Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Like tie-dye and shearling, fringes are on high rotation in the fashion stakes. They come, they go and they come again, bringing with them an entirely new generation of fringe dwellers -- all of which understand that when it comes to fringes, you need straight, smooth hair and a little time on your side.

Clearly I’m not talking cowboy-inspired tassel fringing here. Oh, no. I’m talking bold, blunt hair fringes that cover your forehead and make you look 574 times cooler with minimal effort. Unless you have frizzy hair, in which case I suggest distancing yourself from the fringe faster than you can say “too hard.” Trust me, I’ve been there.

Specifically speaking, there are three fringe styles making the rounds right now. The bold, blunt fringe worn by Liv Tyler, Nicole Richie, Rose Byrne and Kimbra; the side-swept fringe seen on Heidi Klum and Olivia Wilde; and the baby bang, which translates to a super-short, blunt fringe now becoming popular thanks to Yves Saint Laurent’s Spring 2012 ad campaigns.

No matter what your style of choice is, remember three things before making the commitment:

1. Speak to your stylist about which style will best suit your face shape and hair type.

2. Always show your stylist pictures of the look you want.

3. Keep a set of bobby pins on hand for those days when you just can’t be bothered to style, straighten and smooth your fresh, new look. Oh, and you may as well hold onto those trimming scissors for a little longer too.

Yasemin Trollope is the Managing Editor of The Style Glossy. She is a freelance writer, beauty editor, and creator of the feel-good blog, The Happiness Cocktail .