In recent weeks, a handful of celebrities have proven yet again that the right hair stylist who understands your facial features can truly work wonders on your look for ageless appeal.
From Monica Bellucci, 54, sporting a soft full fringe and a healthy mane of hair past shoulder length at this year’s Venice Film Festival, to Charlize Theron, 44, boldly embracing an evolved bowl cut for her upcoming role in Fast & Furious 9, the latest wave of Hollywood hair-dos are timeless. And with a new season approaching, we’re taking cues from these celebrities for ageless hair styles to embrace this Autumn/ Winter.
Face framing curls
A truly timeless style, up-dos with hair framing the face like Nicole Kidman’s work for all face shapes, ages and textures, suggests Stylist at Larry King Bobby Collier. But whilst this is just as effective with straight hair, he adds, natural or tonged curls really soften the face and are great for adding detail to a simple, classic evening look. As we age, our hair can often become thinner and lose volume. Soft, loose tendrils at the front of the face can restore the look of this volume, give a youthful bounce, and add more dimension to a style that may otherwise appear flat depending on the thickness of your hair.
Curls can also be placed at various parts of the face to accentuate different facial features. Creative Manager and Head of Style at Charles Worthington Gorka Arraras recommends a curl that starts higher on the hair shaft to enhance cheek bones and add volume, and a curl that starts lower for those who have a wider or more prominent forehead to soften and balance their facial dimensions. For those wanting to take their curls to the next level for full evening glam, Arraras insists the brushed Marsel wave is the new modern way to wear curls giving a relaxed, soft look.
The full fringe
As Bobby Collier suggests, soft, feathered fringes are a great option for framing and opening the face, evening out facial proportions (such as covering a slightly larger forehead) and are also perfect for covering blemishes or signs of ageing that are often seen on the forehead area and around the eyes.
In terms of texture, Hair Stylist and Founder of 3 More Inches Michael Van Clarke states that “long smooth hair works across an increasingly larger age group as hair techniques and products have improved”. He adds that this style may have been avoided in previous decades when reaching a certain age due to concerns of the hair being “grey, frizzy and thin”, but with new techniques and nourishing hair products, such as his LifeSaver Pre-wash Treatment, the signs of hair ageing can be managed better to keep hair “longer, stronger, smoother and thicker at the ends, counteracting the old adage that you have to have short hair at 40”. The straw-like hair shackles are off and long voluminous hair is much more in our grasp.
For those wanting to try to this style but wanting something a little less statement and more wearable for every day, Arraras recommends softening the bowl line by texturising the hair so it almost forms a pixie cut.
