“Au Naturel” - Today’s Culture Embracing the Natural
By Kenzi Perkins
Edited by Anna Kate Mereness
For so long, what was considered beautiful in society was anything but natural. Plastic surgery, caked on makeup and colored hair were praised as the epitome of beauty. Think back to just a few years ago…
Anything but natural
Scrolling through social media, you see getting ready videos, makeup tutorials and day-in-the-life videos–all informing you that everything you’re doing to feel beautiful is wrong. An influencer in a full beat tells you that you need every full-coverage product they’re endorsing, waving their three-inch-long acrylic nails at the camera. Hair stylists recommend heat styling your hair to make it more manageable, and artificially dyed hair that matches your undertone makes you look better. You’re living in an era in which natural beauty isn’t considered beautiful at all; change yourself, society says.
Back in 2026, we find that things have taken a turn in a different direction–a better one. The beauty industry is seeing a comeback in the appreciation of natural hair texture, makeup that enhances your own features instead of trying to cover them up and serves as a platform that is accepting of normal bodies.
Best face forward
Originating with influencers like Hailey Bieber, the “no-makeup” makeup trend encourages the use of minimal makeup to elevate one’s own features. Instead of layering a heavy foundation and chiseling out cheekbones that shouldn’t be extremely pronounced, this makeup technique allows the things that make you you shine through: freckles, beauty marks and even acne scars. These sorts of makeup looks often feature a dewy base, a pink blush that mimics natural flush, and overall minimal coverage, giving the skin a your-face-but-better look.
(Un)ruly locks
The emergence of trends involving the “curly girl method” and prioritizing hair health has led to a celebration of natural hair texture. Waves, curls, coils and straight hair alike are getting the recognition they’ve gone so long without. Previously, if someone had wavy or curly hair, they were told to straighten it, and those with straight hair were told to give their hair some shape. Now, instead of turning to heat stylers and chemical treatments, people of all hair types are just trying to find products that best compliment their own hair. Why tame locks that were never meant to be?
Nailed it
From the later 2010s to the early 2020s, long acrylic nails with lots of crazy designs were everywhere: seemingly everyone had them. Trends have shifted, though, and the more natural your nails look, the better! Nail art that looks like a cleaned up version of your own nails is what’s all over social media feeds now. Milky pinks, nudes and subtle french tips have taken the front as the most popular designs.
Going “Au Naturel”
The beauty industry finally seems to be catching up with what has been true all along: the most beautiful person you can be is yourself. There isn’t a need to try and “fix” any perceived imperfections with heavy makeup, heat and chemicals or bulky artificial nails because the natural you is the best you. Finally, embracing yourself as you are, or going “au naturel”–in your natural state–is the beauty standard.
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