The bob, which rose to prominence last year – check out Naomi Campbell’s cute cut and micro fringe at the CFDA Awards in November – will continue to dominate hairstyle trends. But it’s not one-bob-fits-all; variations include the long bob (the “lob”), and a shaggy take with layers. Not so keen to cut? Take inspiration from the Olsen twins and tuck your locks into a turtleneck or your jacket collar for a one-night bob.
Sticking with hair, the baseball cap is returning as a power accessory (Aries is our current favourite brand), with the spring/summer ready-to-wear shows in Paris awash with low-slung ponytails threaded through a cap.
The K-beauty “mannequin skin” trend – serum-infused lightweight bases worn over well-prepped skin – will also continue to build in 2026. Try YSL All Hours Serum Foundation ($105) to get the look.
Graphic eyeliner is trending, with an emphasis on subtle strokes over harsh lines: think micro flicks in browns and black. We also suggest trying a nude liner on the lower lash line – we love
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil ($43) – to brighten the area around the eyes.
Also for eyes, a wash of duck-egg blue is all the rage; we like Artdeco Eyeshadow in Pearly Baby
Blue ($12). For a softer take, try a denim-blue eyeliner, or top one coat of black mascara with a coat of navy.
Ulla Johnson gave us one of our favourite ready-to-wear shows last year thanks to the pretty gold highlights applied to the models’ lids and lashes. Make-up artist Romy Soleimani worked her magic with Sisley Les Phytos-Ombres in Silky Sky ($85) on the centre of the eyes, and Glow Gold ($85) smudged into the lash line and over the lashes. Alternatively, go for a gold mascara like L’Oréal Paradise Extatic Mascara Gold Top Coat ($25).
For nails, it’s a question of extremes. For day, soft putty shades like beige, porcelain and clotted cream are trending, while blackberry, merlot and cocoa are perfect for evening. Our workday pick is O.P.I My Vampire Is Buff ($12), and for boogie nights we love Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Rouge Noire ($49).
A look into the future would not be complete without a skin treatment prediction, and in 2026 it’s all about using lasers to target skin texture and clarity. The newest treatment on the block is Cool Peel (about $900 at All Saint Clinic in Sydney and Southern Dermatology in Melbourne). Skin is prepped with a local anaesthetic cream an hour beforehand and the treatment itself takes about 20 minutes, followed by a couple of days of downtime.
ASK STEPH
Why does nail polish last longer on toes than on fingers?
Toenails grow about one millimetre each month as opposed to fingernails’ three millimetres, so toes look fresher for longer. The toenail plate is also harder and thicker, so polish adheres better.
Send questions via Instagram, @mrssdarling.
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