Don't even try to fight it. It's been written in the stars since February's catwalks. Autumn/winter13 hair marks a return to poker-straight, abominably shiny, poker-straight hair. We should have seen it coming, really. After season upon season of nonchalant, Parisian waves, you know, the kind that felt impossible to get right (though by now most of us seem to have cracked it, typical), as ever, the pendulum has to swing in the opposite direction.

And what could juxtapose flouncy model-off-duty waves more than the severity and innate power that lies in super straight lengths? Daks, Versace, Reed Krakoff and Versace all played the straight game, filling their joyous shows with gaggles of models who had waist-length, impossibly perfect lengths, which seemed to escalate their height by an extra foot. 

It might end on the catwalk but certainly, it didn't begin there. When I think of straight hair, I think of Ali McGraw in Love Story. Or a 70s Cher, hosting a variety show with Sonny Bono. These were the women who did it first. And seemingly effortlessly (though it's highly likely that a brown paper bag and an ironing board was involved). Mercifully, we're now spoilt for choice with gentler straightening solutions (keep the temperature at 180C or below) which help keep our hair stronger for longer. Literally.

If, like me, straight hair feels like a slight departure for you, click through the gallery above for my icons of straight hair. Two words: Ali McGraw.