Haircuts Everyone Is Asking For In 2026 (So Far)

With most of 2026 behind us, we have a good picture of the most influential haircuts that have shaped the trends this year. As we move deeper into fall and towards winter, it's clear that some of the cuts that have dominated the hot list have staying power, since people are still asking for them at the salon. There are quite a few styles that are trending, and one of the biggest and most surprising crazes we've seen has been the return to the long hair love affair. 

"After years of shorter, more blunt cuts trending, long hair feels glamorous again — especially on the red carpet — and exciting, mostly because it's being styled in a more intentional, luxurious way," celebrity hairstylist Mitchell Ramazon told Harper's Bazaar. "It's less about overly done glam and more about healthy, touchable movement and shine. There's also something very aspirational and feminine about long hair right now."

We're seeing some trends — like long hair — outshine others, but there's still lots of variety in what people are asking for from their hairstylists. It's not a this or that game, but a wider hair movement that incorporates lots of different styles, cuts, and lengths. Ramazon confirmed that long hair is only considered stylish when "paired with softer textures, natural dimension, and styling that feels effortless rather than 'perfect,'" so applying these elements to shorter and mid-length hair works, too. Across the board, regardless of length or texture, natural-looking hair with more movement and body is on the menu as opposed to the rigid structure of years past. "That balance makes it feel modern for 2026," Ramazon goes on. "What feels dated is overly stiff styling. Even polished looks still need softness and movement to feel current."

Curtain bangs have been one of the most in-demand hairstyles of the 2020s, and that's not changing as we move into the pointy end of the decade. This Sabrina Carpenter-approved style is one of the haircuts that everyone is asking for in fall 2026, and our favorite thing about it is there are so many different ways to pull it off. Curtain bangs with long hair? Check. Curly curtain bangs? You got it. Textured curtain bangs with bobs and lobs? Absolutely en vogue! 

The blunt bob has been an enduring style through the 2010s and 2020s. It's a classic that wouldn't look particularly out of place in any era, but despite not fitting the "soft hair" brief we're seeing this year, it's simultaneously one of the hottest hair trends of 2026. It does require a little more maintenance to keep the fullness, since wispy ends should be trimmed immediately to keep up the blunt silhouette. But styling is easy-peasy, as you can wear a blunt bob with any texture at all, from laidback waves to tucked-under ends to straight strands. 

Over the years, pixies have dropped and risen in popularity, and they're having a moment again in 2026. "The general vibe of the pixie cut now is cool girl," hairstylist Rio Sreedharan told Vogue. "Everyone wants to look cool, chic, and a little more grungy." There are lots of ways to achieve this aesthetic, from wearing a sleek pixie with a platinum-blond color to pairing it with micro bangs and side bangs. In 2026, pixies can also be gelled down for a glamorous look, or spiky and textured for something a little edgier.

There's certainly room for shorter layers in 2026, but the real stars of the season are long layers and longer lengths. When it comes to incorporating layers into long hair, you can restrict it to just face-framing layers, or you can work them in around the head for more body. Celebrity stylist Laura Polko told Harper's Bazaar that, once again, the key to pulling it off this year is soft, flowy movement. "... now we're seeing these longer lengths without everything feeling fake or extension-heavy," she confirmed. "It feels more natural, pretty and healthy."

Bixies were the talk of the town in the '90s, after Princess Diana made them cool. Now, we're seeing this hybrid cut return to the fore, which is good news for those who like the idea of a bold pixie but aren't ready to go all the way. Since this 'do combines the pixie with the bob for something with a little more length and texture, it comes with endless styling options. Curled and wavy bixies are particularly perfect for the laidback Gen Z energy that's taken over the decade.

As much as we love a statement-making blunt bob with a stiffer silhouette, 2026 is also the year of the bouncy, choppy bob. These two looks are the same length, but the ends of the bouncy bob tend to be wispier, and style-wise, it's worn with more texture. This usually comes from layers cut in throughout, but it can also come from waving some bits and leaving others straight. It's another lived-in style where there are few rules, other than that non-negotiable bounce and body.

Those who are curious about bangs but are not ready to dive into the full, blunt fringe arena will be pleased to know that longer, wispier bangs are also in this year. These can be split curtain-bang style, or swept to the side in a throwback to the Y2K era. You could also just keep them straight. The only criteria is that they graze the eyebrows and have a feathered quality. Of course, it's important to choose the bang style that will suit your face shape, and long fringes are particularly well-matched to square faces. But this look can also work for heart-shaped faces, since they suit wispy fringes beautifully. 

It's popular every year, it screams sophistication, and we'll never get over it. The collarbone-grazing lob is the ultimate in-between cut, where you're tired of long hair but don't want to commit to a shorter bob. The lob is a flattering 'do for those with thinning hair and works with every texture, from curls and waves to pin-straight ends. You might have guessed that, in 2026, this style is all about softness and movement, with celebrities like Hailey Bieber rocking their lobs with a side of bounce throughout the year. 

Moving just past lob territory, mid-length shoulder-grazing cuts are definitely trendy in 2026. In particular, we're seeing this neat, understated 'do with A-line ends, starting shorter at the back of the head and growing longer towards the front for a diagonal shape. But far from giving "can I speak to the manager," this look is chic and stylish, especially when worn with a little texture and wave. Because of the clean-cut ends, this is a medium-length cut that will make you look and feel youthful since it's both intentional and stylish.

In the 1970s, anyone who was anyone had a shag. But this retro style, defined by lots of short layers through the crown and around the face, has been coming back with a vengeance. Because of the contrast between length and layers, especially for longer shags, it's naturally an edgier style. But you can make it feel more subdued with softer styling, which happens to be the trendiest way to do it in 2026. Think gentle waves and loose ringlets, no teasing, and layers that blend seamlessly. Sounds good? Here are 40 shag haircuts to inspire your next appointment.