From NYC to Paris: Top Stylists Weigh in on the 13 Hair Trends Poised to Dominate 2026
New year, new 'do—it's a thing! I know I'm not the only one itching to make a 2026 hair transformation, and right now is the perfect time to commit to an updated color or cut. For those craving some sort of change but not totally sure which route to take in the mane department, lean in: I consulted top stylists and colorists from across the globe—Chris McMillan in L.A., Marc Mena and Rita Hazan in NYC, Brian O'Connor in Nashville, and David Mallett in Paris—for ultimate hair trend inspiration. The year may have barely begun, but these pros have already seen some patterns start to (literally) take shape.
Overall, 2026 is not the year to be wishy-washy. You're either all in on choppy, piece-y layers or a softly-blended perimeter; a glossy, midnight-black hue or a brilliant, shimmering blonde; a big, sexy blowout or lived-in texture. The spectrum is extreme, but of course there's plenty of room to play, so scroll through the 13 trends below and commit to whichever speaks most to your personal style. Dare to dive in?
Top 2026 Hair Colors
Hot Chocolate Brunette
A warm, dimensional brunette is one of winter's richest-looking hair colors, and according to Hazan, the hue is showing no signs of slowing down for 2026. "It allows color to evolve without being one exact shade," she notes. "Jessica Simpson is a perfect example. I made her 'hot chocolate' brunette, deepening her blonde and adding in darker shades." The color should read warm without leaning too red or brassy, Hazan explains further on Instagram, which you can achieve by asking your colorist for toffee-hued highlights that provide tons of dimension and movement.
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Butter-Gold Blonde
According to Mallett, butter-gold blonde is also on the up and up. "We're going to see a lot of that," he confirms. Creamy and warm, the buttery hue sits between toasted sand and dark honey on the blonde spectrum. Justine Skye's vibrant color is the perfect reference photo, as her strands look practically candlelit.
Midnight
If you can't stop thinking about Odessa A'zion's raven curls, well, same. Dreamy spirals aside, her rich onyx hue is inspiring brunettes everywhere to hold the highlights and lean into a midnight tone.
Another celeb on board? Gigi Hadid, who recently swapped her honey-blonde tresses for a matte black mini bob. “This matte black color is the newest era of true black—rich and inky, without any red undertones,” says celebrity hairstylist and colorist Dimitris Giannetos in an editor-exclusive release. “We’ve moved past the traditional blue-black hue to something more elevated and fashion-forward." I expect a swarm of salon appointments to immediately follow suit.
Brilliant Blonde
At the same time, Hazan expects blondes to become even creamier and more vibrant. "Brunettes are having their moment, but a high-maintenance blonde will be coveted in 2026," she declares. Think less balayage, more root-to-tip perfection. "Color will be rich, brilliant, and reflective to signal healthy hair," she adds. Yes, this may ultimately mean more trips to the salon for touch-ups, but you can also rely on plenty of at-home treatments to preserve the shine. The overarching goal is to wind up with a champagne shade that practically shimmers in the light.
