been flirting with the return of boho. We’ve been seeing the return of suede, romantic blouses, and flowing silhouettes, and now hair appears to be following.

Instead of looking to the late ’90s and early aughts, we’re moving toward the softer, freer aesthetic that defined the late 2000s and 2010s, heavily influenced by the undone glamour of the ’70s. The difference this time around? The new boho wave feels less festival-ready and more refined.

Rather than overly styled curls or perfectly uniform beach waves, the Emmys red carpet was filled with airy texture, brushed-out bends and hair that actually moved—signaling that fall’s biggest hair trend may be about letting loose, quite literally.

The stylists behind some of the night’s biggest looks were remarkably aligned on what makes these new waves feel fresh.

“We landed on soft, barely-there waves that felt effortless but still polished enough for the Emmys red carpet. The key was keeping the hair glossy and healthy, with just enough movement and definition so it felt elevated without looking over-styled,” Christian Wood, the stylist behind Sarah Pidgeon’s hair, told E!.

“We focused on simplicity and ease—beautiful, healthy-looking blonde hair with soft movement and incredible shine,” Wood added.

“Don’t underestimate the prep. Healthy, hydrated hair will always style and photograph better, so I would start there before reaching for your hot tools,” Wood advised. “When curling, use larger sections and avoid making every wave too perfect or uniform.”

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That same emphasis on movement carried through Quinta Brunson’s look. “The finished look was all about length, movement, softness and incredible shine,” said hairstylist Suzette Boozer. “I wanted it to have beautiful red carpet glamour without feeling stiff or overly styled. The waves needed to be soft, touchable and able to move naturally.”

“I wanted her hair to move when she moved,” Boozer added. “It needed to photograph beautifully from every angle on the Emmy red carpet, but I also wanted someone looking at it to think, I could actually wear that.“

For Olivia Munn, hairstylist Gonn Kinoshita struck a similar balance between polish and imperfection. “The key was creating that airy texture and healthy shine without making the waves feel too structured or ‘done,'” Kinoshita explained.

“The volume, shape and shine make it feel polished enough for the red carpet, but breaking up the waves with your fingers and allowing the hair to move keeps it modern and effortless. You still want the hair to feel like hair rather than having every wave perfectly placed.“

Get Effortless Boho Waves

The stylists behind the red carpet looks all used K18 products for shine, movement, and touchability.

HeatBounce conditioning heat protectant

This leave-in conditioning heat protectant detangles, softens, and delivers deeper heat protection for less breakage after blow drying.

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AirWash dry shampoo

“I think of it almost like setting powder for the hair — it helps absorb oil throughout the night while keeping the roots fresh and voluminous,” said Wood.

$48K18

$48Sephora

Molecular repair hair oil

“It helped me achieve that healthy, glossy finish while keeping the hair soft and touchable, which was so important to the overall look,” said Kinoshita. “My biggest tip is to use a small amount at a time and build as needed—you want that beautiful shine and polish while still maintaining the effortless movement and volume of the waves.”

$65K18

$65Sephora

AstroLift reparative volume spray

A lightweight, buildable volume spray, powered by K18PEPTIDE to reverse bounce-depleting damage that can impact all hair types—especially fine, fragile, aging and breakage-prone hair.

$46K18

$46Sephora