Babylights and side fringes are the coveted hairstyle code for 2026

Call it a continuation of nostalgia, but this year, even hairstyle trends have come full circle. From ultra-gloss and angular cuts, the tilt is now towards a more mellow look, with precise yet soft placement and angles. At the centre of this shift are two techniques that have quietly dominated runways, red carpets, and the most discreet salons: babylights and the side fringe. They’re not new, but they’re definitely back in focus. Together, they signal a return to luscious locks that move, frame, and soften, while still making a luxurious statement.

Ahead, tips on how to enter the era of nuanced trends.

Babylights

Inspired by the natural luminosity of children’s hair,–those barely-there ribbons of light that catch the sun–babylights are about micro-precision. Ultra-fine sections are coloured delicately throughout the hair, creating softness, depth, and movement without obvious, harsh demarcation. The result is hair colour that looks intrinsic rather than applied. They add warmth, enhance brightness, and allow for easy transitions.

Side fringes

If babylights are about subtle illumination, the side fringe is about strategic framing. This is not a heavy, swooping fringe. It’s lighter, more fluid, and intentionally imperfect. It skims the brow or cheekbone, blends effortlessly into the rest of the haircut, and moves with the face rather than sitting stiffly against it. The appeal lies in its versatility. A side fringe works equally well with long lengths, polished bobs, and layered cuts—adding dimension without committing to a full fringe.

How to style it for today’s cultural mood

These trends also align with the contemporary woman’s dressing sense and lifestyle. Wardrobes are increasingly fluid, blending work, travel, and social life seamlessly. Hair needs to do the same, too. So, babylights grow out gracefully, and side fringes can be styled sleek, tousled, or barely there. Both adapt effortlessly from day to night, from casual to formal.

The way these trends are styled matters just as much as the cut or colour itself. For babylights, think diffused shine rather than mirror gloss. Lightweight oils, soft waves, and natural air-dried textures allow the colour to catch the light organically. For side fringes, styling is minimal, often just a round brush flick or a gentle scrunch created with fingers rather than tools.

In embracing softness, movement, and subtle dimension, these hair trends capture the mood of the moment: intentional, elegant, and self-assured.

Lead image: Getty 

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