Hansen & Gretel x Shark Beauty backstage report – May 12th, 2026
At Australian Fashion Week 2026 presented by Shark Beauty, Hansen & Gretel transformed the runway at the MCA into a shimmering ode to Australian surf culture with its latest collection, TIDE.
Designed by Creative Director, Ainsley Hansen, the collection fused luminous fabrics, liquid-like movement and sensual silhouettes, with the beauty direction mirroring that same energy, with salt-kissed texture, radiant skin and soft, windswept hair created using Shark Beauty tools.
The look:
"For my collection TIDE, I wanted to capture a sense of fluidity and sensuality that feels both nostalgic and modern, drawing from Australian surf heritage while elevating it through shimmer, texture, and luminous silhouettes," explained Hansen & Gretel Creative Director, Ainsley Hansen.
"Each piece is designed to move with the body, balancing softness with strength, ease with intention."
"The runway at Australian Fashion Week was designed to become an extension of that world – immersive, atmospheric, and alive with energy."
"With Shark Beauty as the Presenting Partner of our show, the beauty direction mirrored this vision through radiant skin, wet-look textures, and effortless hair that felt touched by salt, air, and light."
"I wanted the Hansen & Gretel woman to feel like a modern siren, confident, instinctive, and completely free in her expression," said Hansen.
The hair:
"For the Hansen & Gretel runway, the hair channels a seductive force – effortlessly magnetic, naturally beautiful, and intentionally undone, like it’s been swum in and left to dry in the ocean air," shared Shark Beauty Hair Director, Madison Voloshin.
"For me, the Shark Beauty Glam tool is key to bringing that texture to life, using it with the Silki Ceramic Straightener attachment over soft plaits to create those subtle, irregular waves that feel organic rather than styled."
"It allows me to refine movement without losing that raw, windswept quality, so the finish stays soft, breathable, and truly lived-in."
The products:
Shark Glam Hot Tool Air Drying & Styling System ($699.99 at Shark Beauty).
You can find the Shark Beauty product range and download hi-res imagery for editorial inclusions, here.
You can find the full schedule for this year's AFC Australian Fashion Week presented by Shark Beauty, here.
For more backstage beauty and hair reports, click here.
Image credit: Shark Beauty
