One thing that's always put me off having a fringe? The maintenance. That lil forehead bestie can require an inordinate amount of upkeep. The messy fringe haircut though? Well, get it right and it can work with your hair texture and the rest of your cut to add impact, structure and personality, but without the need for a dedicated glam squad.
It makes sense. We've seen several spin-off trends like the wispy fringe, Birkin bangs and the French-girl fringe gain in popularity – all of which favour a natural, undone finish. The overall direction is toward a “true representation of laidback beauty,” says celebrity hairstylist and Key Opinion Leader at Jerome Russell Bblonde, Jason Collier. Our current fringe crushes all have the same thing in common “they are soft, natural and have the perfect blend of volume and texture,” says Jason.
The fash-pack and influencers are on it, too. Recently, we've seen Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, Simone Ashley, Sadie Sink and Sabrina Elba all gravitate to a messy fringe haircut and provide us with a whole load of inspo. And, if that didn't swing it, there's also the fact that messy fringes are one of the most achievable and low-effort ways to wear the style.
How to achieve a messy fringe?
As for how to achieve a messy fringe, for starters "make sure to get a layered cut with bangs that frame the face without feeling too stiff or defined,” says Jason. But styling plays a big part, too. “It's all about keeping it effortless,” Jason notes. A “lived-in, slightly tousled finish works perfectly with both straight, wavy and curly hair types.”
How to wear the messy fringe haircut?
Here's some of our favourite ways to style it out.
