From Mid-Length Mania to Boy Cuts, Summer 2026's Haircut Trends Are Low-Effort, High-Style

Extreme Lengths

Adam Livermore, an Oribe Hair Care Global Artist and educator, has a read on Summer 2026 that makes so much sense. We're leaning into extremes, with short hair getting shorter and long hair getting longer.

Take a bob, for example.

"These days the bobs are getting shorter, like above the back hairline. There's a simplicity to it. It's wearable, but it's extreme in a certain way," he explains. "For long hair, it's kind of the same thing. It's not long and curtain bangs and beach waves and layers. It's just long."

One thing to be aware of, though: When there's no and to distract, keeping your hair healthy is extra important.

"It needs to be strong, it needs to be healthy, it needs to be protected," Livermore says. "[Oribe's] Hair Alchemy Line is very much about protection and prevention, with both proactive and reactive components."

Boy Cuts, for the Girls

One look in this vein that McMillan is loving—and anticipating a lot of—for summer 2026: "boy cuts on girls." The boys can't have all the fun, after all.

"Think Emma Chamberlain—short, a little undone, a lot of attitude. There's something so confident about a woman in a great short cut, and I'm seeing more and more of it heading into summer," he notes.

The Sweet Spot

It's fine to end up in the middle, too. Stephen Low, a Senior Stylist at Benjamin Salon in West Hollywood, calls out the "sweet spot" length, a mid-length cut that sits right around the collarbone.

"It gives you enough length to play with your natural texture without weighing the hair down," he explains.

The C-Curl

Leave it to celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos to explain exactly how to style those mid-lengthy strands.

"The C-Curl is a softer, more undone approach to a voluminous blowout for summer 2026. With a subtle inward bend at the ends, the C-Curl style gives hair a clean polished effect while still feeling effortless and airy," he explains. "To get the look, ask for a feathery mid-length blunt cut. Style using a round brush, focusing on curving the ends inward to create the signature “C” shape. For added length, use Great Length’s Tape-In Extensions."

Clean, One-Length Bob

"Summer always seems to bring people back to hair that feels easy, effortless, and a little undone in the best way. For Summer 2026, I anticipate we’ll continue seeing a strong move toward soft, wearable shapes that still feel expressive and stylish," explains Bailey-Chaidez. A great example? "Effortless swinging bobs." Or any bob, really. As McMillan explains, "the bob never goes anywhere—it just keeps reinventing itself. Chin-length, collarbone, jaw-grazing. There's a bob for every face."

This season's version? Soft and airy, according to Paul Mitchell Artistic Director DJ Muldoon. And falling somewhere slightly below the chin. "To create a polished but modern finish, I love using the Paul Mitchell Neuro Style+ Straightening & Styling Iron for everything from sleek styles to soft waves and piecey texture. I pair it with Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum to smooth frizz, add shine, and keep hair soft and humidity-resistant without losing movement. I also always recommend incorporating anti-frizz and moisture-focused products into your routine at home to help maintain shine, softness, and shape between salon visits."

Angelica Datuin, a stylist at Benjamin Salon in West Hollywood, has personally been seeing a lot of clean, one-length bobs. Which can be swingy, too!

"One-length bobs are just an easy way to look polished, whether it's a wash-and-go or dressed up with a curling iron for something more romantic," she explains.

Long Hair, Short Bangs

Another Datuin vision: "Baby bangs paired with long hair are trending."

"Baby bangs will always feel fresh, especially when paired with long length or a short crop," she explains. "R+Co Badlands Dry Shampoo Paste is perfect for giving bangs separation and that piece-y texture."

Soft Curtain Fringe

If you want a new haircut for summer but mostly like what you're already rocking, try a low-maintenance curtain bang.

"This summer I have seen a shift towards soft, luxurious looking cuts that are low maintenance, like airy, light layers and curtain fringes to help outlast the summer humidity and heat," says celebrity hairstylist Nick Stenson. "Many people are also embracing shorter, face-framing cuts inspired by the '90s and early 2000s, but updated with softer edges and more lived-in texture. Think polished but not too perfect."

Christina Antonette, a hairstylist at Spoke & Weal in LA, NYC, and Minneapolis, agrees—and wants to give a special shoutout to that Sweet Spot cut again.

"For summer I think a haircut we will be seeing a lot of is a mid length with a fringe! There can be so many variations of this," she says. "Last season we saw so much being pulled from the '90s, and I think we are just softening these shapes to give off more of a lived-in look. A small change can make such a big difference."

Long Layers

A McMillan specialty, this look also isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"Long hair without shape just hangs—layers are what give it movement, swing, that lived-in feel that still looks great on day three," explains the artist.

As for blowout tips? "Two rules before anything else: don't be afraid of product, and work methodically, not quickly," he notes. "Most people rush through their hair—slow down, work in sections, invest the time up front. Your hair (and summer style) will thank you."

McMillan's summer styling must-haves include his Glassy Smooth Blow Dry Spray ("start here, every time. It's the foundation of any style and it blocks humidity, so your blowout stays glassy and fresh up to 72 hours, even in summer heat," he says) and Glassy Smooth Hair Oil ("summer skin glows, your hair should too").