When it comes to hair this autumn, everything is loose, flowing and natural, with looks that are easy to manage. Here's what's in and out this season

In: Smooth long layers. Frederic Fekkai predicts we'll see lots of cuts with subtly graduated and longer layers to match the ultra-feminine style of the season.
Out: Choppy short layers. Irregularly cut layers that give a dissonant, hard-angled appearance don't work with autumn's romantic looks.

In: Tousled locks. If you have naturally curly or wavy hair, encourage the natural movement by scrunching and diffusing the hair, says hairdresser Andrew Collinge. It is important to 'break up' the curl by raking your fingers through the curl afterwards and running through a shine gloss or straightening cream.
Out: Uniform curls. They can seem prissy and contrived.

In: Deeper, richer hair colour. Hair colour is going luxuriously dark this season, says Renee Patronik, L'Oreal's consulting colourist. Look for fewer highlights and a return to single-process, all-over colour in deeper, richer shades.
Out: Sun-bleached colour. Excessively highlighted hair doesn't harmonise with the more discreet fashion trends this autumn.

In: Straight middle part. Kyrin McKenna, senior stylist at the Oscar Blandi Salon in New York, likes an easy middle part, reflecting a more straightforward mind-set.
Out: Zigzag part. The jagged path is too exacting for this season's new simplicity.

In: Sinuous tresses. Hair that has a slight wave and that flows and moves will be a huge trend, says Poncho, a stylist at Pashah Salon in New York City.
Out: Super-straight strands. Flatironed hair looks too severe right now.

In: Unaffected and natural styles. To keep your hair natural for autumn, says stylist Heather Packer of Bumble and Bumble, finger-comb through it after it's styled, and don't use a brush again that day.
Out: Super-controlled, every-hair-in-place styles. Hair is soft, not overstyled or formed into looks that are too perfect or done. It's too high maintenance.

In: Low ponytails: Hair pulled back into a low ponytail looks so right this year, and with it worn this way, this season's hot bold earrings and strong necklaces won't compete.
Out: Dismantled chignons: Fussy buns with strands of hair pulled out like little stalks of hay just look too contrived.