LA hair moves faster than most cities. By the time a trend hits Instagram, the chairs on West 3rd Street have already moved on. Here's what's actually being cut in Los Angeles in 2026, written from the chair.
1. The refined textured crop
Shorter than the 2023 version, softer on the fringe, paired with a low or mid taper instead of a skin fade. The most-booked cut at SIR this year. Works on most face shapes, grows out without an awkward stage, photographs well.
2. The soft side part
Length on top, taper on the sides, a part you can see without a mirror. The cleanest cut in LA right now. Quiet, confident, doesn't try too hard. The wardrobe-friendly option for professionals who don't want to look like they spent forty minutes in front of a mirror.
3. The low taper with flow
Longer on top, swept back or to the side, with a low taper that stays subtle. This is the cut musicians and creatives in Silver Lake and West Hollywood are walking out with. Needs the right hair texture — straight to wavy works best.
4. The tailored mullet
Yes, still. No, not the bad one. Short sides, length kept neat in the back, soft disconnect. We cut more of these for actors and stylists than for anyone in their twenties — done right, it reads as deliberate, not nostalgic.
5. The buzz, considered
A buzz at 2 or 3 guard with a precise taper and a clean lineup is one of the strongest cuts in LA right now. Works only if the shape of your head and your hairline cooperate. Ask a barber to be honest before committing.
How to know which one is yours
Hair type, face shape, lifestyle, and how often you'll actually come in — those four together decide the cut. A real consultation answers all of them in about three minutes. That's the start of every Signature Cut at SIR.
—SIR Management