These three haircuts will dominate autumn 2026, according to the runway shows
Every morning, the same frustration in the mirror: shapeless hair that’s impossible to style and resists every attempt at a blow-dry. Autumn 2026 offers a genuine way out of that hair rut, with three haircuts spotted on the runways at Gucci, Saint Laurent and Hermès, as well as on celebrities like Penélope Cruz, Taylor Hill and Camila Cabello. What do all three options have in common? They bring movement and character without necessarily requiring a radical chop.
The cloud bang: the new star haircut of autumn 2026
The curtain fringe has reigned for several seasons running. Now, the cloud bang is taking over. Light and wispy, it’s made up of asymmetric strands that create a soft, blurred effect across the forehead without covering it entirely. Camila Cabello popularised this style, known in English as “cloud bangs”.
In practice, this fringe softens facial features and works across a wide range of face shapes. It adds gentle movement without requiring a short cut or any significant change in length. For anyone hesitant to take the plunge, it’s the least committal of the season’s three trends.
Side parting and the bixie cut: two ways to reinvent your hair
The side parting: a simple gesture with visible results
You don’t need to spend hours at the salon to transform your look. Simply shifting your parting to the side can sometimes change everything. Already adopted by Penélope Cruz, this works on all lengths and creates the illusion of extra volume. The centre parting, which has been everywhere in recent years, is clearly losing ground to this comeback of the side parting, a direct throwback to the millennial school days.
This styling detail, as simple as it sounds, turns flat hair into a structured look. It’s one of the most accessible answers to the season’s trending haircuts, since it requires no trip to the salon whatsoever.
The bixie cut: for those who really want to go for it
For the more decisive among us, the bixie cut is establishing itself as the standout salon cut of the moment. Born in the 1990s, it sits somewhere between a bob and a pixie cut. It reveals a clean nape, with tapered and layered strands that generate plenty of movement and natural volume. Shorter than a classic bob, it’s every bit as chic.
This haircut is clearly the most transformative of the three. It genuinely changes your silhouette and requires real commitment. The payoff, however, is immediate: hair gains lightness and personality the moment you walk out of the salon.
What these trends have in common
All three options share the same logic: maximum impact for a reasonable amount of effort. A simple styling gesture, a few centimetres off the nape, or a wispy fringe is enough to turn shapeless hair into a polished look. Hair experts agree on this point: the autumn 2026 trend doesn’t demand total sacrifice.
- Cloud bang: light asymmetric strands, a soft blurred effect on the forehead, popularised by Camila Cabello
- Side parting: zero-cut gesture, illusion of volume, adopted by Penélope Cruz
- Bixie cut: between a bob and a pixie cut, clean nape, tapered and layered strands
- All three trends were spotted on the Gucci, Saint Laurent and Hermès runways
- Each option brings movement without necessarily cutting everything off
Self-confidence: the season’s common thread
Beyond style, these haircuts carry a deeper message. Among men, the buzzcut illustrates the same dynamic. Luke Davies, quoted by La Libre, observes that many men genuinely gain confidence through this very short cut. He also notes that the rise of “looksmaxxing” is pushing people to better understand their face shape and the style that suits them, and that they’re becoming bolder as a result.
Davies also points out that the buzzcut can transform the appearance of those who can’t afford a hair transplant, provided the cut matches their personal style. Sports psychologists even cite hair choices that boost players’ self-confidence and transmit that energy to supporters. The example of Erling Haaland, who has gone from one extreme to the other, illustrates just how much a haircut can become a symbol.
Ultimately, whether it’s a wispy fringe, a shifted parting or a short, structured haircut, autumn 2026 is an invitation to take back control of your style without waiting for a total transformation.
