By Helena Madonna

2026 will be the year of speed. Governed by the Horse, it'll be defined by momentum: forward motion, instinctive decisions and a kind of confidence that comes from trusting your own direction.

There will be be less space - and patience - for overthinking. Channel that energy into your hair. It'll be a leap of faith worth taking.

2026's Hair-o-Scopes are alive with the Horse's kinetic energy. Some signs lean into freedom and diffusion; others into control and intention. They all reflect a collective shift toward hair that feels charged and alive - styles that aren't chasing trends but keeping pace with the person wearing them.

MICRO SHAG

Every life decision made by you is made confidently and correctly, right? Let this crop be your next one. 2am at the hands of spontaneity may feel like the perfect time for a speed fringe crafted by the kitchen scissors - but do your best to hold off those instincts and leave this Micro Shag to the professionals.

However, this quick pixie can still lead with that last minute energy. The choppier and piecey-er, the better. 2026 will drive your spontaneous acceleration and spark your ability to let loose, channel these through a crop that reflects impulsivity and the beauty in the slightly unpolished.

MANE OF VELVET

It's time for that inner luxury to be put in motion, literally. Embrace brunette glosses or warm-toned lowlights, plush curtaining and indulgent blowouts, anything to mimic movement. Like a mane caught in a permanent gust of wind.

Delve into richness. Channel heavy, glossy, weighty texture and make sensuality apart of your self-care ritual. Oils and serums will soothe any flyaways while restoring shine where needed, and mousses will help to achieve that gluttonous volume and texture or flexible hairspray will lock it all in place.

DUAL BANGS

You're always seeking things with dual potential in fear of being boxed in, so landing on a set style can be challenging. The good news is you don’t have to. How about one haircut with multiple moods?

Better known as Bottleneck Bangs, these gentle wings frame the face and allow you to experiment in micro ways you're comfortable with. A centre part will give you symmetry and a side part will reflect a little more drama. When pushed forward you can toy with a more solid bang, while curtain bangs come back to play when parted.

BOB OF SOFT EBB & FLOW

Your deep lunar connection fuels that search for a deeper meaning with everything you do. Don't just cut a bob, yearn for a round silhouette that will sway like the tides with texture that curves toward your heart, not from it.

A halo with quiet internal texture with soft organic curve like the centre of a seashell. It's flowing perimeter that hugs like an emotional armour will ebb and flow with your ever changing moods.

THE SOLAR FLARE

Hair that is all about aura, not inches. It's dramatic without being too 80s or a frozen blowout. The shape feels buoyant not rigid; weightless yet powerful with a hint of untamed energy. You need hair that moves with you and a hue that beams as you walk, laugh or enter a room.

Gentle flyaways are encouraged, recommended even. They help create that backlit effect, framing the face like the spotlight you're so familiar with. Tone with a honeyed warmth to brighten, and when styling take loose ends over set waves and allow ends to flick unpredictably like sun rays.

SWEPT TO PERFECTION

Beneath the constant tick of an overthinking mind is a quiet simmering playfulness. This year calls for it to be known - within the bounds of precision, of course. Allow length to swoop and flick, contrast play with layers confined to a smooth perimeter.

EQUILIBRIUM LAYERS

You're naturally drawn to symmetry and find peace in aesthetic harmony. Layers like these blend seamlessly within the hair and your yearn for balance.

Softly graduated, evenly spaced and blended to the point of invisibility. Weight is placed intentionally so no area dominates. The face framing is free from stiffness and heavy texture, shaping that allows for a natural swing, controlled movement and effortless styling.

DEEP PLUM

You live and breathe intensity, as long as you still feel in control. Allow the year ahead to lead you down a path of quiet yet dramatic transformation. No need for a chop or obvious reinvention, this is private and can evolve beneath the surface. Although, make no mistake: nothing about this is accidental.

This deep hue is all about layers of darkness. Depth over vibrancy, a whisper of plum that only appears in certain light. Nothing high contrast, everything is secretive and dimensional.

SURF WAVES

This isn't a polished wave or styled look, this pattern exudes movement that's earned. This hair should feel like its been exposed to all places, climates and moments. It is texture that appears well travelled and a little sun-bleached. A mane that’s absorbed its journey.

A nod to your natural texture, whatever that may be. This cut should be done dry to allow shaping and layers to flow with organic movement. Shape that refuses precision without ever looking messy. Creating a finish that’s free roaming and never dries the same twice.

GRAND DESIGN

Precise, commanding and quietly intimidating. Traits that can be aligned with your horoscope or your new style. Free from volume or softness, this cut is meticulously engineered with lines of intent and angle of authority.

Solid lengths and near blunt perimeters. You take pride in execution and communicate with certainty, so you'll enjoy the little extra time needed to craft the details to perfection.

UNDONE & BEAUTIFUL

While some might call it windswept, you see it as hair caught mid-thought. The hint of movement and slight bend may appear like a perfect, happy accident but the placement is entirely intentional. Layered with haphazard charm and static kissed texture, it’s a finish that feels charged and filled with ideas.

A perfectly centre, straight part just wouldn’t fit. This look requires something that constantly shifts: a parting that refuses to stay put. Encouraging the hair to fall forward or sideways, this style will be as on the go as you are.

FREE CURLS

Free your curls from structure - like the core of your being. This isn't about shine or hold, it's all about movement. Coils hold memory and this shape can create atmosphere. Its hair that’s alive, responsive and emotional.

Free-hand cuts on natural dry curls encourage expansion. Avoid heavy-handed product layering - we don't want containment. Internal layers release weight so coils can drift outward for a silhouette that's soft edged and dimensional, not carved. The result should a diffused halo that leaves curls lingering in the air.