A fringe can beautifully frame the face, but sometimes a change is in order. Styling your fringe up and away from your forehead can create a completely new, elegant look, perfect for special occasions or simply for a day when you want a more open and refreshed appearance. Achieving that polished, voluminous sweep-back seen in magazines is easier than you think. It's all about the right preparation, technique, and a few clever tricks to keep everything in place discreetly and securely.
Preparing Your Fringe for Styling
The foundation of any good hairstyle is clean, well-prepared hair. For a fringe updo that lasts, it's best to start with freshly washed and completely dry hair. Dampness will weigh the hair down and prevent it from holding volume. Before you begin styling, apply a small amount of volumising mousse or a texturising spray to the roots of your fringe. These products provide grip and texture, making the hair less slippery and easier to work with. This step is crucial for ensuring your pins have something to hold onto and that the volume you create will last throughout the day.
Creating Volume: The Key to an Elegant Lift
A flat, slicked-back fringe can look severe. The secret to a soft, modern style is volume at the roots. This creates a gentle curve that looks effortless and sophisticated. There are two primary methods to achieve this lift: gentle backcombing and targeted blow-drying.
The Gentle Backcombing Technique
Backcombing, or teasing, can create instant and lasting volume when done correctly. Take the section of your fringe you want to pin up and hold it straight up. Using a fine-tooth comb, gently push the hair at the back of the section down towards the roots. Only two or three gentle strokes are needed; the goal is to create a small cushion of hair at the base, not a tangled mess. This cushion will support the fringe and give it the desired height when you smooth the top layer over it.
Using Heat for Lift
If you prefer to avoid backcombing, a hairdryer and a small round brush are your best friends. Take your dry fringe and wrap it around the round brush, lifting it upwards and away from your forehead. Direct the heat from your hairdryer at the roots for several seconds, then switch to the cool shot setting to lock the shape in place. This method creates a smooth, rounded volume that looks very natural.
The Art of Pinning: How to Secure Your Fringe Invisibly
Now that you have created volume, it's time to secure your fringe. The trick is to make the hair grips or bobby pins virtually disappear. This ensures a clean, professional finish where the hair itself is the star, not the hardware holding it in place.
- Choose the Right Pins: Select hair grips that closely match your hair colour. This is the first and most important step for camouflage.
- Position the Fringe: Gently sweep the fringe back into the position you want. Smooth the top layer of hair over any backcombed sections to hide them.
- The Locking Technique: For a super-secure hold, use two pins in a criss-cross 'X' shape. Slide the first pin in, catching the base of the lifted fringe. Then, slide the second pin over the first in the opposite direction, locking it in place.
- Hide the Pins: To make the pins invisible, slide them in underneath the main body of the swept-back section. Lift the top layer of hair slightly, insert the pin into the base, and then let the top layer fall back over it. The volume you created earlier will help conceal the pins effectively.
Finishing Touches for a Polished Look
Once your fringe is securely pinned, the final step is to perfect the overall look. Use your fingers to gently merge the ends of the pinned fringe with the rest of your hair to create a seamless transition. If you have any small flyaways around the hairline, you can smooth them down with a tiny amount of hairspray on your fingertips or on a clean spoolie brush. To set the entire style, give your hair a light misting of a flexible-hold hairspray. This will keep everything in place without making your hair feel stiff or crunchy, maintaining that soft, effortless elegance.
