Australian Fashion Week is back, and, much like the industry itself, this showstopping event has a new look in 2026. Featuring a fresh central hub at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, the week's presenting partner, Shark Beauty, is giving visitors a taste of the runway beyond simply sitting on the sidelines. That's because it's offering a free catwalk-inspired hairstyle via its new Shark Beauty Glam and Glow Salon. Popping up on MCA's Tallawoladah Lawn from Monday, May 11–Friday, May 15, every complimentary 30-minute dry styling session is guided by an in-house styling expert. Personalised to your look and vibe, you'll also get some advice to help you recreate it at home. To that end, visitors will sneak a peek at the Shark Glam Hot Tool Air Drying & Styling System and Shark CryoGlow Under-Eye Cooling & LED Mask, with the latter launching later in 2026. "Australian Fashion Week is always incredibly inspiring, but what I find most interesting is how those looks translate beyond the runway. It's about making beautiful, considered hair feel accessible and showing that with the right tools, that sense of confidence isn't reserved for one moment," says Shark Beauty ambassador Maria Thattil. Ready for your free makeover? Just book your styling session at the Shark Beauty Glam & Glow Salon to make sure you don't miss out. However, the on-site team will be accepting walk-ins when possible. So, if you get a spare moment when roaming between AFW 2026's runway events, panel discussions and workshops, it's worth checking to see if there's a gap in appointments that you can fill in the salon chair. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images: Supplied.
