A new year is almost upon us and with it comes an array of exciting beauty trends for 2026. The industry experts have been busy using their forecasting prowess to predict the hair and makeup looks that will headline in 2026 and segue onto the red carpet during next year's Awards season.
The overarching theme for 2026 it seems is to go bolder with your beauty. Gone is the era of keeping hair, nails and makeup low key, nude and understated. We're now entering into the ‘more is more’ playbook, where experimenting with colour and leaning into the joy of beauty holds a certain appeal once more.
On that note, here are eight beauty trends for 2026 we expect to dominate – and eight that are likely to fizzle out…
In: Celestial sheen
Out: Matte monochromatic makeup
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An other-worldly sheen that catches the light just so is set to replace 2025's matte textures next year. Makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench set the tone at Thom Browne's SS26 show with her alien-coded makeup look, featuring swathes of silver shimmer over eyes, lips and cheekbones.
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How cosmic you want to go is up to you. One of the easiest ways to dip your toe into the trend is by swapping out your usual black liquid eyeliner for a holographic one. It's a trick that makeup artist Violette Serrat says adds impact yet feels effortless, which is why she has launched her Violette_FR Lune Liners in four subtle holographic shades.
“My philosophy of a bold look isn’t about going over the top,” she notes in an Instagram post. “You can create impact through subtlety. I love that element of the unexpected—when something feels effortless, yet powerful. Lune Liner is such a beautiful example of that. It doesn’t need to shout—it’s chic, a little restrained, but still alive with energy and emotion.”
Or why not softly diffuse a cream, opalescent eyeshadow from your eyelid up to the brow bone and swipe on a glitter effect lip gloss?
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In: Blurred blush
Out: Crisp definition
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Another dominant theme on the SS26 catwalks, which works just as well IRL, was blurred makeup textures. If a smudgy, glowing complexion sings a certain siren song for you then look no further than the celestial sheen and watercolour effects inspired by Japanese and Korean makeup styles. Rather than crisp definition, "everything is very blurred and soft,” says makeup artist Lisa Caldognetto of the look – a little like you're peering at your makeup through a Vaseline-smudged lens.
So prepare to smear the edges of your lipstick with your fingertips for a just snogged effect and smoosh a cream blusher onto your cheeks and eyelids to delicately contour and drape.
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In: Makeup maximalism
Out: Clean girl beauty
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It’s time to bid goodbye to the so-called ‘clean girl aesthetic’ and welcome in a wave of major make-up creativity and expression. We're talking punchy colourful accents and a perfectly imperfect, nonconformist vibe, which makeup artist Sophia Sinot has become renowned for over the past 12 months.
It's an aesthetic that the Pinterest Predicts 2026 future gazing report has coined “glitchy glam”. The social media platform notes a 100% rise in search around “eccentric makeup” and a 125% rise in "nails with different colours on each hand". “This year, beauty is missing the mark—on purpose,” the report notes. “Gen Z and Millennials will rock mismatched manicures, two-toned lipstick and bright eyeshadow in two binary hues. So long, symmetry.”
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Glamour’s Acting Beauty Editor, Dominic Cadogan, puts it brilliantly in this piece about the return of makeup maximalism: “For somebody whose identity is tied to their beauty – manifesting in the colourful, rhinestone eye looks that I sparkle in every day – I wondered if my time to shine was a thing of the past, but fear not, my fellow creative makeup lovers, bold beauty is finally back.”
In: Textural nails
Out: 1D manicures
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You need only look at the recent winter nail trends to see that textured and tactile nails are also a macro trend – whether we’re talking a velvety cat eye manicure or 3D nails. While some manicure enthusiasts will always be wedded to more minimalistic nails or classics like French tips, art-adorned nails and sculptural designs will dominate in 2026. In today’s era of creativity, the nail art possibilities are practically endless.
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In: Gothic, vampy vibes
Out: Soft muted browns
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‘Sombré brunette’ – a deep, cool-toned hue that sit summer between dark brown and black – has already emerged as one of the biggest hair colour trends for winter 2025. Siobhan Haug, colourist and creative director of Haug London Haus salon, describes it as a “rich, charcoal hue with a luxurious, velvety finish" and it's set to create a moody vibe for 2026, too.
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Now gothic romanticism is emerging as both a key fashion and beauty trend next year. Plum tones are everywhere for the season ahead – see the 2026 lipstick trends if you don’t believe us – with makeup wearers gravitating towards, deep, rich, juicy palettes.
Pinterest found that searches for “dark romantic make-up” are up 160% on the previous year, while “vampire beauty” is up 90% so expect to work inky kohl-rimmed eyes and jet black nails this spring.
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In: Nature girl
Out: Graphic lines and soap nails
With its relaxed, nostalgic feel, boho fashion and beauty dominated summer 2025 and lay the foundations for SS26's ‘nature girl’ trend. Autumn's viral ‘Bambi brunette’ hair colour gave a nod to the trend by mimicking the buttery caramels and beige tones woven through the Disney character's otherwise brown hair. It's this contrast that creates “a velvety, doe-eyed glow – hence the name ‘Bambi brunette’,” says hair colourist Mark Leeson.
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For 2026, Pinterest predicts that the Bambi references will be saved for makeup as we're destined to draw on soft freckles with a freckle pen while adding nature-themed nails with teeny bug and butterfly motifs à la Kylie Jenner to our manicure mood boards.
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In: Baby brows
Out: Full-on laminated brows
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According to semi-permanent makeup expert Sian Dellar, “brow trends for 2026 blend a return to natural-looking shapes with a desire for low-maintenance polish" – in other words, brows that look like your own, just more refined thanks to softer lamination techniques and even "embracing natural sparseness without heavy styling,” she adds.
The popularity of ‘baby brows’, in particular, is set to skyrocket as people continue to prioritise simpler beauty routines. Think “soft and minimally defined brows — enhancing, not transforming, the natural shape,” says Sian. Created by only laminating the first inch at the start of your brow, baby brows marry a natural look with the softly crafted arches of fluffed up brows.
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Kosas Brow Pop Dual-Action Defining Pencil
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In: Anti-gravity hair
Out: Sleek blowouts
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“Big, bold, and unapologetically playful—this season is all about exaggerating and embracing voluminous, anti-gravity silhouettes,” says Kate Moss' haristylist, Sam McKnight. "Think hair that’s larger than life, full of attitude, and effortlessly textured.”
Likewise, anti-gravity hair takes the cloud curls trend that went viral in 2025 and ups the ante. It's still about embracing fluff and diffused texture but in 2026, it's also about giving hair a distinctly ‘90s nostalgic vibe, including resurrecting space buns but in a modern way.
Best of all, achieving the look is refreshingly simple. First and foremost, it's about amplifying your hair's natural texture with texturising sprays and volumising mousses before locking in the height with hairspray.
