Photos: Getty Images Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story The damsel in distress was always a bit of an eye roll. You don’t need anyone to save you—you have everything you need to survive and even thrive. Hell, with the right hair, you could even rule the world (or your household, in the meantime). Winter’s biggest hair trends are proof that the right cut or color is a true power move.
For the no nonsense, a low-maintenance cut like a sharp collarbone lob or a style with no fussy layers frees up your time and hands to plot world domination. For those who don’t even break a sweat in the face of danger, a bare-it-all pixie with polish. And for the more free-spirited folks, a bouncy, curly disco shag will rule any dance floor—even if the dance floor is in your living room. (It is winter, after all.)
Winter color trends will also keep everyone around you on their toes. Black cherry and a deep dark inky brown look black at first glance, but reveal violet or chocolate tones for those who dare to get close enough. Chestnut red is an ingenue all grown-up—matured past apricots and strawberry blonde into something more capable and authoritative. And blondes will find a path that diverges—wintery vanilla for an aloof, icy look or buttery almond for a cozy blonde that still turns heads.
A new year is the perfect time to step into your power, and your hair can help. Below, we had the experts break down the cuts and colors that exude your confidence.
Winter haircut trends 2026 Winter hair color trends 2026 Winter haircut trends 2026 Collarbone grazer Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images A collarbone-grazing length is boardroom-ready. It’s an “I’m too busy running things to have long hair” cut that still has polish. “I love the relationship between this length and clothing. It can skim the collar of a beautiful coat, sit against a turtleneck, or expose the shoulder of an evening dress,” says Sunnie Brook , a Los Angeles–based hairstylist. “It’s incredibly adaptable.”
London-based hairstylist Richard Mannah also expects to see this style pick up steam with his clients. “I think we’ll see a lot more hair settling around the collarbone this winter, but with a much more intentional shape,” he says. “Think of a length that grazes the collarbone with a strong, clean perimeter, while the interior has just enough soft movement and layers to keep it from feeling heavy.”
Choose a length with your hairstylist based on your collarbone and neckline, rather than a generic length, says Brook. For fine hair, ask for some internal movement, and for a thicker or textured style, remove some volume in the interior while preserving the outside perimeter of the hair. “Tell your stylist you want the shape to expose and frame the neck and décolletage rather than simply asking for a lob,” she says.
Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images It’s been a long year. If the shags, layers, and face-framing of 2025 are starting to feel stale, a straightforward one-length reset may be in order. “Ask for a strong one-length perimeter with very minimal or invisible layering. The ends should feel substantial rather than wispy,” says Adam Federico , a Sacramento-based hairstylist and VP of technical education for R+Co, who adds that this looks especially good on medium or thicker hair types that have some natural volume and wouldn’t necessarily need to rely on layers to add oomph. (Fi…