trends by marianne
Hair
Bobs and lobs, layers and texture, bangs and crops
The Boyfriend Bob: A softly structured, blunt, and feathery square bob that cuts between the chin and the collarbone. Designed for low-maintenance, flipped-finish air-drying.
The Ripped Bob: A jaw- or chin-length cut featuring subtle layering and highly textured, piecey ends.
Soft Luxury Lob: Falling perfectly at the collarbone, this style uses blunted ends for fine hair or subtle layers to take the weight out of thick hair, focusing entirely on high shine and hair health.
90s Supermodel Cut: Long, strategic layers with dense, full perimeters. This style relies on maximum volume and a bouncy blowout finish to create effortless drama.
The Modern Shag: A rock-n-roll-inspired cut with heavy face-framing layers and undone volume. It works perfectly on wavy or medium-to-thick hair.
Love Layers: Heart-shaped, face-framing long layers that start just below the chin and cascade softly toward the shoulders.
Cloud & Wispy Bangs: Feathery, light, and airy curtain fringe that subtly lengthens toward the cheekbones for a low-maintenance grow-out.
Bombshell Bangs: A longer, softer fringe that blends seamlessly into dramatic, face-framing, eye-level layers.
Grown-Out Pixie (The Trixie): A longer, softer pixie cut featuring airy, undone texture on top while keeping the perimeter looking casual and lived-in.
Hair color
Hair color trends prioritize ultra-glossy finishes, seamless low-contrast blends, and hair health. Instead of sharp, high-contrast highlights, this season favors "monochromatic color drenching" and soft, lived-in depth that allows for a graceful grow-out. Whether you want to deepen your natural tone or warm up your blonde, these are the dominant color palettes of the season:
Rich, High-Shine Brunettes
Brunettes take center stage with rich, liquid-like depth that leans away from overly ashy tones toward reflective warmth.
Velvet Espresso: A sophisticated, near-black brunette with a neutral-cool, mirror-like gloss finish. This shade focuses on deep, translucent tone-on-tone dimension.
Rusty Chocolate & Toasted Chestnut: A classic, rich chocolate brown base accented by barely-there, shimmering ribbons of amber, caramel, or subtle rust.
Spiced Reds and Moody Berries
Reds remain highly fashionable but shift toward deeper, more sophisticated iterations over bright fire-engine copper.
Whiskey & Cinnamon Copper: A softer, highly wearable copper red that relies on a gold-and-red blend for a natural, bright, and optimistic look.
Cherry Cola & Mulled Wine: Luxurious, deep red-browns and moody burgundy shades with purple or espresso undertones that offer extreme depth and dramatic dimension under the light.
Balanced, Low-Maintenance Blondes
Blondes are shifting away from stark, stripey streaks and heading toward creamy, tonally balanced colors with natural root melting.
Oat Milk & Mushroom Blonde: For those who prefer cool tones, this neutral-beige, toasted shade blends creamy gloss with a soft, natural root depth for an effortless grow-out.
White-Ash Platinum: A bright, bold alternative to the darker winter trends. Achieved with balayage or foilyage, it delivers a striking platinum impact without an obvious regrowth line.
Old Money Honey: A rich, lustrous golden blonde that acts like a "cashmere scarf" for the hair, using multiple gold and caramel tones to create a gilded glow.
Nails
Vampy & Luxurious "Near-Black" Shades
Rich, ultra-dark pigments with high-gloss finishes are becoming the ultimate neutrals.
Cherry Noir: A sultry, deep burgundy-red that is so dark it looks almost black until it catches the light.
Brown Sugar Espresso: Replacing basic neutrals with a moody, rich espresso-bean brown that pairs seamlessly with fall wardrobes.
The Unexpected Pastels & Neutrals
Contrasting the typical dark winter tones, a few distinct light hues are trending on runways and red carpets.
Lavender Veil (Lilac): This season's breakout color. Lilac is the perfect "sweet spot" transition tone—a cool, milky-neutral pop of color that stands out beautifully against heavy knitwear.
Soft Syrup & Blush Nails: Inspired by Korean beauty trends, translucent "syrup" textures, glass finishes, and "blush nails" feature a soft pink or berry center blooming outward over a sheer base.
Dimensional Finishes & Texture Play
Flat, basic colors are taking a back seat to unique surface dimensions.
Velvet & Cat-Eye Effects: Magnetic gel polishes are highly popular, creating a textured velvet appearance or deep cat-eye backgrounds that dance under lighting.
Chocolate Chrome: Layering reflective chrome dust over rich warm chocolate bases creates a striking liquid-metal finish.
Bambi & Wildwood Leopard: Deer-inspired spots and dimensional animal textures layered over cat-eye finishes are experiencing a huge spike in popularity.
