A great strategic haircut really can work wonders. It can make fine locks appear fuller and even take years off the face, all in just one salon appointment. And if that sounds too good to be true, you haven’t met the ‘face contouring bob’.
As the name suggests, it’s an ultra-flattering style that promises to, quite literally, contour the face. Better still, celebrity hairdresser and founder of Haug London Haus, Phillip Haug, says it is one of the most flattering cuts for mature women.
What is the face contouring bob?
As Phillip explains, ‘the “face contouring” focuses on bespoke facial architectural tailoring. It combines a classic bob length with a full fringe or effortless curtain bangs, creating a frame that acts as ‘built-in contouring’ for the face.
He adds, ‘It ditches the harsh lines of a traditional bob in favour of a lived-in, touchable texture. It's versatile and allows the hair to be tucked behind the ear to reveal the cheekbones while keeping a rounded, flattering shape.’
Phillip namechecks Demi Moore’s fleeting bob as a prime example. Note how a deep side parting provides coverage across the face, while one side is tucked behind the ear to complement her cheekbones. For the finishing touch, the ends curl gently upwards, softening the cut.
How can this cut help to create a more youthful appearance?
With this cut, Phillip recommends incorporating a fringe for anti-ageing benefits. ‘Elements like a fringe or curtain bangs can help soften signs of ageing by framing the face, drawing attention to the more flattering areas of the face,’ he explains.
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‘For example, a fringe can cover the forehead where we tend to see lines, and focus the gaze to the eyes. Strong, heavy cuts can be less forgiving on the face, whereas softness, texture and “swing” create a softer overall shape. Framing the face with a fringe naturally has a more youthful effect.'
Beyond its magical contouring abilities, Phillip says the cut itself looks ageless. ‘The shape, volume and body give this cut a really youthful feel, and it’s effortless to wear,’ he says.
‘That kind of body makes it feel young and beautiful — and it’ll be a really liberating cut to wear for spring and summer when the weather warms up, too.’
Does the face contouring bob work for fine or thinning hair?
The good news is that it’s not only flattering for a midlife face, but for midlife hair too. As Phillip puts it, ‘this cut works fantastically on fine hair and on hair that’s thinning.’
He notes that clients with thinning hair often come to the salon concerned that going shorter will make their strands look even finer, but reassures that this isn’t the case. ‘A length like this works to strengthen the hair. With the shape and face framing in there too, it all adds to that gorgeous body and volume.'
How should it be styled day-to-day? Is it considered low-maintenance?
Arguably the most important question when it comes to a new haircut — is it easy to style yourself?
‘I would say 100% this is a low-maintenance style because it’s quite short, it’s easier to maintain and it works really nicely with natural texture,’ says Phillip.
As he explains, all it takes is a little product — whether that’s volumising mousse or a texture spray, depending on your desired finish — and a bit of tousling. ‘I would recommend using a little bit of product in wet hair to give it the foundation for body. Then, with your hairdryer you can blast the hair with your head upside down to create a radial of volume.’
If you have naturally textured hair, the effort required is even less. ‘I think it’s really easy to wear on slightly wavy hair, but it’s also something that could be really easily styled with curls and a diffuser. It’s an exciting style that works not only on every hair density but also on most hair textures.’
