It's hard to deny that hairstyles come and go from trend to trend at breakneck speed. So to understand which ones will be fleeting and which will top the list of the most fashionable in 2026, just take a look at those who really know their style.
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As with clothes, accessories and colours, street style and the catwalks set the tone for beauty trends from season to season. A few years ago, everyone was sporting a slick back bun, creating the same clean look that influencers and celebrities (from Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner to Eiza Gonzalez and Michelle Salas) called the hairstyle of the year. Today, we're looking back to those same sources of inspiration to find out how to style your hair in the first months of the new year.
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5 hairstyles that those who know the most about style will choose in early 2026
In addition to classic options, this time the experts are betting on hairstyles with character, built around unusual and playful accessories. These are solutions that will not only attract attention, but also provide you with more than one compliment. Here are five favorites.
Olsen tuck
If you had to name the coolest hairstyle, it would undoubtedly be the Olsen tuck. This style has become a favorite of fashion insiders thanks to its effortless chic vibe. If you’re not familiar with the term, it’s simple: hair is tucked inside clothing: under jackets, coats, or even under a scarf or shawl. As the name suggests, the Olsen sisters were the inspiration.
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High ponytail + braid
This hairstyle will be one of the most prominent trends in 2026. Its popularity is quite natural: it is versatile, elegant and surprisingly easy to perform. It is enough to gather the hair in a ponytail, and from the remaining length to braid a classic braid or experiment with different techniques and variations of weaving.
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French twist
If you spend a lot of time on Pinterest and scroll through it almost like a daily newspaper, you've probably noticed that the French twist is making a comeback. It's popping up in inspiration boards and tutorials alike—including Ale Capetillo's video—and it's consistently ranked among the most elegant options. To be honest, it's harder to pull off than it looks, but if you've never tried it before, 2026 is the perfect time to give it a try.
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Loose hair with a hoop
It's time to take your hoops out of the box of memories and wear them with grace. Once upon a time, '90s kids wore them without a second thought, but today many only think of them when it comes to skincare. Black, white, or your favorite color — all you have to do is take inspiration from style icons: from Grace Kelly and Princess Diana to Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl and Cher from Clueless. Or turn to modern muses like Bella Hadid. Everything indicates that this trend is here to stay.
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Updo with hairpins
Another accessory worth bringing back from the fashion archive is hair clips. But not in the format in which they were worn in the 2000s to fix baby hairs, but as a distinctive accent to the hairstyle. The catwalks confirm this: brands like Prada and Loewe are integrating hair clips into their spring-summer 2026 collections, and street style is actively experimenting with them, consolidating their status among current trends.
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Based on material from: Vogue.mx