2026 hair-trend predictions are here, and they’re all about versatility, health and effortless sophistication. We asked leading experts to share their takes on the cuts, colors and styling trends set to define the year ahead. From the rise of mid-length shapes to a new philosophy on hair color, here’s what you’ll be seeing everywhere.
Featured Experts
- Jay Small is a trichologist, celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of Arey
- Patricia Nikole is a hair colorist and the global artistic ambassador for Redken
Haircut and Hairstyle Trends
Face-Framing Takes Center Stage
Jay Small, trichologist, celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of Arey, calls face framing the headline trend for 2026. “Face framing gives clients versatility without the commitment hangover. Bangs are like buying an outfit on vacation that feels fabulous in the moment… then you get home and realize it doesn’t quite fit your Monday-through-Friday life.”
Instead, Small says soft face-framing pieces work whether hair is up or down. “Clients love the movement and softness they create around the face, and when hair is pulled into a ponytail or loose bun, those little pieces you tug out in front—what I’ve started calling ‘faux breakage’—add effortless texture and dimension without looking over-styled.”
Medium Length: The It-Length of 2026
“Not too long, not too short—mid-length is the Goldilocks cut of 2026,” says Small. When hair is too long, it tends to fall flat and look less full; too short, and by spring, clients are already wishing for length again. “Medium-length hair hits the perfect balance: full, modern and easy to style with minimal effort. It’s the most ‘wearable’ length we’ll see this year.”
Fewer Layers, More Density
“2026 is the year we say goodbye to over-layering,” Small predicts. “Clients want their hair to look thicker, healthier and more substantial and excessive layers work against that.” The trend is shifting toward blunt-ish silhouettes—strong at the perimeter, softened with movement where it matters. “Think structure without severity. The back stays clean and blunt, while the face-framing maintains that soft, movable energy. It’s bold, but not boxy… structured, but not stiff.”
Small has even coined a name for this emerging shape: “Shall we call it the bullét? Pronounced like ‘boulay’—elevated, French-inspired and very 2026.”
Soft Side-Swept Bangs
While blunt bangs take a backseat in 2026, Patricia Nikole, Redken global artistic ambassador, sees a softer version making a comeback. “A styling trend I see emerging this year is the return of the soft side-swept bang, paired with layering that begins above the shoulders and flows into length, or with subtle internal layers in shorter cuts that create effortless shape and maximum volume.”
Hair Color Trends
Spotlighting Your Natural Hue
“No matter the year, your natural hair color will always be the most flattering because it’s the shade your skin tone was designed to harmonize with,” says Small. As such, he says the biggest color trend of 2026 isn’t about going dramatically lighter or darker, but about trying to preserve or revive the richness of the color they had in their mid-twenties.
Instead of relying solely on toners and glosses, Small says 2026 is about scalp care, supplements and routines that protect pigment at the follicle level. “With the right supplements, targeted scalp formulas and consistent care, the body can continue to produce vibrant, glossy, youthful-looking hair well into the future.”
Low-Maintenance, High-Dimension
Nikole predicts a continued demand for easy upkeep: “In the world of color, low maintenance and express services are what clients are reaching for! For their look direction, they are continuing to ask for rich and shiny deeper hues; dimensional color that showcases the highs and lows in their hair for a very dynamic and contemporary look—I love using Redken Shades EQ to achieve this.”
