Jenna Ortega just broke the internet. Again. If you were scrolling through your feed after the 2026 Golden Globes, you probably saw it—that dark, ethereal, "is-it-Wednesday-or-is-it-Jenna" vibe that has basically become her calling card. But this time, it wasn't just about the Dilara Findikoglu gown or the bleached brows that looked like they belonged in a high-fashion fever dream. The real conversation was about the Jenna Ortega haircut and the sheer, messy brilliance of her 2026 red carpet glam.
People are obsessed. Honestly, it’s easy to see why. While half of Hollywood is clinging to the "glass hair" trend, Jenna and her longtime hair guru, Cesar Deleon Ramirez, decided to lean into something way more tactile.
The Texture Most People Missed
Look, at first glance, you might’ve thought she just threw her hair into a quick bun and called it a day. It’s not that simple. Ramirez actually used a technique that’s kind of a genius hack for anyone with naturally straight or stubborn hair. He didn't use a traditional crimper. Instead, he braided sections of her hair, hit them with a blast of hairspray, and then flat-ironed the braids themselves.
Once he unraveled them, the result was this "shredded" ripple effect. It’s a look that’s meant to look like she just stepped out of a humid, gothic library, and frankly, it works. The Jenna Ortega haircut we saw at the Globes featured these wispy, intentional bangs that framed her face perfectly, especially with those bleached brows doing the heavy lifting.
Why the "Shredded" Bob is Taking Over
We're seeing a massive shift in 2026. The "Old Money" bob of 2024 and 2025—which was all about blunt edges and expensive-looking shine—is losing its grip. In its place, we have the "Shredded Bob" or the "Torn Texture" look.
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- The Finish: It’s supposed to look like you did it yourself in a bathroom mirror with a pair of craft scissors (even though it actually takes a pro to make it look this good).
- The Vibe: It’s rebellious. It’s very 90s grunge but filtered through a 2026 lens.
- The Maintenance: Way lower than a precision cut. The messier it gets throughout the day, the better it looks.
Breaking Down the Jenna Ortega Haircut Specifics
If you’re taking a photo of Jenna to your stylist, you need to be specific. You aren't just asking for a bob. You're asking for a layered, textured cut with "lived-in" fringe.
The length is key here. Jenna’s current style hits just above the shoulders, which gives it enough weight to swing but enough lightness to hold that crimped texture without falling flat. Her stylist often incorporates "internal layers." These are the layers you can't see on the surface, but they remove the "triangle head" bulk that usually happens with shorter cuts.
One thing people get wrong about the Jenna Ortega haircut is the bangs. They aren't thick, blunt Zooey Deschanel bangs. They are "bottleneck" or "wispy" bangs. They’re shorter in the middle and get longer as they curve around the eyes. This is why she can wear them down with a messy bun or sweep them to the side when she wants a sleeker look.
It's Not Just Jenna: The "Bob-aissance" of 2026
Jenna Ortega isn't the only one making us want to chop our hair off. We’ve seen a weirdly high number of Jennas going short lately. Jenna Bush Hager recently had a viral moment on Today where she got her hair cut live on air by Chris McMillan (the man behind the "Rachel"). She went for a "power bob" inspired by Leslie Bibb’s character in The White Lotus Season 3.
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Then you have Jenna Lyons, who has been rocking a blunt, shoulder-grazing bob that emphasizes her gray streaks. It feels like there’s a collective agreement among the A-list: long hair is "out," and personality-driven short hair is "in."
How to Get the Look (Without the Red Carpet Budget)
You don't need a celebrity stylist living in your spare bedroom to pull this off. Honestly, the Jenna Ortega haircut is one of the most accessible trends of the year because it thrives on imperfection.
- Preparation: Start with a volumizing mousse. You want grit. If your hair is too clean and slippery, the texture won't hold.
- The Braid Trick: Do exactly what Ramirez did. Braid small sections of your hair while they’re slightly damp. Once they’re bone dry, run a flat iron over the braid. Let it cool completely before you undo it.
- The Fringe: Use a tiny bit of pomade or hair wax on just the ends of your bangs. You want them to look "piecey," not like a solid curtain.
- The Finish: A dry texture spray is your best friend. Skip the high-shine oils for this one.
The Reality of the Style
Is this haircut for everyone? Kinda, but with caveats. If you have very fine hair, the "shredded" look can sometimes make your hair look thinner if the stylist goes too heavy on the thinning shears. If you have extremely curly hair, you’re already halfway there with the texture, but you’ll want to focus more on the "column cut" shape to keep the volume from becoming overwhelming.
What’s cool about Jenna’s approach is that she’s leaning into her "Soft Goth" aesthetic. She’s 23 now, and she’s clearly moving away from the literal costume-y vibes of Wednesday and into a more editorial, mature space. The 2026 Golden Globes look was proof that you can be "dark" without being "depressing."
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What to Ask Your Stylist
Don't just say "I want the Jenna Ortega haircut." That could mean three different things depending on which Google Image result they find first.
- Ask for a mid-length bob with shattered ends.
- Request bottleneck bangs that blend into face-framing layers.
- Tell them you want internal thinning so the hair has movement but stays close to the head.
Basically, you want a cut that looks like it has a history. It should look like you’ve been wearing it for a week, even when you just stepped out of the salon.
To keep the Jenna Ortega haircut looking fresh, you’ll probably need a trim every 6 to 8 weeks. Anything longer than that and the "shredded" ends start to just look like split ends. If you're feeling brave, you can even ask for a bit of "undercutting" at the nape of the neck to give the bob that "swingy" movement Jenna had on the red carpet.
The shift toward this textured, slightly messy look is a breath of fresh air. It’s a middle finger to the "clean girl" aesthetic that dominated the early 2020s. It’s moody, it’s effortless, and honestly, it’s just a lot more fun to wear.
Next Steps for Your New Look:
- Audit your products: Swap your heavy smoothing creams for a sea salt spray or a dry texturizer to mimic that "unraveled braid" look.
- Consultation is key: Bring a high-res photo of the 2026 Golden Globes look to your stylist to ensure they see the specific "shredded" texture of the ends.
- Test the bangs: If you're nervous about the fringe, ask for "clip-in" style bangs first to see how the bottleneck shape complements your face before making the permanent chop.