Struggling for hair inspiration this Autumn? Hair stylists share their favourite men's hair looks from the Emmy Awards 2026.
From on-trend cropped fringes and Old Hollywood glamour, to embracing natural hair texture, we share the looks most talked about by hair experts at one of the biggest nights in television.
John Mulaney
"John Mulaney’s mullet is choppier in texture to give it a modern appearance," says Simon Shaw, President of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing. The comedian's look has a contemporary edge and looks best when worn a little bit longer on the top and shorter on sides but blended seamlessly. This gives the hair a different texture and allows the client to be able to style their hair in a number of different ways.
"The versatility of this haircut is one of the best things about it - it can be worn slicked back with a gel or serum, or you can use a texturising spray or mattifying product to give the style added texture and body," he continues.
Simon recommends using a sea salt spray and powder for touchable texture and definition - injecting body into the hair. "John’s square face shape is complimented by this style’s longer lengths which balance the face’s proportions, making for an undone, yet polished finish."
Charles Melton
Bruno Marc Giamattei, JOICO EMA Creative Director points to Charles Melton's Emmy's look as an "effortless, almost undone hair look...embracing his hair’s natural wavy texture. His long curls were enhanced with a matte styling pomade for added movement and definition, without looking too polished and allowing for some freedom in how the hair falls."
Bruno advises scrunching as another technique to achieve Charles' voluminous curls. "Much like the name, this technique can be done with a gel or mousse, scrunching the curls upwards towards your head using the palm of your hand."
Richard Gadd
“At the Emmy’s, Richard Gadd, creator and star of Netflix series Baby Reindeer, was spotted sporting one of this season’s top men’s looks - the shorter cut with a cropped fringe," highlights Andy Heasman, International Creative Director at RUSH Hair.
This is a look that exudes youth and shows off facial features, perfect for styling both straight and smooth or messier for an edgy finish, Andy continues. "It’s important that as a hairdresser you use scissors on the sides to help taper these slightly for softness and to avoid the hair going too ‘bowl’ like. Richard’s textured cut pairs perfectly with a subtle undercut incorporated throughout for an edgy finish.”
Paul Anthony Kelly
Love Story star Paul Anthony Kelly sported a sophisticated Old Hollywood side part look, which was Ross Charles from Ross Charles Hairdressing's favourite Emmy's look. "The cut was styled with a short back and sides to draw attention to the dynamic side part shaping drawing the eye into his features and accompanied by a tousled finish," Ross says.
To recreate this look, Ross advises using a point cutting technique, ensuring the shaping is intentional with a lightweight texture styling product to achieve the soft and intentional tousled finish.
Tom Holland
“Tom Holland has recently been growing out his curly quiff into a much more mature take and his Emmys look was definitely one to draw attention to," says Bailey Snowden from Snowden Hair. Tom wore a curly textured quiff with face framing curls creating a much more sophisticated curly look, that stands out from his previous appearances.
To recreate this curly look, Bailey recommends working alongside the hairs natural curl pattern. "I would keep the length long enough to allow the curls to fall naturally and use a point cutting technique looking to remove any bulk.
"Styling is key here, prep wet hair with a lightweight curly cream and the hair with a diffuser attachment on a low heat, this ensures the hair avoids frizz. Finish the styling with a lightweight hair oil to replicate Tom Holland’s showstopping shiny curls.”
Jack Lowden
Jack Lowden wore a clean short textured crop with a sophisticated slicked back quiff that prioritised healthy hair texture, agrees Rainbow Room’s Salon Director, Diana Carson.
Diana recommends reaching for a good quality smoothing cream to tame "any unwanted flyways and creating shine with long lasting results. Shape the hair into a side part and manipulate the hair in a backwards direction tucking the ends in and looking to create intentional volume with the quiff."
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