After balayage’s long reign over hair salons, highlights have been relatively quiet. A babylight here and some gray blending there; adding dimension meant doing so in the most natural and seamless way possible. But for 2026, we’re doing a 180—this is the year of unexpected highlights. Leading the way are Vogue cover star Rosalía, Olympian Alysa Liu, and street-style darlings.
Unexpected highlights come in many forms. First up, halo hair, worn expertly by Rosalía and best described by hairstylist Vale Landro as a circular placement around the top of the head to give the appearance of sainthood. “It’s a bold design, yet subtle and expressive at the same time,” Landro tells Vogue. “It’s an intentional look.”
Another design is the “shine line,” which Amalie MacGowan, the director of video at Teen Vogue and editorial director of Mixed Feelings, first experimented with in 2024 after being inspired by Caroline Polachek’s halo hair. MacGowan kept the look for a year, recently going back to it with bolder colors. “I wanted the bleach lines to be harsher and the highlights to be more abstract,” she says.
Then there’s the bold stripes of bleach. Olympian Alysa Liu had worn horizontally highlighted stripes in her hair for a couple of years before going full-on bleach, a stark contrast to her dark base.
When it comes to highlights for this year, the louder the better.
The Process
Unexpected highlights are an extensive process that requires upkeep. How much time you’ll spend in the chair depends on a) how much lighter you’re going with your color and b) what type of highlights you want.
For that singular halo effect, Landro says it takes less time than traditional vertical highlights. “Placement is the most important part,” she says about the circular bleached highlight. Once the shape is created, Landro applies the bleach through sections so that the color is visible and contiguous as it moves.
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For a multi-striped look like Liu’s, it takes a lot more to get it right. The figure skater actually began bleaching her own hair with a paintbrush—and only brought in a professional right before the 2026 Winter Olympics. Hairstylist Kelsey Miller, who was in charge of freshening up Liu’s bleached rings, says the experience takes a few hours—plus an assortment of Olaplex products and toner. All of the experts advise bringing a photo reference for your stylist for the best results.
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It’s also a good idea to seek out colorists who specialize in the type of highlights you want. Thanks to the trusty algorithm, MacGowan was served a TikTok video from Madeline at Whistle Salon. After looking at the colorist’s work, MacGowan booked an appointment to get the “abstractly dyed blonde and calico hair” she wanted.
“I told Madeline I wanted abstract highlights, something playful and unexpected, similar to the kinds of painting she does with her other work. She suggested the halo, some chunky Y2K highlights, and even a hidden raccoon tail,” MacGowan says. “What I was looking for was very much within her wheelhouse.”
The Aftercare
Upkeep is pretty much the same as any lightening or coloring hair treatment; you just need to stay on top of your touch-up appointments and religiously use hydrating products. Landro says how often you touch up hair really depends on the person, as some people enjoy how it grows out over time, but in general, she recommends waiting around eight to 12 weeks before your next appointment. If you’re going for a multiple-halo-ring look like Liu’s signature ’do, Miller says those horizontal ring patterns will most likely move down your hair shaft together without looking too uneven (if your stylist applied the color blocking evenly to begin with, of course), so the touch-ups can be minimal if you want them to be.
As for products, Landro recommends looking for color-safe shampoo and conditioners and using a hydrating mask once a week. Miller adds that you’ll want to use hair oil for dry ends, and to lay off any excessive heat from styling tools as best you can (advice she also gave to Liu before she left for Cortina).
And don’t be quick to write this style off as a one-hit wonder. Miller says that she’s already had several people reach out to her to copy Liu’s look. And for MacGowan, though she likes to drastically change her hair often, the fact that she ended up going back to this specific look speaks to its appeal. “It felt like the halo highlights added just enough ‘edge’ to my overall look, without compromising on my length or cut,” she says. “[And] I have to give flowers to my original halo queen: Caroline Polachek.”
Have a beauty or wellness trend you’re curious about? We want to know! Send Vogue’s senior beauty and wellness editor an email at beauty@vogue.com.
