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2026 hair-trend predictions are here, and they\u2019re 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\u2019s what you\u2019ll be seeing everywhere.<\/p>\n
Jay Small, trichologist, celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of Arey, calls face framing the headline trend for 2026.\u00a0 \u201cFace framing gives clients versatility without the commitment hangover. Bangs are like buying an outfit on vacation that feels fabulous in the moment\u2026 then you get home and realize it doesn\u2019t quite fit your Monday-through-Friday life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, Small says soft face-framing pieces work whether hair is up or down. \u201cClients 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\u2014what I\u2019ve started calling \u2018faux breakage\u2019\u2014add effortless texture and dimension without looking over-styled.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot too long, not too short\u2014mid-length is the Goldilocks cut of 2026,\u201d 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. \u201cMedium-length hair hits the perfect balance: full, modern and easy to style with minimal effort. It\u2019s the most \u2018wearable\u2019 length we\u2019ll see this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c2026 is the year we say goodbye to over-layering,\u201d Small predicts. \u201cClients want their hair to look thicker, healthier and more substantial and excessive layers work against that.\u201d The trend is shifting toward blunt-ish silhouettes\u2014strong at the perimeter, softened with movement where it matters. \u201cThink structure without severity. The back stays clean and blunt, while the face-framing maintains that soft, movable energy. It\u2019s bold, but not boxy\u2026 structured, but not stiff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Small has even coined a name for this emerging shape: \u201cShall we call it the bull\u00e9t? Pronounced like \u2018boulay\u2019\u2014elevated, French-inspired and very 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
While blunt bangs take a backseat in 2026, Patricia Nikole, Redken global artistic ambassador, sees a softer version making a comeback. \u201cA 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter the year, your natural hair color will always be the most flattering because it\u2019s the shade your skin tone was designed to harmonize with,\u201d says Small. As such, he says the biggest color trend of 2026 isn\u2019t about going dramatically lighter or darker, but about trying to preserve or revive the richness of the color they had in their mid-twenties.<\/p>\n
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. \u201cWith the right supplements, targeted scalp formulas and consistent care, the body can continue to produce vibrant, glossy, youthful-looking hair well into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nikole predicts a continued demand for easy upkeep: \u201cIn 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\u2014I love using Redken Shades EQ to achieve this.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n