You know us, we’re a sucker for a new haircut, but one chop we didn’t see coming for 2026 is the vampire haircut. As it turns out though, more and more people are sinking their teeth into the trend with search volume for the cut up by 40%, according to Pinterest.

It feeds into a wider aesthetic that’s set to headline the year, which the picture pinning platform has dubbed “vamp romantic”. “Millennials and Gen Z will go all in on an after-dark aesthetic, embracing jet black nails, romantic goth hairstyles and a smudged kohl smokey eye,” forecast Pinterest, after noticing an uptick in related trends. Searches for “dark romantic makeup” have surged by 160%, “vampire beauty” is up 90%, “carmilla aesthetic” is up 60% and “gothic coffin nails” leapt by 180%.

In fact, moody, brooding beauty has been busy gaining disciples. Last year, dark siren makeup featured heavily on the runway and across TikTok, but for 2026 vampire core is re-emerging to give us nostalgia (hello noughties Twilight era) but also re-invention as the artists leading the trend have made it more individualised and personal than ever.

What is the vampire haircut?

A quick scroll of the “vampire haircut” goes to show it’s not a one-size fits all chop, there’s plenty of ways to express the trend on your own terms, but some reoccurring references, include a shorter blocky or piecey statement fringe, mussy up-all-night texture and, in a nod to the slick-backed styles of Count Dracula, slicked and flicked bobs and midis. It has an edginess and some truly delicious DGAF energy.

“The vamp look has already made it to the salon, with clients asking for a shorter, more textured play on the Jane Birkin bangs and teaming that up with airy, textured, undone layers that can be tailored to suit the individual face shape and texture,” confirms top London hair stylist, Hollie Rose Clarke. Or for a gentler take, “adding some soft wisps of a bang that sit around the bridge of the nose is a great entry point to the world of shorter bangs,” she adds.

How to get the vampire haircut?

Again, personalisation is key, but part of the dark romance of this cut is in its imperfection. Natural texture, soft-blunt base-lines and mussed-up fringes work well. “For styling, a texture spray will be your best friend. Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray will give you that grungy ’90s texture and lasts all day,” notes Hollie.

Alternatively, oiled back strands styled flat to the head create a graphic moment – plus flicked-out ends are optional.

Ways to wear the vampire haircut?

Here are some of our favourite ways to nod the style.

Short slick and bob-length

Voluminous and mussy

Curly and loose

With a micro fringe and finger waves

Choppy and collarbone length

Kicked-out and bob-length

Slicked and flicked

Slicked and side-parted

For more from GLAMOUR’s Senior Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk

Sign up to our newsletter for more daily content straight to your inbox.