The lash industry never stands still, and 2026 is proving to be an exciting year for innovation and style evolution. From the continued dominance of natural-looking enhancements to bold new techniques like wet-look lashes and coloured extensions, understanding current trends allows you to attract trend-conscious clients and demonstrate your expertise in the latest techniques.
New Zealand clients are increasingly informed about lash options, often arriving at appointments with specific requests inspired by social media, celebrities, and influencer content. According to Stats NZ data on personal services, clients who feel their technician understands current trends are significantly more likely to return and refer others.
At New Zealand Beauty School, our Certificate in Eyelash Extensions teaches both foundational techniques and current styling approaches, ensuring you can create whatever look your clients desire.
The Natural Movement Continues
Why Natural Is Dominating
The past few years have seen a significant shift away from obviously artificial-looking lashes toward more natural, enhanced appearances. This trend shows no signs of slowing in 2026. Clients increasingly want lashes that look like their own, just better—longer, fuller, and more defined, but not obviously fake.
This shift reflects broader beauty trends toward authenticity and effortless-looking enhancement. The “clean girl” aesthetic that dominates social media favours beauty that appears innate rather than applied, and lashes are no exception.
The Wispy Natural Look
One of the most requested styles of 2026 is the wispy natural look. This technique creates a soft, fluttery effect with varying lengths that mimics the natural irregularity of real lashes. Unlike uniform dramatic sets, wispy lashes feature strategic spikes and variation that catch the light and create movement.
How to Create Wispy Naturals:
The key lies in intentional variation. Rather than applying uniform lengths across the lash line, technicians alternate between shorter and longer extensions, typically using 2-3 different lengths within each section. Longer “spike” lashes are placed every few lashes to create the wispy effect.
Curl selection matters too. Combining different curls—perhaps C curl through most of the lash line with D curl spikes—adds to the natural, dimensional appearance. The overall effect should look effortlessly beautiful rather than perfectly uniform.
The “Your Lashes But Better” Set
This approach focuses on enhancement so subtle that observers can’t quite identify what’s different—they just know the client looks great. It’s particularly popular among professionals, mothers, and anyone who wants to look polished without appearing obviously made up.
These sets typically use shorter lengths (8-11mm), natural curls (B or C), and classic or light volume techniques. The goal is to add definition and a subtle lift without dramatic transformation. Many clients who choose this style have never worn extensions before and are testing the waters.
The Wet-Look Trend
Understanding Wet-Look Lashes
One of the most exciting trends gaining momentum in 2026 is the wet-look or spiky lash effect. This style creates the appearance of lashes that have just been coated with mascara—defined, separated, and slightly clumped in an intentional way.
Unlike traditional volume sets that aim for fluffy, fanned-out fullness, wet-look lashes have a sleeker, more editorial quality. The aesthetic references high-fashion photography and runway looks, appealing to clients who want something more avant-garde than traditional styles.
Creating the Wet-Look Effect
Achieving authentic wet-look lashes requires specific techniques. Closed fans rather than fully opened fans create the clumpy, mascara-like appearance. Technicians create narrow volume fans with 3-6 lashes that remain partially closed rather than spreading into full fans.
Spike placement is essential—longer extensions placed strategically throughout the lash line create the separated, defined effect characteristic of freshly applied mascara. Using a combination of classic lashes and closed fans builds texture and dimension.
The overall density should be moderate. Wet-look sets aren’t about maximum fullness; they’re about texture and definition. Overfilling creates a dense look that loses the spiky character.
Who Suits Wet-Look Lashes
This trend appeals to fashion-forward clients who follow beauty trends closely, those who want something different from traditional extension looks, editorial and creative professionals, and younger clients influenced by social media aesthetics. However, it’s worth noting that wet-look lashes are more polarising than natural styles. Always show clients reference images and ensure they understand the aesthetic before proceeding.
Coloured and Creative Lashes
The Rise of Colour
Coloured lash extensions continue growing in popularity throughout 2026, from subtle accent colours to bold statement looks. This trend allows for creative expression and personalisation that black-only extensions can’t offer.
Popular Colour Approaches:
Subtle Tints: Brown, dark brown, and soft black extensions create a gentler, more natural appearance than jet black, particularly flattering on fair-skinned and blonde clients.
Accent Colours: Adding a few coloured extensions throughout a primarily black set creates interest without overwhelming. Popular choices include deep burgundy, navy, emerald, and violet.
