The first weeks of January always reveal the haircut direction for the year, and 2026 is shaping up to be a big moment for texture, movement, and individuality. Gone are the overly sculpted shapes of the early 2020s; in their place are softer cuts that enhance natural texture, frame the face, and allow for wearable, low-maintenance styling. Stylists say clients are craving hair that moves, hair that grows out beautifully, and haircuts that match their lifestyle rather than the other way around.
Below, we break down the biggest cuts expected to fill salon chairs in January, plus what to ask for, who they flatter, and the products that keep each style looking effortless.
The Bixie: 2026’s Breakout Short Cut
The bixie, a playful hybrid between a bob and a pixie, is barreling into 2026 as one of the most requested short cuts. Its rise isn’t surprising: clients are drawn to something fresh and modern without veering into extreme territory. The bixie hits that sweet spot beautifully, combining the ease and low-maintenance charm of a pixie with the swing and versatility of a bob. Its soft structure and airy movement make it feel effortless, light, and endlessly wearable, whether styled sleek or tousled.
When booking your cut, communication with your stylist is key. Ask for a cheekbone-length bixie with soft, piecey layers and subtle internal texture. Emphasize that you want to maintain softness around the hairline and avoid anything too blunt—the cut’s magic lies in its airiness, the way it floats and frames the face naturally. Layering is essential here, adding movement and preventing the cut from feeling heavy or rigid.
The bixie flatters a variety of face shapes—oval, heart, and round all benefit from its framing effect—and is particularly well-suited to fine or medium hair that could use a boost in body. The layered structure creates volume without bulk, giving hair life and motion while remaining incredibly chic and low-maintenance. It’s the kind of cut that feels playful, polished, and entirely of-the-moment, making it no wonder stylists are seeing it requested more and more.
How to Maintain The Bixie
Moroccanoil Volumizing Mousse — Adds airy lift at the roots without weighing hair down. Perfect for keeping the bixie’s signature bounce.
Moroccanoil Volumizing Mousse
Kenra Professional Platinum Texturizing Taffy — Apply to damp or dry hair to define piecey layers and bring out the cut’s soft, tousled quality.
Kenra Professional Platinum Texturizing Taffy
Textured Pixies & Choppy Micro Cuts
Pixies have long been a classic, but 2026 brings a distinctly more expressive interpretation. Think movement, micro-layers, feathered edges, and lived-in texture that feels effortlessly undone. This modern pixie frames the face beautifully, balancing structure with a hint of rebellious cool. Whether styled sleek or air-dried, it carries a sense of motion and personality, making it feel fresh and contemporary without losing its timeless appeal.
When visiting your stylist, ask for a textured pixie with choppy, disconnected layers. Emphasize that you want a shape that looks polished whether styled or left to air-dry, and request a bit of lift at the crown to create natural volume and dimension. These small details make the cut versatile, low-maintenance, and visually dynamic.
This style flatters a range of faces. It’s particularly striking on those with strong cheekbones, delicate jawlines, or angular features, yet it can also work beautifully on round faces when styled with height. Fine, straight hair benefits the most, as the texture and layers introduce movement and life without weighing the strands down. The 2026 pixie is all about personality, playfulness, and effortless style.
How to Maintain The Pixie
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray — Builds soft grit and lift without stiffness, ideal for giving the hair “lived-in” structure.
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
Bumble and bumble Sumotech — Adds definition to micro-layers and keeps the cut looking intentional rather than fluffy.
Bumble and bumble Sumotech
The Soft Shag: Effortless, Airy Layers
The shag has evolved, and for the better. Meet the 2026 soft shag: gentle blending, curtain-style face-framing, and lightweight movement define the look. Stylists love it for its versatility, as it adapts seamlessly to straight, wavy, and curly textures, giving hair an effortless, lived-in feel without sacrificing style.
When booking, ask for long, blended layers starting at the cheekbones or collarbone, depending on your desired length. Curtain bangs or a soft fringe can be added for extra shape and dimension, enhancing the cut’s natural movement and framing the face beautifully.
This modern shag flatters a variety of textures, though it’s especially transformative on wavy and curly hair. Straight hair benefits too, gaining instant life and softness. Face-wise, it’s ideal for square or oval shapes, as the cascading, face-framing pieces help soften angles and create a flattering, relaxed silhouette.
How to Maintain The Soft Shag
R+Co Turntable Curl Defining Crème — Defines waves and curls while keeping the shag’s softness.
R+Co Turntable Curl Defining Crème
Sachajuan Ocean Mist — Adds airy separation and keeps layers looking breezy instead of puffy.
Sachajuan Ocean Mist
Medium-to-Long Airy Layers: Movement Without Weight
Long hair remains a major trend in 2026, but it’s evolving. The focus is on shape and texture rather than sheer length, with cascading layers that add movement and prevent heaviness, creating a natural, flowing silhouette. It’s long, but never flat or lifeless—effortless yet polished, with body that feels organic.
When talking to your stylist, ask for long, face-framing layers paired with soft internal layering. Make it clear you want movement and dimension without sacrificing length—this ensures the hair feels alive and dynamic while keeping your long locks intact.
This approach flatters a wide range of hair types. Thick hair gains lift and avoids heaviness, while fine hair benefits from added dimension without the risk of choppiness. Virtually every face shape can pull off this look, making it a universally flattering choice for anyone who loves the drama of long hair but wants it to feel modern and manageable.
How to Maintain The Layers
Kerastase Discipline Keratine Thermique — Controls frizz while keeping layers sleek and defined.
Kerastase Discipline Keratine Thermique
Amika Brooklyn bombshell blowout spray — Essential for achieving that airy “salon finish” with movement and gloss.
Amika Brooklyn bombshell blowout spray
The Ripped Bob
The bob remains a perennial favorite, but 2026 brings a fresh twist: textured, airy, and slightly undone, channeling a sleek European minimalism, AKA the ripped bob. Chin-skimming shapes dominate, striking the perfect balance between effortless and editorial, making the cut feel modern without overcomplicating your routine.
When speaking with your stylist, ask for piecey layers rather than blunt lines to achieve that tousled, undone finish. The goal is movement and texture, giving the bob a lived-in, natural feel that still reads polished.
This style flatters a range of face shapes, particularly oval, heart, and longer profiles. It’s ideal for those seeking the sophistication of a short cut without the maintenance demands of long hair, offering polish and style in one chic, manageable package.
How to Maintain The Ripped Bob
Living Proof Full Root Lift — Keeps the bob from falling flat and maintains that fresh, airy shape.
Living Proof Full Root Lift
Kevin Murphy Shimmer.Shine — Enhances the bob’s sleekness and shows off its clean lines without greasiness.
Kevin Murphy Shimmer.Shine
The Lived-In Hair Revolution of 2026
If there’s one thing 2026 is teaching us, it’s that effortless, lived-in hair is having its moment. Texture, movement, and individuality take center stage, letting your cut work with your lifestyle, not against it. Whether short, long, or somewhere in between, the year is all about soft layers, airy finishes, and shapes that grow out beautifully while still feeling polished. Imperfection isn’t a flaw—it’s the point. Hair that breathes, moves, and feels entirely your own is the ultimate statement of chic in 2026.
Some of the products featured here may contain affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All recommendations are based on personal use, stylist feedback, or product performance.
