Below you'll find the top haircare trends for 2026, spotted by Rising Trends's trend radar algorithm.
These topics were detected from online sources including TikTok, X (Twitter), Instagram, Reddit, news outlets, and Google Search data. Each trend has at least 1,000+ monthly searches and is ranked by year-over-year growth.
All haircare trends with over 20% year-over-year growth, ranked by search growth rate.
| # | Topic | 5Y Trend | Search Vol. | Growth 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pp405 | 40,500 | +6764% | |
| 2 | Leave-in Hair Treatment | 33,100 | +2446% | |
| 3 | High Speed Hair Dryer | 12,100 | +1581% | |
| 4 | Scalp Care Products | 2,900 | +504% | |
| 5 | Ai Hairstyle App | 2,400 | +400% | |
| 6 | Hair Growth Serum | 110,000 | +306% | |
| 7 | Frontal Ponytail | 8,100 | +238% | |
| 8 | Cordless Hair Straightener Brush | 2,400 | +233% | |
| 9 | Hair Botox | 27,100 | +174% | |
| 10 | Sunscreen For Scalp | 1,600 | +171% | |
| 11 | Ai Haircut Generator | 1,900 | +164% | |
| 12 | Fox Tips Hair | 4,400 | +132% | |
| 13 | Hair Care Brand | 3,600 | +125% | |
| 14 | Style City Beauty Bar | 1,900 | +116% | |
| 15 | Inner Beauty Salon | 1,000 | +108% | |
| 16 | Hair Repair Treatment | 5,400 | +86% | |
| 17 | Ai Hair Color Changer | 5,400 | +86% | |
| 18 | Ai Hair | 8,100 | +84% | |
| 19 | Pink Hair Spray | 22,200 | +83% | |
| 20 | Based Shampoo | 14,800 | +83% | |
| 21 | 16 Guard Buzz | 40,500 | +82% | |
| 22 | Alma Ted Hair Treatment | 1,300 | +81% | |
| 23 | Red Light Cap | 1,600 | +60% | |
| 24 | Textured Fringe Straight Hair | 2,900 | +53% | |
| 25 | Chocolate Cherry Brown Hair | 2,900 | +53% | |
| 26 | Flat Hair Clips | 9,900 | +50% | |
| 27 | Hair Botox Near Me | 5,400 | +50% | |
| 28 | Hair Mold | 5,400 | +50% | |
| 29 | Dominican Blowout | 33,100 | +49% | |
| 30 | Red Light Therapy Cap | 1,300 | +30% | |
| 31 | Boho Human Hair | 2,400 | +26% | |
| 32 | Ice Cream Hair | 40,500 | +22% | |
| 33 | Shampoo Ginger | 33,100 | +22% | |
| 34 | Thermal Brush | 27,100 | +22% | |
| 35 | Hair Botox Treatment | 14,800 | +22% | |
| 36 | Beauty And The Barber | 2,900 | +21% | |
| 37 | Urban Beautique | 2,900 | +21% |
Showing top 10 of 37 haircare trends
| Trend | Market Size | Growth | Leading Brands |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI-Powered Hair Apps | ~$1.2B | ~35% CAGR | L'Oréal ModiFace, Perfect Corp |
| Leave-In & Repair Treatments | ~$8.2B | ~5.8% CAGR | Olaplex, K18, Moroccanoil |
| High-Tech Hair Tools | ~$12B | ~7.5% CAGR | Dyson, Shark Beauty, Laifen |
| Hair Growth & Scalp Health | ~$4.5B | ~8.1% CAGR | Vegamour, Nutrafol, The Ordinary |
| Men's Grooming & Fades | ~$30B | ~6.2% CAGR | Blind Barber, Wahl, SportClips |
| Bold Hair Color | ~$26B | ~8.9% CAGR | Arctic Fox, Good Dye Young |
| Protective & Textured Styling | ~$3.8B | ~6.5% CAGR | Pattern Beauty, Carol's Daughter |
CAGR = compound annual growth rate
To dive deeper into the methodology behind identifying these trends, check out our comprehensive guide on Google Trends for market research which shows how we analyzed search data to spot these emerging patterns.
Artificial intelligence has revolutionized how consumers explore haircare, with "ai hairstyle app" growing +400% year-over-year and "ai haircut generator" surging +164%. Consumers can now virtually try hundreds of hairstyles and colors before committing to a change.