Ombre Effects: Graduating from darker colours at the base to lighter or coloured tips creates dimensional, eye-catching effects.
Bold Statements: Full sets of bright colours—electric blue, hot pink, vivid purple—appeal to creative clients, festival-goers, and those who want maximum impact.
Working with Coloured Extensions
Colour work requires additional consultation and skill. Consider how colours will interact with the client’s eye colour, skin tone, and hair colour. What looks stunning on one client may not suit another.
Lighting matters too—colours that appear one way in salon lighting may look different in natural light or photography. Where possible, view colour choices in multiple lighting conditions before final decisions.
Stock management becomes more complex with coloured extensions, so most technicians maintain a core range of popular colours rather than trying to offer every option.
Hybrid Variations
Why Hybrid Remains Popular
Hybrid lashes—combining classic and volume techniques—remain extremely popular in 2026 because they offer the best of both worlds. The texture and dimension they create appeals to clients who find classic sets too subtle and volume sets too dramatic.
According to industry surveys, hybrid sets are consistently among the most requested styles across New Zealand salons, particularly among clients aged 25-45.
Evolving Hybrid Techniques
Hybrid styling has evolved beyond simply mixing classic and volume randomly. Skilled technicians now use strategic placement to create specific effects. Placing volume fans in sparse areas and classic lashes where density is naturally good creates even, balanced results. Using volume in the outer corners and classic toward the inner eye creates subtle cat-eye effects without mapping dramatic style changes.
The ratio of classic to volume can be adjusted based on desired outcome. A 70/30 volume-to-classic ratio creates fuller results than 50/50 or 30/70 mixes. Discussing ratios with clients helps set accurate expectations.
Texture and Dimension Focus
Beyond Flat Lash Lines
The 2026 focus on texture extends beyond wet-look styles to a broader appreciation for dimensional lash work. Flat, uniform lash lines are increasingly seen as dated, while textured, varied work is prized.
This means embracing intentional variation in length progressions within sections, mixing curls for natural-looking lift variation, strategic spike placement for movement and interest, and varying density across the lash line to mimic natural lash distribution.
The Kim K Effect
The “Kim K” or “fox eye” style maintains its popularity, though it has evolved into softer, more wearable variations. The dramatic version with extreme length in outer corners suits editorial and evening looks, while everyday adaptations offer subtle elongation that flatters without being overwhelming.
Creating flattering eye elongation requires understanding face shapes and eye positions. What creates beautiful lift on one face shape may look unbalanced on another. Skilled technicians adjust mappings to suit individual features.
Sustainability and Health Focus
Clean Lash Movement
Increasingly, clients are interested in the health and sustainability aspects of their lash treatments. This includes questions about adhesive ingredients and potential sensitivities, preference for cruelty-free and vegan lash materials, interest in lash health and avoiding damage to natural lashes, and desire for minimal, eco-friendly packaging.
Technicians who can speak knowledgeably about ingredients, offer sensitive-formula options, and demonstrate commitment to lash health attract these conscious consumers. According to Health New Zealand guidelines, understanding product safety helps you serve health-conscious clients.
Lash Health as a Trend
Perhaps the most important trend of 2026 is the growing emphasis on natural lash health. Clients are more aware than ever that improper extension application or excessive weight can damage their natural lashes over time.
This creates opportunity for technicians who prioritise appropriate weights for each client’s natural lashes, educate clients on proper aftercare, recognise when natural lashes need a break from extensions, and offer lash lift alternatives when extensions aren’t appropriate.
Building a reputation for preserving lash health attracts clients who’ve been burned by less careful technicians and creates loyal customers who trust your judgment.
Staying Current
Continuing Education
Lash trends evolve continuously, and staying current requires ongoing education. Follow industry leaders on social media, attend trade shows and workshops, take advanced training courses, and practise new techniques before offering them to clients.
At New Zealand Beauty School, our courses provide foundational skills that prepare you to learn and adapt to new trends throughout your career. Our Certificate in Eyelash Extensions builds the technical foundation every trending style is built upon.
Ready to master trending lash techniques? Our comprehensive eyelash extension course teaches the foundational skills you need to create any style—from natural wisps to wet-look drama. Build the expertise to serve trend-conscious clients and grow your reputation as a cutting-edge lash artist. Enrol today and start creating the looks your clients are searching for.