It’s tempting to throw out “same as usual, thanks” to your stylist when you visit the hair salon.
But what if the hairstyle you’re sticking with could be adjusted slightly to really flatter the shape of your face?
That’s the premise of hair contouring.
Traditionally contouring in makeup is a technique using darker and lighter shades of makeup to define and enhance your features. The goal is to create the illusion of depth and dimension, mimicking the way natural shadows and highlights appear on the face.
What is hair contouring?
Hair contouring has the same goal, and means cutting in layers and movement at targeted levels around the face to bring attention to the parts you want to show off and perhaps minimise or slim other aspects. It’s a personalised look, instead of the ‘one-trend fits all’ approach.
Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton is a big fan of hair contouring for helping add natural movement and volume to hair.
Appleton is known for working with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande, and Dua Lipa, so he knows how to highlight the best features of his star clients. He’s famous for creating iconic hairstyles like sleek ‘liquid glass hair‘, high ponytails, and voluminous waves.
“Hair contouring is all about sculpting the hair to perfectly frame your face,” Appleton says. “It creates shadows and highlights giving the illusion of a sharper, more defined jawline.”
“By creating varied lengths and angles, your hair looks fuller, more dynamic, and less flat.”
The approach, which cuts into the front sections at specific heights, is incredibly popular in a season of beauty which is all about individuality and showing off your own unique features.
It also means you don’t need a big chop, but a few small tweaks can make a big difference.
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Hair contouring with colour
Hair contouring can also be enhanced when colouring the hair. By carefully applying highlights and lowlights, hairstylists can create the illusion of a more sculpted face shape.
Lighter shades, or highlights bring attention to areas you want to emphasise, such as the cheekbones or the top of the head for added height. Darker shades, or lowlights, create depth and shadow in areas you want to soften, like the jawline or temples.
A great stylist or colourist will create a bespoke approach to your individual face shape, and ask you describe the things you love about your features and those you want to address.
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For any style, an expert should always consider your hair type. For example, blunt cuts make fine hair appear thicker, while too many layers can make it look flat. Layers can help remove bulk and add movement to thick hair, and if you have curly hair, go for a dry cut or long layers to shape your curls properly.
A curtain fringe or a butterfly cut – if you’re willing to style it with a round brush and heat tools – look great on straight hair for more interest and style.