This shift represents a fundamental change in the customer journey – experimentation now happens on a smartphone before ever stepping into a salon.
AI hair tech has exploded because:
The virtual try-on market in beauty is expected to reach $15 billion by 2030, with haircare representing the fastest-growing segment.
AI Hairstyle Apps (2,400 monthly searches, +400% YoY) – Apps that let users upload a photo and see themselves with different cuts, from pixie to mullet to layers. Perfect Corp's YouCam leads with over 1 billion downloads.
AI Hair Color Changers (5,400 searches, +86% YoY) – Virtual hair coloring that accounts for skin tone, lighting, and natural hair color for realistic previews. L'Oréal's ModiFace powers try-on for multiple brands.
AI Haircut Generators (1,900 searches, +164% YoY) – Text-to-image tools that generate entirely new hairstyle concepts based on descriptions. These help consumers articulate what they want to their stylists.
AI Hair Analysis – Emerging tools that analyze hair health, texture, and damage levels from photos to recommend products. Prose uses AI questionnaires to create custom formulations.
The repair treatment category is experiencing explosive growth, with "leave-in hair treatment" surging an incredible +2,446% year-over-year. Meanwhile, "hair botox" commands 27,100 monthly searches with +174% growth, and "hair repair treatment" is up +86%.
Consumers are demanding professional-level repair without salon visits, and brands are delivering sophisticated formulations for at-home use.
Leave-in and repair treatments have surged because:
The hair repair treatment market is expected to grow at 5.8% CAGR, reaching over $10 billion globally by 2028.
Leave-In Treatments (33,100 searches, +2,446% YoY) – The fastest-growing haircare segment. These products provide continuous protection, detangling, and repair without rinsing. Modern formulas include bond-building peptides and heat protection.
Hair Botox (27,100 searches, +174% YoY) – Despite the name, contains no botulinum toxin. Deep-conditioning treatments with keratin, collagen, and vitamins that fill damaged areas for 2-4 months of smooth, voluminous hair.
Dominican Blowout (33,100 searches, +49% YoY) – A chemical-free straightening technique using specialized blow-drying methods from Dominican salons. Appeals to those wanting sleek results without harsh treatments.
Hair Repair Treatments (5,400 searches, +86% YoY) – Intensive masks and serums targeting split ends, breakage, and porosity. K18 and Olaplex lead with patented repair technologies.
The hair tools market has been transformed by technology, with "high speed hair dryer" searches exploding +1,581% year-over-year. Cordless tools are also surging, with "cordless hair straightener brush" up +233% and "thermal brush" maintaining strong growth at 27,100 monthly searches.
The success of Dyson proved consumers would pay premium prices for tools that deliver faster results with less damage – and now competitors are racing to innovate.
High-tech hair tools are booming because:
The global hair styling tools market is projected to reach $15 billion by 2028, with smart/connected devices growing fastest.
High-Speed Dryers (12,100 searches, +1,581% YoY) – Motors spinning at 100,000+ RPM dry hair in half the time. Laifen, Shark, and Zuvi compete with Dyson at various price points.
Cordless Straightener Brushes (2,400 searches, +233% YoY) – Battery-powered heated brushes for touch-ups on the go. Perfect for travel and quick styling without outlets.
Thermal Brushes (27,100 searches, +22% YoY) – Heated brushes that smooth and style simultaneously. Revlon's One-Step created the category; now dozens of competitors exist.
Shower Head Filters (90,500 searches) – An unexpected crossover hit removing chlorine and hard minerals that damage hair. Jolie built a cult following connecting water quality to hair health.
Hair health is now viewed as part of overall wellness. "Hair growth serum" commands 110,000 monthly searches with +306% year-over-year growth, while "scalp care products" has surged +504% and "sunscreen for scalp" is up +171%.
This shift reflects a new understanding: healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, and consumers are treating their scalp with the same attention they give their skin.
The hair growth and scalp health convergence is driven by:
The global hair loss treatment market is projected to reach $13.6 billion by 2028, with scalp care emerging as the fastest-growing subsegment.
Hair Growth Serums (110,000 searches, +306% YoY) – Topical treatments featuring peptides, caffeine, and plant actives. The Ordinary's Multi-Peptide Serum brought clinical ingredients to drugstore prices.
Scalp Care Products (2,900 searches, +504% YoY) – Exfoliating scrubs, serums, and treatments specifically for scalp health. Brands like Act+Acre focus exclusively on scalp wellness.
