<p>As temperatures rise, so do the clippers. This season is all about shorter cuts, cleaner shapes and hair that doesn&rsquo;t overstay its welcome.</p>

<p>Summer always brings the urge to cut it off. And this season, the runways agreed. Across Milan and Paris, short hair reigned supreme with styles that are easier to live with, in the heat. Even the longer styles felt lighter and shaped to move. Instead of a drastic reinvention, it was a cleaning of things up while letting texture and personality stay intact. Ahead, check out the Spring/Summer 2026 grooming trends defining the season.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Crop It Like It&rsquo;s Hot</h2>

<p>The shortest cut of the season came with historic roots. The cropped styles seen on the runway closely resembled the Eton crop, a look that originated at England&rsquo;s Eton College in the early 1900s. Defined by short, even length around the head with minimal styling, it was designed for discipline. Over time, however, it was embraced by artists and designers who rejected excess. That same energy appeared at Dries Van Noten, where Julian Klausner introduced his first menswear collection. His debut explored tension between softness and structure, and the tightly-cropped hair reinforced that balance.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Hardware Included</h2>

<p>Rather than relying on cut alone, stylists introduced metallic elements that sat directly within the hair. Emporio Armani featured cool hair jewelry that complemented the collection&rsquo;s African influences. Across many African cultures, adornment carries meaning tied to identity and protection. Translating that gesture into grooming gave hair new importance, while the styling itself stayed clean with natural curls, allowing the accessory to become the focal point.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Blush Rush</h2>

<p>A lot of the grooming seen on the runway emphasized natural color with a warm blush across the cheeks instead of masking it. The flush mimicked the effect of heat, easily making the face appear more alive. At Herm&egrave;s, the grooming trick aligned seamlessly with V&eacute;ronique Nichanian&rsquo;s focus on lightness as her Spring/Summer 2026 collection explored breathability and ease.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Coil Control</h2>

<p>The shape and structure of natural curls were fully intact this season. Stylists worked with the hair&rsquo;s natural pattern, shaping coils so they sat cleanly while keeping their volume and density. The approach was especially clear at Dolce &amp; Gabbana in its &ldquo;Pyjama Boys&rdquo; collection, where the grooming aligned with the ease and sensuality of the clothes. The decision to preserve the curl&rsquo;s natural form also reinforces a larger shift we&rsquo;re seeing in grooming today, where texture is a defining feature.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Sweep Dreams</h2>

<p>Contrary to what we said, longer hair still exists. One of the exceptions was the side sweep &mdash; hair worn with enough length to move across the forehead, creating shape without looking heavy. When done right, the style can soften the face and gives the overall look more ease. At Saint Laurent, the look fit seamlessly into Anthony Vaccarello&rsquo;s vision for Spring/Summer 2026. The runway saw hair move with the wearer, adding fluidity without disrupting the sharpness of his designs&rsquo; silhouette.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Matrix Slick</h2>

<p>Gel is back in a big way. We saw hair combed flat against the head, with a wet finish that made everything look sharp. It instantly brings to mind the late &rsquo;90s, especially <em>The Matrix</em>, where slick hair communicated a futuristic and minimalist look. Prada and Giorgio Armani had slick hair work naturally with the collections&rsquo; clean lines and close-to-the-body silhouettes. Of course, there&rsquo;s also a practical side to it. Gel keeps hair in place, holds its shape through heat and stays consistent throughout the day &mdash; much needed, especially in the summer heat.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Curl Power</h2>

<p>For a while, men&rsquo;s grooming has been obsessed with control. Tight fades. Clean tapers. Everything disciplined into place. This season offered something different. Curls grew more romantic and settled naturally around the face, bringing back a level of glamour that feels almost unfamiliar now. The reference point goes back to the Regency era, when men wore their hair with length and shape, letting natural curls frame their features. It was part of how they presented themselves. It made all the sense at Dior, where Jonathan Anderson&rsquo;s debut drew heavily from history. In the show, the curls paired perfectly with all the tailoring.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Rough Around the Edges</h2>

<p>Perfect hair wasn&rsquo;t the goal this season. Crops were left slightly uneven, with visible texture that gave the hair more character. The natural finish made it seem like hair had grown into its shape over time, adding depth and giving the haircut personality. In Julian Klausner&rsquo;s debut menswear collection for Dries Van Noten, the rough-cut hair looked real and lived in, grounding the visual energy of the clothes.</p>

The Men’s Spring/Summer 2026 Grooming Trends Are Cutting It Short

Tags

Related Articles

Style

Men's Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Trends Straight Off the Runways

Style

The Best Menswear Looks at Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2026

Style

Jonathan Anderson’s Dior Spring/Summer 2026 Menswear Vision Is Effortless and Youthful

Recommended posts for you

Style