From the cowboy bob’s surge online to a new emphasis on scalp care, the hair trends gaining ground for 2026 point to one thing: hair that wears well and holds up long after your last salon visit. We talk to hairstylists Mette Thorsgaard and Linn Jøssang Helgeland on the cuts, colours and styles happening now
Photo: @dimitrishair
The Cowboy bob
The cowboy bob has gained traction online as the summer haircut thanks to Megan Fox, but its hyped appeal comes down to the cut. It’s a bob with movement and texture, designed to hold its shape without constant styling. “Shorter hair is getting more movement and texture,” says Linn Jøssang Helgeland of Oslo's Gevir Atélier. “It’s modern and easy to wear.”
Practicality is central. “A good haircut makes it easier to maintain and style your hair,” says session stylist Mette Thorsgaard. “It makes your hair look healthy.” Rather than relying on a rigid silhouette, the cowboy bob works as a flexible framework for a low-effort look. Whether straight, wavy or loosely curled, it grows out well. And that is precisely why it resonates now.
Photo: Bryndis Thorsteinsdottir
Caring for curls and natural texture
For 2026, curls, coils and waves are central to how hair is cut and worn. “Natural texture takes centre stage in 2026,” says Thorsgaard. “Think curls, coils, and waves which are embraced with minimal manipulation. Focus on enhancing natural patterns.”
Helgeland describes a similar direction in softer terms. “Barely-there, textured waves,” she says. “Soft, natural waves that look effortless. Easy styling and a relaxed vibe.” The common denominator is movement. Hair is cut to support its natural flow, not forced into submission with heat or product.
Photo: Getty
Bank on bangs
Bangs remain in circulation, but the emphasis has shifted. Instead of blunt statements, fringe is softer, longer and easier to live with.“The ‘bang’ culture will continue from 2025,” says Thorsgaard. “But in the coming year it leans more towards longer bangs, shag-style bangs, bottleneck bangs.”
Helgeland notes a similar move toward personality over precision. “Bangs are becoming more playful,” she says. “Micro bangs, wind-blown bangs. They shape the face and add personality to the haircut.” This year, bangs are designed to blend, move and grow out without constant maintenance.
Photo: Bryndis Thorsteinsdottir
Colour melting
Hair colour follows the logic of subtlety and longevity we're seeing in the new year. Instead of sharp contrasts, colour melting prioritises blend and depth. “Using at least three tones to make the colour look very natural and blended,” says Helgeland. “It gives depth without strong contrasts.” The result is colour that wears in, rather than out, aligning with a broader shift toward hair that lasts over time, not just on day one.
Photo: Tonya Mattyu
Healthy hair and scalp care
“Healthy hair glow is the new luxury,” says Thorsgaard. She points to continued innovation in scalp care, bond-repair treatments and minimal-heat styling as shaping how hair both looks and behaves. Helgeland sees the same priorities reflected in client requests. “People want shiny and healthy-looking hair,” she says, alongside colours that “grow out softly” and looks that feel “cool but not overdone.” In practice, this shifts attention away from dramatic styling and towards condition, cut quality and longevity.
Photo: Getty
The modern shag
Layering takes on new relevance in 2026, but without the retro weight that once defined the shag. “That’s a layered haircut that features lots of texture and layers,” says Thorsgaard. “Feathered or choppy ends and soft face-framing layers.”
What distinguishes today’s versions is technique. “The techniques are more refined,” says Helgeland. “Better cutting, softer results and more personal styling.” Rather than a fixed look, the modern shag is less blue print and more of a method: adjusting length, layering and weight to suit the individual head of hair.
Photo: Bryndis Thorsteinsdottir
Sleek, polished finishes
Alongside texture-led cuts, sleek hair continues to hold its ground. Pared back and deliberately simple, Helgeland loves a glossy straight strand. “Shiny and minimal hair is still strong," she says. It's a simple look, but very chic and confident.” Thorsgaard points to a similar appetite for shine. “High-gloss hair is trending across all lengths,” she says, referencing glass-like finishes and polished blowouts. The focus is on surface and condition, not stiff over-styling.