A great fringe can be transformative – but often needs a little know-how when it comes to styling one. Left to its own devices, it can split, frizz, or sit flat against your forehead. The good news? A brilliant fringe is easier to achieve than you think. Here are five tips our stylists swear by.
Your fringe needs attention before the rest of your hair. While it's still damp (and at its most malleable), reach for a small round brush and blow-dry it downwards, alternating from left to right while directing the heat in the direction you want it to fall.
Once your fringe is completely dry, straighteners – like the Great Iron – are your best friend. But technique matters: section the fringe cleanly with a fine-tooth comb before you clamp. Use a lower heat setting than you would for the rest of your hair (around 150–170°C is plenty – the fringe is thin and delicate). Then, as you glide the straighteners down, give the ends a subtle inward curl. That small flick is the difference between a fringe that looks polished and one that looks flat. For a side-swept style, clamp near the root and pull diagonally in the direction of the sweep – the tension trains the hair into place.
The fringe is fine and close to the skin, so it picks up product weight fast. A pea-sized amount of Almost Everything Cream smoothed through the ends is enough to remove frizz and add a little shine – any more and it'll look greasy by lunchtime. Finish with a light-hold hairspray held at arm's length, and you're done.
This one's simple but often overlooked. Your hands carry oil, and your fringe is sitting right on top of your forehead – already a battle against shine. Every time you push it back, sweep it aside, or absent-mindedly run your fingers through it, you're accelerating the grease. Keep a small dry shampoo in your bag for a midday reset if needed.
Even the best-styled fringe can go rogue. The fix is simple: a small spritz of water and thirty seconds with a hairdryer brings it back to life. Keep a travel-size brush (our Pocket Brush is very handy) and a mini dry shampoo in your bag, and you'll never be caught out.