Vintage Dark Academia: Think plaid and tartan linework, matte tortoiseshell patterns, and forest motifs that mimic a vintage Bookstore aesthetic.
Makeup
Makeup trends shift away from high-maintenance "clean girl" aesthetics toward intentional artistry, rich nostalgic pigments, and skin-first textures. This season embraces a striking juxtaposition: striking, deep statement colors paired with minimal, raw complexions.
'90’s Lips & Vampy Tones
The iconic '90s brown lip is at peak popularity this season, reimagined with a softer, more modern edge. Instead of harsh lines, artists are diffusing lip contours inward for a dimensional, blurred look.
The Colors: Espresso, chocolate mauve, deep burgundy, and oxblood lead the palette.
The Textures: High-shine glosses are sharing the stage with luxurious matte balms, sheer satin tints, and transparent berry lip oils that leave a hydrated finish.
Lived-In & Misty Eyes
Sharp liquid eyeliner is giving way to softer, expressive eye aesthetics that focus on depth and human texture.
Toasted Monochrome: Apply a seamless, monochromatic sweep of soft taupe or warm cocoa around the entire eye for a relaxed, unpolished “cashmere eye" effect.
Ombré & Spiky Lashes: To lift the eye naturally without heavy liner, makeup artists are coating brown mascara through the center lashes and concentrating deep black formula only on the outer wisps.
Misty Grays & Earthy Smudges: A massive trend borrows inspiration from the runways, focusing on a diffused wash of slate gray, pewter, greige, or soft plum across the lids.
Skin-Forward Complexions & Controlled Glow
Heavy, layered foundations are out. The modern base prioritizes strategic, ultra-precise concealer placement over minimal, raw skin.
Soft-Focus Satin: Complexions lean toward a satin or natural finish inspired by vintage film photography—providing radiance without looking oily.
Controlled Highlighting: Liquid luminizers are being swapped for cream highlighters or balms applied only to the face's high points.
The "New Cool" Blush: Blush is taking absolute priority over heavy sculpting and heavy contouring.
Cool-Toned Radiance: Cool-toned blushes with blue, pink, or purple undertones have skyrocketed in demand.
The Look: Rich cranberry and moody berry tones are heavily draped over the cheeks to mimic a fresh, windswept winter flush.
Fashion
The women's clothing trends mark a distinct shift away from the quiet restraint of minimal "quiet luxury" toward expressive styling, sharp proportions, and rich, tactile textures. This season, runway collections focus on the art of contrast—pairing clean silhouettes with decadent finishes like velvet, satin, and heavy knits to balance personality with everyday wearability. The most trending styles dominating the season include:
Shaped Outerwear & Lean Tailoring
After seasons of massive, boxy fits, tailoring is becoming significantly more structured and silhouette-focused.
The Funnel-Neck Jacket: The absolute "it" outerwear piece of 2026. Whether executed in buttery nappa leather or classic wool, coats feature high, structured necklines that completely transform basic outfits.
Hourglass Blazers & Cropped Cuts: Power dressing gets an update with cinched, curved seams and gently sloping waistlines. Conversely, cropped jackets are everywhere, pairing beautifully with high-rise trousers to elongate the legs.
Lean Tailoring Over Wide Legs: Sharp, slim-cut separate suits and straight-leg tailoring are stepping up to replace baggier street styles.
High-Texture Fabrics & Nostalgic Finishes
Texture is the primary way designers are injecting fun back into cold-weather wardrobes.
Satin, Silk & Velvet: Satin slips, bias-cut maxi skirts, and relaxed trousers are no longer saved for evening wear. Treat them as everyday basics layered under heavy knit sweaters or crisp suede. Rich velvet pieces add a folk-inspired or "Art Deco" opulence.
Intarsia & Textured Knits: Cozy winter style focuses on multicolored argyle, geometric jacquard patterns, and hairy mohair-blend sweaters
Playful Fringe & Brocades: Targeted fringe trims on the hems of skirts, capes, and dresses add dynamic motion.
Bold Layering & Moody Colors
Runway styling tricks make summer clothes wearable in freezing temperatures.
Skirts Over Pants: A major revival trend involves layering sheer lace, checked tartan, or asymmetric slip skirts directly over streamlined jeans or tailored trousers.
The Palette: Rich neutrals like espresso brown, chocolate, and slate gray form the base, then the season gets bursts of moody maroon/Cherry Red, deep royal purples, and an unexpected wave of highly saturated, assertive fuchsia pinks.
Statement Accessories
Dramatic Brooches: Used playfully to fasten cardigans off-center, anchor scarves, or add shape to a draped skirt.
Jazz Shoes & Flat Mules: Providing an elevated, comfortable alternative to basic white sneakers or ballet flats.
