Amid dramatic New Year promises and endlessly detailed “in and out” lists, yearly trend forecasts remain a personal pleasure. While it’s important to recognise how short-lived micro-trends can influence both personal style and the environment, broader trends still act as a clear reflection of where culture is moving.
Haircut Trends Set to Shape the Year Ahead
From fashion to beauty, trends often mirror deeper shifts in mindset. I recently explored how Pinterest’s poetcore prediction points to a desire to step away from screens and reconnect with the tangible world. In a similar vein, fragrance forecasts revealed a move away from vanilla, embracing richer scent profiles tied to cultural moments like the Lunar New Year.
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Looking Ahead: What Hair Trends Will Define 2026?
Hair trends always spark debate. Will the bob haircut continue its dominance? Has the Sabrina Carpenter blowout reached its peak? Trend predictions aren’t strict rules—the best hairstyle is always one that feels right. Still, for those curious about what’s next, conversations with leading hairdressers reveal the key haircut trends expected to influence 2026.
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The Fringe Takes Centre Stage
Tara-Lee Mitchell, founder of Melbourne’s Mitch Studio, believes the fringe will be everywhere in 2026. While fringes have evolved over time, she predicts a move toward styles that are shorter, bolder, and more expressive. Drawing inspiration from high-fashion influences, she describes the look as confident and striking.
She references Dakota Johnson’s long, blunt fringe and Odessa A’zion’s textured take for curly or wavy hair. According to Tara, a fringe can instantly refresh a look while adding structure during the growing-out phase, as long as it works with natural hair texture.
The Comeback of the Grown-In Side Fringe
Remi Jeffers, cutting educator at Edwards and Co, anticipates renewed interest in the grown-in side fringe. This style features longer side bangs that sit between the cheekbone and jaw, offering subtle shaping without long-term commitment.
Remi suggests requesting long side bangs that blend effortlessly into face-framing layers. The result is flattering, easy to maintain, and perfectly aligned with 2026’s more relaxed beauty approach.
Why Scandi Bangs Continue to Trend
Edwards and Co founder Jaye Edwards agrees that Scandi bangs are here to stay. Light, airy, and softly textured, they sit slightly shorter in the centre to draw attention to the eyes and cheekbones.
Jaye advises opting for face-framing bangs that flow naturally into the haircut rather than heavy, blunt styles. Their versatility makes them ideal—worn neatly parted for a clean Scandinavian look or softly undone for a French-inspired finish.
A Return to Long, Feminine Styles
Becc Snow, hairstylist and founder of Alchemy in Melbourne, sees 2026 marking a shift away from rigid beauty norms. After years of embracing more masculine silhouettes, she predicts many will return to longer, feminine hairstyles paired with bangs.
She also foresees a strong resurgence of hair extensions, supporting a renewed appreciation for length, softness, and movement.
Pixie, Bixie, or the Best of Both
At the shorter end of the spectrum, Becc expects the rise of the femme pixie crop, a confident style that opens up the face and highlights natural features.
Remi adds that the bixie bob—a hybrid of a bob and a pixie—will gain popularity. Sitting between the jaw and collarbone, it combines structure with light texture, delivering movement and edge without harshness.
To achieve this cut, Remi recommends a precise bob length with soft internal layers and subtle pixie-inspired detailing around the edges, creating a look that feels effortlessly modern.
