Perfectly risen, with a soft, fluffy texture… Nigella Lawson’s hairstyle might just be her finest creation so far. Appetites are rising for all things Bake Off, and that includes Nigella’s hair – a real showstopper in itself.
Meet the ‘voluptuous midi’ haircut, a bouncy style with curves in all the right places. Nigella, 66, showed off her beautiful mid-length cut at the new season premiere of The Great British Bake Off, and it’s a style set to be hotter than a crème brûlée blow torch.
The voluptuous midi isn’t an accidental hairstyle, cooked up from a grown-out bob, but a considered look in itself. What makes it special is the cool, modern volume, supported by subtle layering which invites hair to puff up in a way that’s full yet also looks totally fresh.
No wonder it’s already trending among midlife women who see it as a way to refresh their hair without the fear factor of a dramatic bob chop. And with the new Bake Off series starting on 22 September, expect to see Nigella's midi hair influence everywhere.
What is the ‘voluptuous midi’ haircut?
‘The “voluptuous midi” is essentially the grown-up sister of the bob,’ explains Jason Collier, celebrity hairstylist and Key Opinion Leader at Jerome Russell Bblonde. ‘It sits around the shoulders or collarbone, but rather than being sharply cut, it has softness, movement and plenty of fullness through the ends. Nigella’s is a great example: it has enough length to feel feminine, while the rounded shape and subtle layers stop it from looking flat or heavy.’
The key word here is volume. ‘This isn’t a thin, one-length midi, but a fuller, bouncier shape that gives the hair a much more luxurious finish,’ he says. Nigella's own hair and makeup artist, Tricia Woolston, recently shared that she uses Sam McKnight's iconic Cool Girl range to add bounce and fullness to the star's style.
Why is the voluptuous midi so flattering on Nigella?
It all comes down to having the right recipe for balance. ‘Nigella’s cut works beautifully because it creates fullness around the lower half of the face without overwhelming her features,’ says Jason.
‘The soft movement through the sides and ends also gives the style a lifted, youthful quality, while the length keeps it feeling elegant rather than overly “done”’, he says. ‘It’s also a really flattering length because it gives you the versatility of longer hair, but with the freshness and shape you’d expect from a shorter cut.”
Why is it particularly influential for midlife women?
Nigella's is exactly the kind of haircut that midlife women are asking for right now, says Jason. ‘This is because it offers a refresh without the commitment (or facial exposure) of a bob,’ he explains.
‘There can be a point where very long hair starts to look thinner, particularly through the ends, but going straight to a short bob can feel like a big leap,’ he tells us. ‘A shoulder-skimming midi is the perfect middle ground. Removing dry, broken or wispy ends instantly makes the hair look healthier and denser, while the fullness through the shape can give the face a softer, more lifted appearance. It feels like a change, but not a drastic one.’
Is it a good way to grow out a bob, too?
Absolutely, says Jason. ‘Rather than seeing the awkward stage of growing out a bob as a halfway house, you can deliberately turn it into a midi,’ he explains. ‘Ask your stylist to reshape the ends so they sit around the collarbone or shoulder, add very subtle internal or face-framing layers if needed, and maintain enough weight at the perimeter to keep the hair looking full.’
‘The trick is not to keep trimming it back into a bob every time it reaches that in-between length; let the extra centimetres become part of the style.’
Is this a good length and style for fine hair?
Yes, particularly if it’s cut with the right amount of weight, Jason confirms. ‘Very long hair can drag fine hair down, while an overly-layered cut can make the ends appear even thinner. The voluptuous midi allows you to remove some of that weight while keeping enough density through the ends to create the illusion of fuller hair.’
‘For fine hair, I’d avoid lots of short layers and instead focus on a strong, healthy perimeter with subtle shaping around the face.’
How can we recreate Nigella’s bouncy midi?
The secret is to build volume from the beginning of your styling, rather than trying to add it at the end. ‘Start with a volumising mousse or root-boosting product, such as Bstyled Root Boost Spray, then blow-dry the hair using a large round brush, directing the hair up and away from the face. Pay particular attention to the crown and the mid-lengths, as this is where you want to create lift.’
‘Once dry, large rollers or a few large Velcro rollers can help set that rounded, bouncy shape,’ Jason advises. ‘Finish by gently brushing through rather than separating every curl. Nigella’s look is about soft movement and body, not overly defined waves. A lightweight shine serum or spray, like Bstyled 11-in-1 Wonder Spray through the ends will give you that glossy, expensive-looking finish without weighing the hair down.’
Hollywood handshakes all round!
