Journal

Masterclass: Fringe Matters

Masterclass: Fringe Matters

Whilst ‘glass hair’ and one-length centre partings are certainly still on trend right now, at Glasshouse we are starting to see more and more people embracing a fringe once again.

From full French-girl bangs to punky micro-fringes, a fringe never quite goes out of style and helps to update a current style or add structure and shape to the face without losing any length. The decision over whether to chop one in however is always a tough one. Getting it wrong can feel like a big mistake when it can take a number of months to grow out.

The good news is that there is a fringe to suit pretty much every face shape, and we’ve rounded up some tips from our Senior Stylist Michelle to give us some guidance on picking the right fringe and how to style it.

Image: Thea Lovstad for Glasshouse Journal
Image: Thea Lovstad for Glasshouse Journal

For those with distinctly square or round face shapes, Michelle recommends getting a fringe that contrasts your features: “If you have a square face try a curved, 70s style fringe that opens up around the cheekbones to avoid sharp angles. Maintain the length on the sides to soften the jawline and give you a more rounded face. For round faces however, I’d always go for a squarer fringe, although that doesn’t have to mean severe. Either a blunt fringe or one that has been softened will work to suit more round faces.”

For those with heart shaped faces, Michelle advises getting a fringe that helps to balance out your features: “If you have a heart shaped face where your forehead is wider than your chin, a straight, short fringe works well. The aim with this face shape is to make the top of the head seem smaller, to balance out the chin.”

When it comes to styling a fringe, Michelle has some drying techniques to help get a salon fresh look. “It’s important to blow out any cow-licks; blow dry all the hair to one side using a paddle brush, and then back the other way, keeping the airflow downwards. Once the roots are flat and dry you can wrap the hair around a round brush and dry it downwards against the face to give set the final shape and soften the edges.”

Image: Sarah Victoria Bates for Glasshouse Journal
Image: Sarah Victoria Bates for Glasshouse Journal

Should the worst happen and you do regret asking your stylist for a fringe, all is not lost. Michelle has some tricks up her sleeve for managing an unwanted fringe whilst you grow it out: “When trying to grow out a fringe I would recommend styling it with a parting in the middle to soften the look – you’ll end up with softer bangs that frame the face rather than a blunt line across the head. Your stylist may be able to remove a little weight or soften the shape whilst it’s growing down too. You could also try styling your fringe pinned to the sides with a pair of geek-chic clips or sweeping it back with a headband.”

Whether you’ve made a fringe part of your classic look or you’re a fringe novice, to make sure your look stays as fresh as possible we also recommend getting regular trims (approximately every 3 weeks for most). Luckily, you can book fringe trims for free with us at Glasshouse, so there’s no need to suffer unruly bangs.

Featured image: Emma Sweeney for Glasshouse Journal

Words: Phoebe Grace Ede