Style by Marylle Koken, Sebastian Professional Creative Ambassador
Photo courtesy of
Sebastian
Style by Angelo Valillo, Sebastian Professional International Artist
Photo courtesy of
Sebastian
Style by Anthony Cole, Sebastian Professional Global Ambassador
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Sebastian
On Modern Salon's Pinterest, we did a search for "vintage" and found many looks that trend towards "vampy."
Photo courtesy of
MODERN SALON/ Pinterest Board
"Don't torture yourself, Gomez. That's my job."--This image is inspired by Morticia Addams, the iconic, gothic matriarch of the Addams Family, known for her pale skin, long black hair, form-fitting black dresses, and unwavering poise.
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Morgan Taylor lead nail stylist, Danielle Candido designed the glossy black stiletto nails dipped in metallics to compliment the gothic fairytale vibe at the 2023 Rodarte Show during NYFW, with an elevated, sleek and sophisticated grounded look.
Photo: Nail Alliance, LLC
This AI-image pays homage to Theda Bara (1885–1955), an American silent film actress who became one of Hollywood’s first manufactured stars and the screen’s original "vamp". She was known for her exotic, kohl-smudged, and gothic femme fatale roles.
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Each year, the trend spotters at Pinterest release their trends for the year, or their "Pinterest Picks." For 2026, one of the themes showing up is described as the Vamp Romantic trend, an aesthetic defined by sculptural and darkly romantic styling.
On Modern Salon's Pinterest, we did a search for "vintage" and found many looks that trend towards "vampy."
MODERN SALON/ Pinterest Board
Vamp Romantic Is Trending
In the report, the look is described this way: "Beauty bites back with this 2026 trend. Millennials and Gen Z will go all in on an after-dark aesthetic, embracing jet black nails, romantic goth hairstyles and a smudged kohl smokey eye—all with a touch of glossy glamour."
The most iconic Vamp nail polish shade comes from Chanel, introduced in 1994 (originally called Rouge Noir). It exploded into pop culture when Uma Thurman wore it in Pulp Fiction, and suddenly everyone wanted nails that felt edgy, intellectual, and a little dangerous. At the time, dark nail polish was still considered rebellious but Vamp helped make this fashion.
The hair color that says "vamp" is, as would be expected, generally dark. Think black violets, deep brunettes, and often tips or even splits of scarlet reds. The hair styles tends towards a fringe (full, micro, or peaked) and shapes that feel vintage or even rockabilly--Victory Rolls, Veronica Lake smooth cascading waves, Silent Film heroines like Theda Bara, and always a touch of drama.
"Don't torture yourself, Gomez. That's my job."--This image is inspired by Morticia Addams, the iconic, gothic matriarch of the Addams Family, known for her pale skin, long black hair, form-fitting black dresses, and unwavering poise.
This is an AI-generated image. Refer to our Terms of Use.
And when we think of drama, Sebastian Professional always come to mind. A brand long identified as being both fashion forward and technique driven, the artists who work with the products and represent Sebastian know that pushing the envelope can be a very good thing.
Anthony Cole, Sebastian Professional Global Ambassador, says, “Clients are becoming bolder with their hair choices and want hair that feels expressive. Sebastian Professional makes it easy to lean into the goth aesthetic with products that give you control without compromising movement."
In our slideshow, Marylle Koken, Sebastian Professional Creative Ambassador and Angelo Valillo, Sebastian Professional International Artist, along with Cole, all contributed looks to illustrate the trend toward sculpted, moody, and highly intentional hair.
Vamp Romantic Product Must-Haves
Sebastian Professional’s versatile range of salon-quality stylers can help achieve the precision, shape, and high‑gloss dimension defining the trend:
· Sebastian Professional Shaper Plus: Extra‑hold hairspray that provides 24‑hour control without stiffness and stands up to high humidity.
· Sebastian Professional Gel Forte: A shimmer‑strong gel that sculpts individual hairs with high‑gloss flexibility
· Sebastian Professional Potion 9: A wearable leave‑in treatment that restores hair’s natural condition, boosts manageability, and renews shine.