CHENNAI: In Chennai, beauty has always been shaped as much by climate and culture as by creativity. As the city moves toward 2026, this relationship is becoming sharper, more conscious, and distinctly future-facing.

From heat-proof skincare routines and barrier-focused formulations to expressive makeup that celebrates deeper skin tones, beauty in Chennai is shedding one-size-fits-all ideals. Consumers are asking harder questions about ingredients, efficacy, sustainability, and wellness while experts are rethinking long-held norms around glamour, grooming, and self-care, both for men and women.

From smoky eyes to glossy looks

Makeup has become a part of almost everyone’s life. People are becoming more aware of the options available and also the dos and don’ts. “Compared to wellness and skincare, makeup and hair care will see fast growth in 2026,” says Ramya Suryanarayanan, beauty consultant and makeup educator.

Indian skin tones belong to a wide range of shades. However, mostly high-end brands cater to the same. “Budget-friendly Indian brands should bring in shades for warm, deep and other tones and reduce the struggle of customers to choose the right shade. Regional focus is a must,” she adds.

She also notes that for brands to sustain in the long run, innovation, trust, sustainability, and reasonable pricing are essential pillars. Ramya feels that this year will see a rise in demand for glossy makeup. “People will prefer natural, skin-like makeup with a subtle approach,” she states.

Exosomes, the next big thing in hair treatment

Hair loss is one of the top concerns in Chennai, driven by lifestyle and environmental factors. “I would say it’s a mix of both, more so lifestyle-driven in the current generation. In Chennai, the humidity, hard water, pollution, and sweat don’t cause hair loss on their own, but they definitely irritate the scalp and worsen underlying problems.

“Around 60 to 70 per cent of hair fall we see is lifestyle-driven, irregular sleep, high stress, crash dieting, low protein intake, and untreated deficiencies like iron, vitamin B12 or D. The realistic fix is to eat enough protein, manage stress, wash the scalp regularly, and seek a dermatologist’s advice early to recover fast rather than wasting time on gimmicky oils and overtly marketed shampoos,” says Dr K Divya, senior consultant dermatologist from Bliss Skin Hair and Laser Clinic.

The future of hair care is both personalised and preventive. Newer advances in hair care include advanced PRP techniques; exosomes are promising to be the next big thing; low-level laser therapies; targeted scalp treatments like mesotherapy with growth factors; and early medical intervention for pattern hair loss.

Talking about common haircare habits that do more harm than good, she adds, “Excessive oiling and leaving oil on overnight is detrimental in our weather. Avoiding hair washes for longer periods, DIY remedies with lemon, onion, baking soda, or raw aloe vera straight from the plant can often irritate the scalp more than help. Tight hairstyles and aggressive combing on wet hair increase hair breakage and cause traction hair loss.”

The anxiousness among young people regarding hair loss is a never-ending fear. “Social media has made them extra vigilant. That’s not always bad. However, some still delay professional help and experiment endlessly with reels, influencers, and kitchen remedies. One simple advice to them is to understand that only early intervention can help save their hair roots,” she shares.

Men will prefer purpose-driven grooming

Men’s grooming has moved beyond haircuts and beard care. Vicky, a celebrity men’s makeup artiste and grooming expert, feels that men in Chennai are now looking at grooming as self-maintenance rather than styling alone.

“There is strong demand for skin tone correction, pigmentation control, under-eye treatment, sweat-resistant makeup, and occasional grooming. They want results that look natural and masculine, not cosmetic-heavy,” he shares.

Men in their 20s are more preventive-focused, asking about basic skincare routines, sunscreen, and pigmentation management. Men in their 30s are more concerned about early ageing, dullness, fine lines, and uneven skin tone.

There was a stigma and cultural barriers limiting men from embracing grooming routines. Vicky believes this is rapidly disappearing in Chennai.

When it comes to trends that will take 2026 by storm, Vicky predicts, “Functional trends like minimal makeup, skin-first grooming, natural brows, and clean beard lines are here to stay. On the other hand, exaggerated contouring, overly sharp beard designs, and extreme transformations are mostly short-lived social media trends. Chennai men prefer real, polished, and age-appropriate grooming. By the end of 2026, men’s grooming will be more personalised and purpose-driven. Styles will remain clean, sharp, and natural, with more attention on healthy skin rather than heavy styling.”

Korean glass skin: Not for Indian skin types

Chennai’s heat, humidity and pollution have a heavy impact on skin, especially sensitive skin types. Conversations on barrier repair are taking place in various quarters.

“Barrier repair is a major global trend, and it is here to stay. An intact barrier enhances the absorption of skincare products. With regard to acne-prone skin, damage occurs easily if the barrier is compromised. A minimalistic skincare approach will shine,” states Dr Aishwarya Selvaraj, founder of BioRevive.

Korean glass skin was one of the most viral trends of 2025. However, Aishwarya has a different view. “Korean skincare affects Indian skin types because it is not meant for us. The glass skin trend, as well as the ten-step skincare routine, ends up clogging pores, increasing acne and closed comedones,” she adds.

Salmon DNA treatment will remain in trend going forward because it is derived from salmon fish. Only people allergic to fish and pregnant women should avoid it.

Owing to social media, youngsters have become more aware of the options available to them. “This gives them the confidence to take steps without being skeptical. However, the love of Indians for DIY skincare never fades. The trick is to strike the right balance.”

The one myth that Aishwarya wishes to break is that shaving thickens hair. In reality, it does not and is a safe process for hair removal.

US, Western countries will target the Indian market

Bindya Talluri, founder of Bindt Beauty, a clean makeup brand, predicts that bold and metallic makeup will be in trend in 2026. “Integration of AI into beauty brands’ web pages and mindfulness about using clean ingredients will also increase,” she says.

“Above all, as a brand, I believe that the US and other Western countries will start targeting the Indian audience because the market here is huge. This paves the way for unsuitable trends being pushed here, like Korean glass skin. These trends are unachievable here because we have a different environment, skin type and genes,” adds the founder.

Brands should ensure the ingredients used are high-quality and clean. “Moreover, parents should be conscious and teach teenagers about product usage. Young minds might feel lost due to the overconsumption of information on social media,” she shares.