Summer 2026 hair starts with movement, warmth, and the question of how hair behaves when it comes off the face. For L’Oréal Professionnel hairstylist Jacob Habib Khan, the season centers on ponytails, buns, face-framing pieces, and color that works with heat, sun, and real summer habits. Speaking with Beauty SCENE Editor Jana Kostic, Khan breaks down the shades, cuts, and styling choices shaping the months ahead.
HAIR
The conversation follows L’Oréal Professionnel’s Transformation Day in Paris, where more than 100 hair changes brought together artists from around the world. From Caramel Bronde and Pink Lychee to block color, gloss treatments, and high-impact face frames, Khan looks at summer hair through both salon reality and creative instinct. His take is direct, funny, and practical: embrace warmth, expect fading, and keep the hair ready to go up.
What do you see as the defining hair direction for summer 2026, and what feels different from recent seasons? – I think every single summer means your hair is going up. That means you either want all the hair out of your face or you want some kind of fun ponytail look with pieces falling out. It leads to a real conversation with your clients to decide what direction they want their face-frame to go: either long and easy to pull back, or shorter with more defined pieces.
L’Oréal Professionnel’s Transformation Day brought together more than 100 hair changes in Paris. How did working at that scale influence the exchange of ideas between the artists? – I loved doing Transformation Day with artists from all around the world. In the past, to determine what trend would be happening, we had to watch every single brand and every runway. Now, because we have access to the work of every hairdresser making moves globally, I can watch what they did at Transformation Day and on their social media to help predict exactly what will be popular with my own clients.
Caramel Bronde, Cinnamon Red and Pink Lychee emerged as key color directions from the event. Which one do you expect to have the greatest influence this summer, and why? – Suggesting that Caramel Bronde and Pink Lychee will be the standout colors is like saying short sleeves are popular in the summer, it’s a given! Every single season when it’s hot, you see blondes trying to spice things up with warmer tones and even vivids like peaches and pinks. Because of the sun and excessive shampooing due to the heat, you’ll never get a cool blonde to last. So, all warm tones, whether it’s Pink Lychee or a regular Golden Blonde, are what’s going to be popular.
Do you expect warmer hair colors to play a bigger role this summer? – Based on my last answer: yes, absolutely.
There is no magic answer for keeping your color longer.
Beyond Caramel Bronde, Cinnamon Red and Pink Lychee, which color techniques and placements do you expect to shape the season? – Besides the trends we saw emerge at Transformation Day, I see my clients moving in the direction of more high-maintenance, progressive, alternative color. At least half of the clients who used to ask for “lived-in” color are moving toward block color now. That said, the other half will probably stick with lived-in, low-maintenance color forever.
Which color directions would you recommend for someone who wants a visible summer update without changing their overall look completely? – Embracing the natural warmth and shifting toward “skinified” results like the ones seen with Dia Light Hyaluronic Acidic Gloss to add shine and subtle tone without a drastic commitment.
Beyond color, which haircut shapes and lengths do you expect to see most this summer? – It all comes back to the face-frame. Whether the hair is long or short, the focus is on how it looks when it’s tied up, deciding between those effortless long layers or shorter, shattered pieces that frame the face.
Whether it’s a ponytail or a bun, the texture needs to look intentional but fun.
What kind of texture and styling do you expect to define summer hair this year, such as soft waves, heatless curls or sleeker looks? – It’s all about the “up-do” versatility. Whether it’s a ponytail or a bun, the texture needs to look intentional but fun.
Sun exposure, salt water and humidity can quickly affect hair color and condition. What are your essential tips for protecting hair throughout the summer? – My suggestion regarding sun exposure, saltwater, and humidity? Stay away from the beach and out of the ocean, you animal!
Is there one unexpected hair trend that you think could gain momentum this summer? – There is no magic answer for keeping your color longer. If you’re in the ocean, in the sun, or if you’re sweating your buns off and shampooing every day, it’s going to fade faster. I’d say: embrace the healthy life, but also embrace getting an extra toner every couple of weeks to keep that vibrancy alive.
