Hair Trends That Will Dominate 2026 - From Dubai's Queen of Colour Maria Dowling

Dubai’s “Queen of Colour” Maria Dowling who is the Founder of Dubai’s most awarded salon mariadowling Salon Dubai spoke to Raemona about the hair trends that will dominate in 2026.

One of the trends I have noticed is that some clients wish to have longer times between salon appointments and this is influencing their hair choices.  For this reason, placement of colour is becoming increasingly important. For instance, if you’re going to opt for an all over colour (especially if the colour is a vibrant colour such as red) when it is growing out, it’s going to be obvious where it has grown out as there will be a line between where the vibrant colour is and your natural colour. A better option is to place colour pieces through the hair. For example, I like to leave out the parting and put the colour just under the parting. This allows the colour to be visible, while keeping the natural colour on the hairline.  

For those who want to keep salon visits to a minimum but want to remain blonde, I suggest opting for two half heads of highlights during the first two trips to the salon and then every third trip, have a full head of highlights. Another option is if you simply want to add a touch of brightness then ask your stylist to place a few babylights to frame the face while keeping the rest of your hair its natural colour.

Low maintenance is something that is also very much requested. Basically, for this the rule is simple: if you want a low maintenance look and are not grey, then either choose highlights that are placed away from the scalp, opt for balayage, or stay close to your own natural colour if you’re having a global colour, i.e. a colour that is all over the hair.

// Top 3 haircut trends     

The bob:

In 2026, hair colour will play a pivotal part in the overall look. Soft tonal layering - subtle depth at the roots, a subtle mix of tone through the mid lengths finishing with a hint of brightness on the ends - will make the cut seem fuller, shinier and more expensive. 

Elevated ease: 

Sleeker, healthy-looking and glossy hair will become a must-have, whether it’s gentlystyled with a side parting or texturised for a more lived-in look. A hair mask will become your BFF.

Scandi shaggy layers: 

This is created with precise shapes such as elongated shags and razor-cut layers, which results in a structured minimalism with a soft, undone edge with lots of natural movement.

//Top 3 hair colour trends

Brunette: 

Let Gigi Hadid be your inspiration. Certain darker shades are leaning towards cooler, muted tones. The grey-ashy undertone adds a touch of mystery without washing you out.

Colour melting: 

Rather than balayage, this more natural approach will be favoured. It offers a seamless transition between the shades that are placed down the length of the hair. It gives the effect that the mid-lengths to ends have been lightened under the sun.

Grey blending: 

There has been a subtle change in conversation around aging. Now, it is less about chasing youth and more about aging well. This approach has beenembraced by certain celebrities through their hair choices. On the Red Carpet, A-listers such as Andie MacDowell and Jamie Lee Curtis are showcasing their greys, something that would have been very unwelcome in the past. For this reason, grey blending is a huge trend. Instead of fully covering or highlighting grey hairs, this low-maintenance, modern look technique creates a softer, more natural transition in the hair, allowing you to embrace your greys instead of fighting them. The goal is to make regrowth less noticeable and create a soft, dimensional look. Instead of masking your grey, you integrate them using highlights, lowlights, glosses, or toners.  There are several popular Grey Blending Techniques and the best one to use depends on thepercentage of grey hair you have and what your natural hair colour is. Generally, I recommend focussing on lowlights + glossing if you are less than 30% grey and for those who are 50%+ grey, highlights and toning will give the most natural result. Refresh your gloss or toner every 6–8 weeks at the salon. Highlights and balayage usually need a touch-up only every 3–6 months.

Maria Dowling - The Queen of Colour