If the Spice Girls provided the soundtrack to your teenage years, you’ll no doubt remember Baby Spice’s iconic fringe. That’s exactly why we were hit with a wave of nostalgia when we saw Emma Bunton, 50, showing off a fresh and very flattering take on her bangs.
In a recent post shared to Instagram, Emma posed with fellow Spice Girl Mel B as her special guest judge on America’s Got Talent, and they both looked phenomenal. Though, we couldn’t quite tear our eyes from Emma’s gleaming locks, which have been refreshed with long, swooping curtain bangs that feel very modern.
While they’re far from a recreation of her signature ’90s fringe, the soft, face-framing pieces are certainly enough to evoke a little Baby Spice nostalgia.
‘Emma has done something really clever here,’ says Jason Collier, celebrity hairstylist and Key Opinion Leader at Jerome Russell Bblonde. ‘Rather than recreating her Baby Spice fringe exactly as it was, she’s evolved it.’
He adds, ‘her face-framing pieces still give a nod to that signature look we all remember, but they’re lighter, longer and blend seamlessly into the rest of her hair. It still feels very current — like an updated version of the iconic hairstyle that’s become part of her identity.’
That’s why it doesn’t feel out of place but, rather, it feels like a natural progression of Emma’s signature style. As Jason explains, ‘the original Baby Spice fringe was much shorter and more uniform. Meanwhile, modern hair is all about softness, flexibility and hair that moves naturally, and this style delivers exactly that.’
Not only does it feel more current, but Jason says a softer fringe is much more flattering in midlife too. ‘Hair can have a huge impact on how youthful someone appears. As we get older, harsh lines around the face can sometimes emphasise the areas we’d rather soften. A gentle, face-framing fringe like Emma’s works almost like contour.’
Breaking it down, he explains that face-framing pieces can be cleverly used to disguise fine lines without hiding the face. He says that a curtain fringe, like Emma’s, will also draw attention to the eyes and cheekbones, creating an instantly lifted appearance.
‘Movement is also one of the biggest contributors to youthful-looking hair,’ he adds. ‘Because these bangs aren’t cut heavily, they flick and separate naturally as you move. That softness creates brightness around the face and avoids the flat, solid shape that can sometimes make hair feel dated.’
Despite all the anti-ageing benefits (and the fact it looks undeniably chic), the word ‘fringe’ still strikes fear into many. But, as Jason reassures us, a style like Emma’s is surprisingly low-maintenance.
The first step is getting it right in the salon. ‘The keyword is soft,’ says Jason. ‘Ask your stylist for a long, soft curtain fringe that starts around eyebrow level in the centre and gradually lengthens towards the cheekbones, blended into long face-framing layers. The beauty of this cut is that it still looks elegant even when it grows out slightly, making it much easier to maintain than a traditional full fringe.’
Keeping it looking salon-fresh every day doesn’t have to be complicated. According to Jason, all it takes is a trusty hairdryer, a round brush and just a little bit of product.
As Jason explains, ‘first you want to blow-dry the fringe forwards, then use a medium round brush or large roller brush to sweep each side gently away from the face. As a final touch, finish with a lightweight smoothing cream or shine serum to keep the ends looking polished without making them stiff.’ See? Easier than you might think.
Safe to say, it seems Baby Spice is still influencing our hair appointments 30 years on.
