While fashion may be the main course at Australian Fashion Week, the hair — courtesy of Shark Beauty — has certainly been the dessert. As the official hair sponsor for the week, Shark tapped some of the industry’s best to create runway-ready looks that not only complemented each designer’s vision but also set the tone for real-world trends.
Things kicked off with the opening show, Carla Zampatti, held offsite at Sydney’s Circular Quay. Hair Director Madison Voloshin, working with Shark Beauty tools, created a soft, elevated wave anchored by a sleek side part.
“The inspiration behind the look came from Carla Zampatti herself. She had beautiful hair with a lot of strength — I once did her hair, which was an amazing experience,” says Voloshin. “I tried to pull through the brand DNA by giving the hair a strong yet feminine look.”
From there, Shark Beauty continued to deliver across a variety of shows — each look designed in close collaboration with the designer’s aesthetic. At Beare Park and Nagnata, models wore ultra-low, low-slung ponytails — the kind of effortless style you’ll likely see replicated off the runway all season long. The effect was quietly powerful and refreshingly wearable.
Over at Aje, individuality was embraced, with each model’s natural texture showcased: soft waves, sleek strands, and voluminous curls all shared the runway. It felt very much in line with the spirit of the brand.
“Aje is all about raw beauty. I tend to gravitate towards more effortless textures and natural finishes — something that feels undone and free-spirited, yet still elevated,” says Voloshin. “The Shark FlexStyle Auto-Wrap attachments and the Curl-Defining Diffuser were key to creating the hair look, helping to enhance each model’s natural texture while adding soft volume and subtle shape. The result was hair that felt styled but not forced.”
For more statement-driven shows, like Mariam Seddiq, the process becomes more intentional.
“Each year we build a completely different hair story that reflects the boldness and texture of her designs,” says Voloshin. “Her collections are rich with colour, structure, and personality,
which makes collaborating with her creatively rewarding and pushes me to design something truly unique each time.”
For Alix Higgins, the energy shifted to something slightly more avant-guarde.
“We wanted to bring that same free-spirited energy into the hair by creating something intentionally dishevelled, with more texture and undone movement,” says hair director for the show, Daniel Jianing Liu.
Hair was parted down the centre and pulled tightly back at the front, leaving wispy baby hairs to frame the face. The back was left out, creating contrast and a sense of youthfulness.
In the fast-paced Fashion Week environment, it’s important to have high performing and versatile tools on hand to achieve runway-ready hair. Voloshin’s go-to product for 2025 was the Shark Beauty FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System.
“It effortlessly transforms between a powerful, fast, hair dryer, and an ultra-versatile multi-styler, making it the perfect tool for my backstage kit,” Voloshin says. “The Auto-Wrap Curling attachments are ideal for creating textured, loose waves and help me save a huge amount of time on shows.”
The takeaway? Shark Beauty proved that the right tools, paired with the right creative direction, can make runway hair feel not only aspirational — but achievable. And we can’t wait to try some of these trends ourselves at home.
