As Saoirse Ronan recently demonstrated at Louis Vuitton’s womenswear show during Paris Fashion Week, skirts aren’t the only minis making a comeback. Her mini fringe, too, looked surprisingly sophisticated.
Ending mid-forehead, Ronan’s short, fringed bob has become something of a signature this season, styled straight with a graphic edge. Halle Berry is also a fan, her fringe and bob matched in length, but contrasting in texture.
Elsewhere in Hollywood, Dakota Johnson’s and Jennifer Lawrence’s hair may have grown longer, but their fringes have shrunk; meanwhile, Zendaya and Florence Pugh have both experimented with directional up-dos framed by a mini fringe.
There are clearly many ways to wear the look. But, says Kiki Koh, creative senior stylist at John Frieda Mayfair, certain hallmarks make it feel distinctly 2026: “This micro fringe is softer, with jagged edges rather than a blunt line.”
That may be what to ask your stylist for in the salon chair if you want in on the trend. But “making sure the right fringe is on the right person,” is what stops a quirky cut becoming a styling burden, says Ricky Walters, leading celebrity hairstylist and founder of Salon64.
Typically, Koh explains, the style suits anyone with a classic oval face. That said, he is quick to make allowances for anyone game enough to wear the look regardless of face shape: “This fringe is more about rocking a look than conventional face-framing suitability.” Quite.
As for texture? “Very curly or frizzy hair makes it challenging to style,” Koh notes. “For this cut, ideally, hair is straight or wavy, with a decent amount of density rather than very fine, thin strands.” Cowlicks can pose a hurdle too – “unless you're willing to put up with a bit more effort to tame it” – while “a low forehead might not be suitable for a micro fringe”.
Walters would also ask whether you’re prepared to properly style it at home, given that “all fringes can mean extra work and maintenance”. How much, he adds, depends on your hair type: some will call for a ‘less is more’ approach, while others may need regular intervention.
As a rule of thumb, Koh advises against lifting the roots too much with a brush, “because you want the fringe to lie flatter on the forehead”. Blasting it with the dryer “in different directions from the top also helps give it a more natural effect,” he adds. To smooth any flyaways, try a light styling cream such as the Sam McKnight Hair Happy Endings Nourishing Balm, and to absorb excess oil at the forehead keep a dry shampoo to hand, like the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo (which is currently also available in the beautiful seasonal scent, Frosted Fig.)
Then there is the upkeep. “This is the downside of a mini fringe,” says Koh: “It needs cutting very regularly to keep it fresh – around once a month or even every three weeks. It won't last any longer than that.” Still, you don’t need an A-list hairdresser on standby for this: many salons offer complimentary touch-ups between routine appointments. Add that to your list of queries before committing to the cut.
