There’s nothing quite as persuasive as a good fringe. It’s the cut that has us banishing memories of awkward re-growth and unflattering clips and coaxes us into thinking that we might finally be entering our chic fringe era after all.
And that siren call is never quite as alluring as when sported by the ‘we-want-what-she’s-got’ Bella Hadid. Showcasing choppy Birkin bangs whilst promoting jewellery brand Chopard in Dubai, Hadid’s piece-y eyelash-grazing ‘do by super stylist Syd Hayes was the epitome of effortless glam and comes just a few days after Cara Delevingne debuted a micro fringe (by hair stylist Irinel de Leon) at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in LA. Why? Because a fringe always makes a statement thanks to its ability to completely alter the way you look – more so than a regular chop. Think of the most iconic hairstyles in film; Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction, Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Michelle Pfieffer in Scarface and they all feature a fringe. Coincidence? We think not. But is the return of the fringe something that everyone can embrace?
'Fringes are a great way to update your look without losing loads of length or changing the overall shape of your hair and can be considered mini haircuts in their own right,' says hairstylist Tom Smith (aka ‘The Hairvoyant’) who recently did a post about a phenomenon he dubbed the ‘Diamond Concept’ to explain the allure of Sabrina Carpenter’s new look (spoiler alert; it’s down to her curtain bangs which help to create ‘harmonious angles’ on her face).
'Fringes have great power to contour one’s face; straight across fringes will widen the look of a face whilst parted fringes can lengthen,' says Smith. Aside from length (Delevingne’s itty-bitty Hepburn-esque baby bangs are a little more polarising), there’s the angle to think about too according to Smith; 'Straight lines can make a face look more square whilst curved fringes work really well with round or square faces because they create angles.'
But perhaps one of the biggest considerations before going for the chop is maintenance; 'Hair that’s cut on an angle with a sweeping fringe will always grow out more softly and require less maintenance whilst blunt fringes that sit straight across will require more effort because they grow out more obviously,' confirms Smith. 'Everyone thinks their fringe grows quicker than the rest of their hair but it’s just that they notice it more because they measure it against their eyebrows and lashes which are all closer together.'
And if that still feels like a commitment too far, the faux fringe or ‘winge’ (wig fringe) is the perfect way to switch up your look for party season (we suspect both Ms Delevingne and Hadid’s bangs were born from clips rather than scissors). Keen to try one? Look to Maya Jama, whose commitment to the faux fringe (she calls her's 'Trisha the tringe') spawned the presenter's recent collaboration with hair brand Beauty Works, which offers up one of the best clip in fringes we've seen to date.
Shop: The Best Clip-In Fringe
beautyworksonline.com
Keen to sport Maya Jama's signature style with just one additional accessory? Look no further. Jama's clip-in fringe, which she affectionally personified by calling it ‘Trisha the tringe' is now available for everyone thanks to her latest collaboration with Beauty Works. The ready-to-wear clip-in is made from silky Remy human hair and blends into your natural hair seamlessly for a fresh new look, minus the commitment.
Cassie Steer is acting beauty director at Grazia with over 25 years’ experience on women’s glossies.
