‘Do I get a pixie cut?’ It’s a question that has probably crossed all of our minds at least once. As chic as a short crop is, committing to the ‘big chop’ is undeniably daunting. But what if you could try the look without losing an inch? Hannah Waddingham has found a clever way to do exactly that
The 52-year-old actress was spotted in Los Angeles yesterday looking incredible following an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. We had to do a double take — at first glance, we thought Hannah had ditched her bob for a swishy pixie cut. But on closer inspection, we realised it was actually a very clever updo.
‘Hannah’s hair is a brilliant example of how mid-length hair, and bobs, can be so versatile,’ says award-winning hairdresser and Trinder Hair Studios founder Marc Trinder.
The trick? It’s all in the front section. While the bulk of Hannah’s hair is swept neatly back into a bun, the lengths at the front are left loose and styled into a deep side part to create a swooping fringe — giving the illusion of a pixie cut from the front.
Not only does this create the effect of a dramatic chop, but the ‘fringe’ is incredibly flattering, too. ‘The face-framing pieces really flatter her cheeks, and the volume really works to deliver a confident statement,’ says Marc.
Faking an entirely new haircut might sound like the work of a professional, and while Hannah’s is the handiwork of a brilliant glam squad, Marc reassures us that the look is surprisingly easy to recreate at home.
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‘It’s all reliant on the perfect base,’ he says, so good prep is in order. ‘If your hair tends to be flyaway, then it’s best on day two after you’ve washed it. Alternatively, use a good dry shampoo to add texture to the roots once you’ve dried it.’
‘You’ll want to give the hair a lift before you pin it back,’ he says. Volume is key to nailing the look, since a pixie cut is all about shape and movement, rather than sitting flat against the head.
For this, Marc recommends using a large bristle brush to blow-dry the hair, focusing on creating lift at the roots. ‘For extra volume, try gently backcombing the roots,’ he adds.
The bun itself is simple, even for updo novices. ‘For the bun, tie your hair into a ponytail first to secure it, then simply swirl it around and pin it in place. You’ll need plenty of pins that match your hair colour, and plenty of hairspray to keep it in place,’ says Marc.
Naturally, the shorter your hair, the less length there is to disguise. However, Marc says the trick can still work on longer locks, as long as you have face-framing pieces to play with. ‘If your fringe is longer than chin length you could achieve a similar look by creating a quiff that’s swept back off the face and pinned into the bun,’ he says.
It’s a very similar technique, only this time the front section is cleverly swept back, rather than styled across the forehead. Marc explains, ‘To do this, prep the hair in the same way then leave the fringe area out when you create your bun. Backcomb the fringe section with plenty of dry shampoo, then pull it back to wrap around the bun and pin in place.’
The result? Convincing enough to make us do a double-take.
