StoryInColor
1990s-present

Guido Palau

The editorial stylist who shapes runway hair

Guido Palau (usually credited simply as Guido) is the editorial stylist most consistently chosen to lead hair for major fashion shows over the last three decades. His work for Prada, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, and most other top houses has defined the season-by-season look of runway hair since the late 1990s. He is also one of the few editorial stylists who has published his own books on his work.

See Guido Palau’s signature cuts on your own face

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Signature looks

  1. Severe slick-back

    Hair pulled completely flat against the head, often wet-look, with a centre or off-centre part. The runway gesture Guido returns to most often when a show wants a hard, architectural reading.

    Flatters an oval faceFlatters a square face

  2. Editorial wet-look

    Soaked-in-product, deliberately undone hair that looks fresh out of water. A Guido signature across multiple seasons.

    Flatters an oval faceFlatters a heart-shaped face

  3. Sculptural updo

    Tightly constructed structured updos that read more like millinery than hair, often deliberately unwearable in daily life but show-defining on the runway.

    Flatters an oval face

Notable clients

  • Prada
  • Alexander McQueen
  • Marc Jacobs
  • Valentino
  • Vogue

Why their work matters

Guido's runway work decides what a lot of editorial hair will look like for a given season. Magazines and salons follow, and the sleek-back and wet-look gestures that read as fashion-forward in any given year almost always trace back to his recent runway choices. His books, particularly the Hair By Sam McKnight-style monographs, have made the language of editorial hair more visible to people outside the industry.

Try Guido Palau’s signature looks on your face

Hairstyle Analysis renders eight cuts directly onto a selfie of you, including the layered, fringed, and wave-led shapes Guido Palau has built a career around. See which signature suits your features before you book a chair.

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$4.99 one-time, no subscription.

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