Red Light Therapy Caps (1,600 searches, +60% YoY) – LED devices using specific wavelengths to stimulate follicles. Once only available in clinics, now accessible as at-home devices.
Sunscreen for Scalp (1,600 searches, +171% YoY) – SPF products designed for hair-bearing skin. Powder and spray formulas that don't leave hair greasy are driving adoption.
Men's haircare has evolved into a sophisticated market. The term "low taper fade" generates an enormous 823,000 monthly searches, making it one of the most searched haircut terms globally. "16 guard buzz" is up +82% year-over-year, and "textured fringe straight hair" has grown +53%.
This represents a fundamental shift – men now approach grooming as self-expression and self-care, not just maintenance.
Men's grooming has transformed because:
According to Statista, the men's grooming market is expected to reach $115 billion globally by 2028.
Low Taper Fade (823,000 searches) – The dominant men's haircut search term. Versatile enough for professional settings while still looking stylish. Variations include burst fade, drop fade, and skin fade.
16 Guard Buzz (40,500 searches, +82% YoY) – A specific clipper length (2 inches) that's become a named style. Shows how precise men have become about their cuts.
Textured Fringe Straight Hair (2,900 searches, +53% YoY) – Longer on top with textured layers that fall over the forehead. A versatile style that works with natural texture.
At-Home Maintenance – Men are investing in professional-grade clippers to maintain fades between barber visits, driving growth in Wahl and Andis consumer products.
Hair color has become a canvas for self-expression. "Pink hair spray" is up +83% year-over-year, while "fox tips hair" has surged +132% and "chocolate cherry brown hair" grew +53%. Even subtle trends like "ice cream hair" (40,500 searches) show demand for creative, multi-dimensional techniques.
These aren't subtle highlights – they're statement-making color choices that reflect personality, mood, and personal branding.
Bold hair color has surged because:
The global hair color market is projected to reach $40 billion by 2027, with fashion colors (non-natural shades) growing fastest.
Pink Hair Spray (22,200 searches, +83% YoY) – Temporary color sprays for events, festivals, or testing a shade. Perfect for commitment-free experimentation.
Fox Tips Hair (4,400 searches, +132% YoY) – Chunky copper/orange highlights at the ends that resemble a fox's tail. Part of the "expensive brunette" trend with warm, dimensional color.
Chocolate Cherry Brown (2,900 searches, +53% YoY) – Rich brown with red undertones that catches light beautifully. A sophisticated take on auburn that's universally flattering.
Ice Cream Hair (40,500 searches, +22% YoY) – Voluminous, swirled curls in pastel shades resembling soft-serve. Appeals to those wanting playful, youthful aesthetics.
The movement to embrace natural hair texture continues strong. "Frontal ponytail" is up +238% year-over-year, while "boho human hair" grew +26% and "dominican blowout" surged +49%. These searches show the sophistication of protective and textured styling.
This isn't just about products – it's a cultural shift toward celebrating diverse hair textures and offering styling options that protect hair health.
Protective and textured styling has reached mainstream status because:
The textured haircare market in the US is valued at $3.8 billion and growing at 6.5% annually.
Frontal Ponytail (8,100 searches, +238% YoY) – A sleek ponytail using a lace frontal for a natural hairline. Offers versatility while protecting natural hair underneath.
Boho Human Hair (2,400 searches, +26% YoY) – Loose, wavy human hair extensions for bohemian protective styles. Lower maintenance than tighter braids with a natural, effortless look.
Dominican Blowout (33,100 searches, +49% YoY) – A chemical-free straightening technique using specialized blow-drying methods. Temporary sleek results without harsh treatments.
Flat Hair Clips (9,900 searches, +50% YoY) – No-crease clips for styling and sectioning. Essential tools for both professional stylists and at-home users perfecting protective styles.
The haircare landscape in 2026 reflects the convergence of technology, personalization, and self-expression. Whether it's consumers using AI apps to preview their next look, investing in leave-in treatments showing +2,446% growth, or embracing protective styles that celebrate their natural texture, the common thread is empowerment through innovation.
The brands winning in this environment share key traits:
For entrepreneurs and investors, the data points to several high-growth opportunities: AI-powered personalization tools, bond-building treatments, affordable high-tech styling devices, scalp health products, and solutions serving protective styling needs.
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