I still enjoy reading annual trend forecasts, even though they are often too specific or too general. It’s important to recognise how short-lived micro-trends affect both personal style and the environment, but trends still give us a good idea of where culture is going.
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I recently looked into how Pinterest’s “poetcore” prediction shows that more and more people want to get away from screens and back into the real world. In another article, FJ senior editor Lara Daly looked at fragrance trends and how they relate to the Lunar New Year. She said that the trend is moving away from vanilla and toward richer, more expressive notes.
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What will happen to hair in 2026?
People have different ideas about hair. Will the bob haircut stay in style? Is the Sabrina Carpenter blowout at its peak? There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to hair trends. The best haircut is always the one you like. Still, I talked to four hairdressers to find out what haircut trends are likely to shape 2026 for those who want to know what will happen next.
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A Focus on the Fringe
Tara-Lee Mitchell, who started the Melbourne salon Mitch Studio, thinks that the fringe will be the most popular style in 2026. “We’ve seen some changes lately, but the modern fringe is going to be shorter, bolder, and more daring,” she says. “Think sexy hair like Gucci’s.”
Tara suggests Dakota Johnson in Materialists for a long, blunt fringe and Odessa A’zion for those with curly or wavy hair. She says, “A fringe instantly makes you look new.” “It’s also great for giving your hair shape while it grows. Just make sure your stylist knows how to work with your natural texture.”
The Growth of the Grown-In Side Fringe
Remi Jeffers, a cutting teacher at Edwards and Co., thinks the grown-in side fringe will make a comeback. This style has long, softly blended side fringe that fall between the cheekbone and jaw. They give your face shape without making you commit to a long-term style.
Why Scandi fringe will always be popular
Edwards and co-founder Jaye Edwards support both Tara and Remi. They think Scandi fringe will stay popular. “They’re the easiest way to change your look without having to put in a lot of work,” he says. “Soft, wispy, and feather-light, they are a little shorter in the middle to draw attention to the eyes and cheekbones.”
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Jaye recommends requesting airy, face-framing bangs that blend naturally into the haircut rather than anything heavy. “They’re incredibly versatile—wear them softly parted for a clean Scandi feel or tousled for a more undone, French-girl aesthetic.”
The Return of Long Hair for Women
Becc Snow, hairstylist and founder of Melbourne salon Alchemy, views 2026 as a shift away from rigid gender norms in beauty. “In recent years, many women and femme-presenting people embraced more masculine styles to reclaim control over how they’re perceived,” Becc explains.
“Now, I see a move back toward embracing femininity, with longer, whimsical hairstyles paired with bangs.” She also predicts a strong comeback for hair extensions.
Pixie, Bixie, or Somewhere in Between
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Becc also expects a surge in shorter cuts. “I think this will be the year of the femme pixie crop—opening up the face and not hiding behind hair,” she says.
Remi adds that the bixie bob—a blend of a bob and a pixie—will gain traction. “Falling between the jaw and collarbone, it combines structure with light texture through the ends. It’s shorter and more directional than a classic bob but softer than a pixie, delivering movement, shape, and edge without severity.”
To achieve this look, Remi suggests asking for a precise bob length with soft internal layering and a subtle pixie-inspired texture around the perimeter. “What I love most is how effortlessly cool it feels.”
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