When we think of a hair transformation, we usually picture a complete salon refresh with a new cut and colour. But Fiona Shaw is proof that a simple styling tweak can go a long way in refreshing your look. Last night, the actress gave her pixie cut a new lease of life without even touching the scissors.
The 68-year-old actress looked phenomenal as she attended Burberry’s London Fashion Week show. Dressed perfectly for the occasion, she wore a glossy leather trench coat and slingback heels, but it was her hair that had us doing a double take.
She looked like a new woman. We’re used to seeing Fiona with a soft side parting, and her short locks falling into gentle waves. But for the evening, her pixie was completely transformed with a fresh, modern finish, and it was all thanks to some simple yet very clever styling. Instead, she wore her crop with tousled texture, flicked ends and shorter layers swept forward to create a soft fringe.
‘This is such a great example of how much you can transform a short haircut simply through styling,’ says Jason Collier, celebrity hairstylist and Key Opinion Leader at Jerome Russell Bblonde.
‘The texture, flicked-out ends and movement make the whole cut feel fuller, more dimensional and much more modern. It’s a much more playful way to wear a pixie, and I think it suits Fiona beautifully because it gives the cut plenty of personality without looking overly styled,’ he adds.
If you have finer hair, it can be easy to assume that volume is out of the question. But comparing Fiona’s signature style with this refreshed pixie goes to show how much of a difference styling can make.
As Jason explains, the trick is in those flicks. ‘The flicky finish is really clever because it creates the illusion of more hair,’ explains Jason. ‘When you have lots of little pieces moving in different directions, the eye sees more texture and dimension, which is what makes the hair appear thicker and fuller.’
‘This is particularly flattering as we get older when hair loses some of its density,’ he says. ‘Rather than trying to make the hair look incredibly sleek and controlled, adding that texture gives it a much more youthful, energetic finish. It also softens the face, as it creates movement rather than having the hair sit too closely against the head.’
While Fiona’s transformation is undoubtedly the work of a clever glam squad, Jason says it’s a look that is easily achievable at home.
It all begins with a good base. ‘You’ll want to start with a volumising mousse, like Bstyled Thickening Mousse, or root-boost spray like Bstyled Root Boost Spray on damp hair, concentrating on the root,’ says Jason.
‘Next, rough-dry the hair while lifting it away from the head with your fingers to create as much natural volume as possible. Once it’s almost dry, you can use use a small round brush to direct sections outwards and slightly upwards, particularly around the sides and crown.’
To fine-tune those flicked-out ends, Jason recommends investing in a good styling wax or texturising paste. He swears by the Bstyled Matt Paste. ‘With the product on your fingertips, pinch and separate individual pieces, flicking them away from the head. The beauty of this look is that it feels deliberately undone, so there’s no need to be precise or make each section identical.’
The technique is surprisingly simple, but the results are transformative. If you’ve been looking for a way to boost volume in short hair, consider Fiona’s look proof that texture goes a long way.
