Regardless of your stance on the Royal family, there’s no doubt that Kate Middleton often turns heads with her polished appearance. Recently, Kate has been wearing a Farrah Fawcett-inspired fringe. So, HJ asked experts all about the fringe of the moment…
Recreating the Look
The fringe can perhaps be described as a middle-parted sweeping fringe that blends into the rest of the hair. To cut in the fringe, find out where your client would like the shortest part of the fringe to sit. “This will be a guide to over-direct your layers and seamlessly create a transition from short to long,” Fergal Doyle, owner of Fergal Doyle Hair and winner of the Independent Salon Business Newcomer award at the British Hairdressing Business Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, explains. “Then, carve out a crescent shape around the face using a slide cutting technique.”
Next, it’s all about the styling, and both preparation and the finish are key. Tracey Ann Smith, owner of French & Ivi, highlights the importance of volume in recreating the look. She says: “Firstly, massage a volumising shampoo into the scalp, followed by a volumising conditioner.” You could then add a volumising spray or mousse to the wet hair, too. Then, blow dry with a medium or large round bristle brush, adding as much body and density as possible. Plus, you could set with rollers to maintain this volume. Fergal Doyle adds: “Velcro rollers are great for this look. Make sure to flick the ends up and roll the hair back away from the face.” To really replicate the Kate Middleton fringe look, you need to add waves. Tracey Ann Smith comments: “Use a large barrel tong to achieve larger waves or curls.” Of course, finish the style with hairspray to keep it in place for your clients’ royal duties!
Who would suit the Kate Middleton fringe?
As the look is similar to a classic long layered cut, with a nod to 70s icon Farrah Fawcett, it is relatively versatile. Ria Kulik, owner of the HairBank and North Western Hairdresser of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, outlines the benefits of the fringe: “A lot of clients underestimate the impact that a fringe can have. Although it’s only a small tweak to the client’s hair, it can make their eyes pop and highlight their face’s bone structure.”
More specifically though, Fergal Doyle explains that the Kate Middleton fringe is most ideal for round or square faces. “It creates the illusion of a longer face,” he says. “The angle of the bangs can create softness around the temples, so it increases the appearance of length from the forehead to the chin.” Correspondingly, for those longer oval or rectangular faces, you can make their faces look wider with the fringe. Fergal Doyle explains: “I would suggest disconnecting the bangs from the layers around the face. This creates more width in the cheek area and avoids adding too much length to the face.”
Tracey Ann Smith continues: “Although Kate’s hair is longer, short hair can suit the look when the fringe is short too, making it more defined.”
Maintenance
However, longer hair may be slightly more fitting for the Kate Middleton fringe look: “The longer the hair is, the easier it is to maintain,” Ria Kulik comments. Aside from clients having to pop into the salon for trims to keep the fringe fresh, the style is relatively easy for them to maintain at home. Tracey Ann Smith suggests: “All clients need to do is blow dry with a slight flick, or use a curling tong to give the ends thar loose, beautiful bend.”
Inspired by Kate's brunette locks? Take a look at this trending shade.