HAIR TRENDS

The ‘bell-bottom cut’ is the cool-girl tapered chop you need to know about

And it’s about to make a lot of noise 🔔

21 June 2023

The ‘bellbottom cut is the coolgirl tapered chop you need to know about

If you're ready for a new chop, one style that needs to be on your radar is the ‘Bell-Bottom Cut’. We've noticed the shape cropping up across our socials for some time, but aside from looking phwoarr, we haven't been able to put our finger on the formula of what makes it look so good.

But, having stopped to do a deep-dive of the cut, it basically blends an A-line cut (that's heavier and more voluminous around the cheekbones before extending to wide flicked-out ends), with a pair of swooshy, curved curtain bangs. Together, the two blend to frame the face in a softly arched bell shape, hence the ‘Bell-Bottom Cut’.

Like the recent wave of cool-girl chops that have gone before it (see the Sachel and the Curve cut), it blends retro ‘70s, ’90s and ‘00s references with some modern finesse. The curtain fringe and flicked bottom (which pay homage to fashion’s bell-bottom jeans) have ‘70s vibes written all over them, while the tapered mid-length layers nod to the ’90s and ‘00s, only this time, it’s a little more subtle and restrained, which makes regrowth more easygoing.

While it works on all hair lengths, its especially well-suited to midi cuts that stop around the collarbone to get the full scope of the shape. That said we've spotted XXL bell-bottom cuts and even bell-bottom bobs that look phenomenal.

As for styling, the chop has enough texture to hold its own on off-duty days, but to really maximise the shape, you'll want to have your hairdryer on hand.

Hair and makeup artist, Tanielle Jai, who created one of the airiest renditions we've seen, told us her secret to giving the cut the most.

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“I believe prep is key when creating volume, texture and movement in hair,” she explains. For the look below she prepped hair with heat protection sprayed through each section. “Then I used Redken Guts 10 Volume Spray foam. I focused heavily on the roots, then brushed it through the mid-sections,” says Tanielle. “I blow dried each section of the hair (the heat activates the product) and I always blow the roots up so we get that volume,” she says.

“Once the hair is all blown out, I use my largest barrel to hot tool all the hair, then wrap each section around velcro rollers,” says Tanielle. But, she's tactical in her approach. “For the sides closest to the face, I roll the hair in towards the face to keep the roots of the hair high. But, I section off the fringe and roll that hair away from the face,” Tanielle explains.

The key is not to rush. “Letting the hair cool down in the rollers is super important as this will set the hair in place," says Tanielle, who did her model, Kiana's makeup while she left the hair to set. "Then give it a light spray with hairspray,” says Tanielle, who favours the Schwarzkopf Glued Hairspray.

Once you've removed the rollers, go in with a soft bristle brush to brush the hair out. “I added volumising powder to the roots [try Bumble & Bumble Pret A Powder] and a little texturiser through the mids of the hair [try Andrew Fitzsimon's Apres Sex Texture Spray],” says Tanielle. Finally, for that modern twist, Tanielle recommends taking “a little hair serum on the ends and finess[ing] the fringe,” for a sleek finish with sultry texture.

And, if you really want to emphasise that A-line shape, we'd recommend implementing our favourite easy gamechanger, the pinch hair hack.

The 'pinch hair hack' is the easiest way to add volume and texture for phwoar hair

Here's how it's done…

By Elle Turner