The Tamesis
After balayage’s long reign in hair salons, highlights have gone relatively quiet. There’s a baby light here, a mix of some gray there; adding dimension means doing it in the most natural, seamless way. But by 2026, we will have done a 180-degree turn—a year that will bring unexpected highlights. Leading the trend is Fashion Cover star Rosalía, Olympian Alysa Liu and street style darling.
Unexpected highlights come in many forms. First up was the halo hairstyle, which Rosalía crafted, which hairstylist Vale Landro describes as a rounded cut around the top of the head, giving it a saint-like look. “It’s a bold design that’s also subtle and expressive,” said Landero Fashion. “It was a deliberate expression.”
Another design is the “Shine Line”, designed by Amalie MacGowan, Video Director teen fashion and editorial director Mixed feelings, First tried in 2024 after being inspired by Caroline Polachek’s own halo hair. McGowan kept the look for a year and recently returned in bolder colors. “I wanted the bleach lines to be rougher and the highlights to be more abstract,” she says.
Then there are the bold bleached stripes. Olympian Alysa Liu wore her hair with horizontally highlighted streaks for a few years before going full bleach, which contrasted with her darker undertones.
When it comes to highlights of the year, the louder the better.
process
The unexpected highlight was an extensive process that required maintenance. How long you spend in the chair depends on: a) how lighter your color is and b) what type of highlights you want.
For this exotic halo effect, Landro says it takes less time than a traditional vertical highlight. “Placement is the most important part,” she says of round bleach highlights. Once the shape is created, Landro applies bleach to various sections so that the color is visible and continuous as it moves.
For a multi-stripe look like Liu’s, it takes a little more effort to get it right. The figure skater actually started bleaching her hair with a paintbrush before hiring a professional just before the 2026 Winter Olympics. Kelsey Miller, the hairstylist responsible for rejuvenating Liu’s bleach ring, said the entire process takes several hours, plus a variety of Olaplex products and toners. All experts recommend bringing a photo reference with your stylist for best results.
