The '70s are back: say hello to the subtle waft fringe

The classic ‘70s waft fringe has made its comeback – the soft cut gives hair a retro silhouette, outlines the face and gives clients a retro refresh.

What is it?

As seen on The Serpent’s Jenna Coleman, the waft fringe is perfect for clients who want to dip their toe into the world of fringes without jumping in headfirst. The soft cut is known for being short around the forehead, getting longer as you progress down the side of the face. The style is a gentle breakthrough into a fringe that’s much easier to grow out, leaving clients with more options and less commitment to the look. The versatile look can be tailored to clients’ face shapes and styles, making it the fringe to suit everyone. The cut can be styled with an outwards flick for longer face shapes, or a soft hang downwards for more rounded faces. Influencer and YouTube star Jamie Genevieve has also been spotted sporting the look on and off during the past year. Sharing her styling tips to Instagram as she shows her blown out, red carpet take on the fringe.

 

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“I love these fringes, they are so effortless and chic, they frame the face beautifully and add so much oomph to a style.  I think it’s popular at the moment because it’s a low-commitment fringe. It’s short enough to be a feature, but long enough to tuck behind the ear or tie back when needed,” says hairdresser Sam Ashcroft, of Brooks & Brooks, London. The waft fringe is inspired by the ‘70s boho look and is the perfect autumn/winter look for clients looking for that Hollywood chic.

How to style it

For a style that’s effortless to pull off, how easy is the waft fringe to style? “It is easy to manage at home whilst styling, the natural movement of hair is a positive with this fringe, or a slight bend with a tong will do the trick,” says Jack Merrick-Thirlway, creative director at Neville Hair & Beauty, London. For clients looking for that 1970s glam, hairdresser Kate Drury, of MODE Hair, recommends blow drying with a big round brush and mousse. Set with a roller for maximum bounce.

Will it be the next AW/21 trend?

No stranger to the carousel of fashion trends, it leaves us wondering if the waft fringe ever really went out of style. With its adaptability and casual elegance, it's surely a trend that’s here for the long haul. “I love the fact that the waft fringe is soft but also not too set. It has movement and texture without needing to be perfect. Big hair is definitely making a comeback, so the waft fringe sits perfectly with a 70s style big blowout whilst still looking super modern. I think this is more than a trend and the versatility of it means it’s here to stay,” explains Jack Merrick-Thirlway. Here to stay, easy to style AND suits everyone – HJ is officially sold on the waft fringe.