Forget rigid structures. This season, the technical skills of the hairdresser are put to the service of a living material and intuitive styling for a stunning result.
In 2026, the world of hairdressing confirms a deep desire for controlled naturalness. No more overly strict cuts or the rigid “working girl” look: make way for more flexible, airy lines and above all easy to live with on a daily basis. This movement particularly appeals to women over 50, who often look for a cut capable of refreshing their features without hardening them. Because after a certain age, the challenge is very real: modernizing your style without falling into an overly radical or artificially “youthful” transformation. The hairstyle then becomes a real asset of elegance and self-confidence.
Among the major trends of the year, the square remains essential, but it is completely reinventing itself. We are abandoning the clean, graphic square in favor of a fuzzier, softer style, which draws its inspiration from the minimalism of the 90s.” This development responds to a desire for more personal, less fixed beauty “, explains Rémi Billaud, Franck Provost training manager. This flagship cut has a precise name: the soft bob.
The soft bob is a modern reinterpretation of the classic bob. Technically, everything comes down to subtlety: faint lines, worked with straight scissors and picket lines, with a slight, even invisible gradient. The ideal length is generally between the jaw and the shoulders. ” Unlike the traditional bob, which is often compact and structured, the soft bob is airy and flexible. It accompanies the natural movement of the hair instead of constraining it “, specifies Rémi Billaud. The result is chic, natural and incredibly flattering.
After 50, the soft bob is particularly elegant when kept slightly elongated under the jaw, with a subtle gradient around the face to soften the features. It is perfectly suited to oval, elongated and square faces, which it balances thanks to its fluidity. On a rounder face, we would simply recommend a slightly longer version. In terms of material, it enhances fine to medium, straight or slightly wavy hair, restoring volume. Finally, a luminous color such as a blended balayage or a discreet contouring will accentuate the depth of the cut and restore radiance to the complexion.
Timeless without being classic, modern without excess, the soft bob perfectly embodies this new vision of beauty after 50: assertive, luminous and resolutely current.
