Revealed: The Haircut That Will Instantly Slim Your Face

Helen Mirren

(Image credit: Startraks Photo/REX/Shutterstock)

By Fiona McKim 2018-01-12T14:30:00Z

As we exit the season of excess, it's hard to avoid those old body confidence clichés because really, most of us do want to feel a bit slinkier of silhouette and sharper of jaw right now.

I'll assume you're covered for "eat less, move more" type advice, but did you know that the right haircut and colour can do amazing things to flatter your face shape?

So treat yourself to a new ‘do or clever colour technique - no delays, no deprivation, and no judgement if you'd like to keep drinking Baileys. Enjoy!

The Cut

Sharpen up a round face by having a long sweeping fringe chopped in. It should graze your cheekbones to create flattering angles and, by falling over a portion of your face, visually narrows everything down too.

If your chin isn't as chiselled as you'd like it a long bob that hits just below the jaw (like Helen Mirren, pictured) creates a sharp focus for the eye.

Shape is important too. "A haircut with internal layers around the front it perfect for creating a more sculpted-looking jawline," says top stylist Sam Burnett. Styling-wise, a side parting instantly slims by breaking up any large expanses of skin. Keep height around your crown and parting - volume abound the sides of your face is a little bit widening and a lot 80s prom queen.

The Colour

We know wearing vertical stripes can knock a few pounds off and the same goes with hair. "Go for light tones around the hairline for ear to ear, with darker tones painted underneath the ears and lower ends of the hair," advises colour guru Paul Edmonds.

"The light shades brighten and elongate the face, while the dark shades give the facial shape more of a point."

So now you know, why not book yourself in at the salon?

Fiona McKim

As woman&home's Senior Beauty Editor, Fiona Mckim has tried more products than she’s had hot dinners and nothing makes her happier than raving about a brilliant beauty find on womanandhome.com or her instagram grid (@fionamckim if you like hair dye experiments and cute shih-tzus)

Fiona joined woman&home as Assistant Beauty Editor in 2013, working under legend Jo GB, who taught her everything she needed to know about the industry (clue: learn about ingredients and employ extreme cynicism).

In a previous life, Fiona studied journalism back home in bonnie Scotland and honed her skills as a magazine features writer, with a brief and terrifying stint on the showbiz gossip pages of a tabloid newspaper in between. She's a skincare fanatic who can’t resist adding an extra step to her routine if it’s all the rage in Japan, loves fragrance, has fun with makeup and never turns down the chance to test a new hair tool. Basically, she loves it all.

When not slathering herself in self tan or squinting at a tiny ingredients list on a moisturiser, you’ll probably find Fiona enjoying something to do with food - cooking it, eating it, cajoling her friends into trekking across London to try a hyped pop-up in a dirty car park.