A top hairdresser reveals the 3 biggest hairstyles of the year, and they were all on the Oscars red carpet
There’s nothing that can reboot your look quite like a new haircut. Fresh outfits are one thing, and you can tinker with your make-up products to great effect, but nothing else will have every head turning in the room (and hopefully giving you compliments) quite like a hair overhaul.
We’ve had all kids of weird and wonderful hair trends in recent years – from ‘octopus’ to ‘wolf’ cuts – but according to top hairdresser Adam Reed, 2026 is all about easily achievable, wearable haircuts. Think haircuts that actually work with your everyday life, rather than rigid rules about how hair ‘should’ look. ‘Hair is not a costume; it’s a companion that you live with everyday,’ is Reed’s ethos.
In this light, the three major hair trends he’s identified for 2026 are not ‘a set of instructions’ but a ‘collection of ideas…designed to inspire conversation, creativity, and choice.’ Reed emphasizes the importance of opting for haircuts that grow well (rather than looking great in the salon and terrible as soon as they grow a millimetre), and that are designed for real life (i.e. the crazy winds that have been hitting the UK this week). Here are a few trending haircuts to inspire you if you’re looking for a change…
The Trixie
Teyana Taylor
The Trixie is ‘short, but not severe’ says Reed. It borrows the ease of a short, cropped pixie cut, but with more softness and movement. Reed defines this look as having ‘soft edges with freedom through the crown’ and says it works ‘across ages, genders and textures’. It’s designed to be adaptable, and can either be highly styled or not. Reed says the Trixie is a good way to do ‘short hair, without commitment anxiety’.
The Bob
Emma Stone
The bob is still going strong, as evidenced by Emma Stone and Sarah Paulson at this year’s Oscars. ‘From long to graduated to boyfriend – the bob continues to be popular because it continues to evolve,’ says Reed. There are no strict rules about how to do it, whether you prefer a longer length bob or one chopped right to your ears, to style it super straight or with plenty of movement. ‘The modern bob is lived-in and flexible,’ says Reed.
Top Tier
Alysa Liu
Alysa Liu showcased what Reed calls the Top Tier haircut at the Oscars. It involves ‘intentional disconnection’ between different sections of the hair, used as ‘a design tool rather than a shock tactic’. This disconnection could be in length (short meets long) or in texture (soft meets strong). Liu has also achieved this with colour. Reed say it is a good way to ‘create individuality’ for those looking for something a bit different.