Animal-Print Extras: Touches of zebra, cheetah, or cow print via small handbags and belts keep neutral capsule wardrobes lively.
Men
Fall/Winter looks embrace clean grow-outs and textured movement. Rigid, high-shine pomades are taking a backseat to soft matte creams and natural clays that provide structure without looking stiff.
The Rockstar Shag & Wolf Cut: Heavily layered, choppy cuts with longer curtain fringe dominate. This style celebrates wavy or messy natural textures, framing the face with an effortless, rock-and-roll attitude.
The Modern Mullet: The mullet remains a heavy hitter, evolving into a softer "baby mullet" or "mod-ish" cut. It features shaggy length on top and a textured back, but keeps the sideburns and necklines softly tapered rather than aggressively shaved. Think “burst fade.”
The French Crop & Textured Quiff: For shorter lengths, the French crop features a heavy, blunt fringe across the forehead with softly faded sides. Guys looking for volume are opting for the textured quiff, pushing height through the front while keeping the overall finish matte and perfectly imperfect.
The Classic, Messy Center Part: Moving past the rigid “Wall Street" slick-back, the 2026 middle part relies on longer, free-flowing layers that fall naturally.
aveda!
One for All Leave-In Elixir
One for All Leave-In Elixir is a lightweight, multitasking spray that delivers 25 plant-powered benefits, including a nourishing blend of moringa and jojoba oil for all hair types and textures. Key benefits include:
Hydration: Provides moisture for up to 72 hours without weighing hair down.
Protection: Defends against heat styling and reduces split ends and breakage.
Manageability: Instantly detangles, smooths flyaways, softens, and adds shine.
Clean Formula: 99% naturally derived, 100% vegan, color-safe, and Leaping Bunny approved.
Aveda Color Conserve Shampoo and Conditioner are BACK!
Aveda Color Conserve Shampoo and Conditioner is the staple formula designed to protect color-treated hair from fading. This gentle, plant-infused shampoo and conditioner combo features a 100% organic aroma of certified organic lavender, geranium, and grapefruit. It helps resist fading and protects colored hair from environmental factors like sun and water. These products are available for purchase. In-salon only!
new at mcs
New Self Check-in Station
We hope all of our guests are enjoying the new self check-in station at our front desk! You will still see the same smiling faces behind our front desk, but now you can check in faster.
Online Booking Option
MCS is currently offering an online booking option for select services with select stylists! Visit our website to learn more about this fast, easy scheduling option. Don’t worry, our friendly front desk team is still here to help you schedule by phone anytime!
“Sensory Safe Sunday” Appointments
MCS is now offering “Safe Sunday” Appointments because everyone deserves to feel comfortable & confident during their salon experience!
Sensory Safe Stylist Paulette completed her certification through The Sensory Safe Solution, a specialized program designed to support individuals with autism, sensory sensitivities, anxiety, trauma histories, and disabilities. During the private guest haircut experience, Paulette will create a welcoming, private environment using her training and sensory-safe practices, including a "distract pack" of toys, puzzles, and fidgets; a low-sound, low-vibration clipper; rewards; and privacy. Call today to schedule a 45-minute private appointment with Paulette on select Sundays.
our talented team
Congratulations + Welcome
Welcome back and congratulations to Nikole for graduating from the Aveda Columbus Institute, passing the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology exams, and being accepted into the MCS Apprenticeship program.
Congratulations to MCS new talent Nina. She is now available for appointments full-time; call today to schedule!
Congratulations to new talent stylist Katelyn C. for being promoted to level #1 stylist and being promoted to the onsite makeup artist team
Congratulations to Kaityln L. for being promoted to both the onsite hair stylist team and the onsite makeup artist team.
Congratulations to stylist Carli and her husband Will on their October wedding!
Celebrating Our 25+ Years Team Members!
We would like to recognize and thank our 25+ years team members: Jennifer, Heather, Monica, Beth, Carla D., Toni, and Wendy! We celebrated these ladies with a spa overnight weekend in August. We are forever grateful for their loyalty and talents that they bring to MCS!
Keeping Current
Premiere Columbus Hair Show – Jessica
Gray Transitioning Hair Color Class – Lea, Kaitlyn, Nina
Aveda Retail Product Knowledge Class – Nina, Lea, Kaitlyn
Advanced Balayage Hair Color Techniques Class at MCS
Advanced Haircutting Trends Class – Paulette and Carl
Price Adjustments (beginning November 1, 2026)
Blow dry Style $40
Partial Perm $75+
Full Perm 95+
Special occasion style $80
Bridal makeup application $100
Makeup application $60
mcs exclusives
keep up-to-date and in the know
Make sure we have your correct email. We don’t want you to miss a single thing here at MCS.
Follow us on social: Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest
Watch for exclusive deals and flash sales.