The Princess of Wales is known for her immaculately polished hair, but her latest royal look employs a time-saving shortcut that commoners can definitely borrow. Kate’s new ’do showed the power of what we like to call ‘the first inch’ rule – and not only is it a speedy hack, it adds an instant face-lifting effect as well.
Kate, seen at an engagement in support of The Forward Trust charity, had her hair styled with the interest focused on the front inch or two. This section had been styled as a soft ribbon of movement; a gentle ripple that started higher up her style and immediately lifted and opened her face.
It’s a technique loved by hairdressers because it takes little time to do but the ‘ripple effect’ lends the impression of an intentional style. Concentrate your styling efforts on just one or two inches at the front of the hair, and cheat the illusion you’ve made an effort everywhere else.
'It’s one of my favourite shortcuts when you don’t have time for a full blow-dry,’ says Jason Collier, celebrity hairstylist and key opinion leader at Jerome Russell Bblonde.
Of course, Kate’s entire hairstyle was as flawless as usual, with the rippled front blended beautifully into the rest. But if you’re short on time, concentrating your efforts on the area around the face cleverly draws the eye to what you’ve done and away from anything you’ve paid less attention to. ‘It can completely change how polished your hair looks,’ confirms Jason.
Why is the ‘first inch’ hack one to know?
The front section is the most important part of your hair, ‘because it’s what people see first’, explains Jason. ‘It frames your face, so even if the rest of your hair is fairly natural or undone, having those first couple of inches looking polished can instantly make the whole hairstyle appear more considered.’
It’s a great shortcut ‘because you’re essentially styling the frame rather than having to perfect every single strand’, he says. ‘If you get the front looking good, with a little volume, movement and shine, it creates the impression that you’ve styled your entire head of hair.’
How does Kate’s hair create a lifted effect?
‘Kate’s front section is a great example of this, because the wave starts slightly back from the hairline rather than directly at the root,’ says Jason. ‘This gives the hair room to lift first, before curving away from the face, which creates that beautiful, elongated effect.’
How can I get that facelift effect myself?
For the most flattering result, take the front couple of inches of hair and focus on getting volume into the root, and then a wave beginning at a point that suits your hair length and face shape. ‘You want to create lift at the root and then direct the hair up and away from the face, rather than creating a tight curl,’ advises Jason. ‘This opens up the face and gives the illusion of more height and volume.’
How can I avoid looking like I have two hairstyles in one?
It’s important to note that you’ll still want to blend the front section into the rest of your hair, so it doesn’t look like you just ran out of time!
‘This is where the transition is really important,’ says Jason. ‘Once you’ve created your front wave, take a couple of sections immediately behind it and give them the same soft bend, rather than stopping abruptly at that first section. You don’t need to style your entire head, just create a little continuity between the polished front and your natural texture.’
‘I’d also run your fingers through the front section rather than leaving it perfectly separated. Gently blending it back into the rest of the hair will soften any obvious line. A tiny amount of lightweight hair oil, such as Bstyled Hair Oil, run through the mid-lengths and ends can also help everything look cohesive. The aim is for it to look like your whole head of hair has movement, even if you’ve actually only spent a few minutes styling it.’
How can I style this look?
You want the style to last, but it needs to look and feel soft, not starchy. ‘I’d start with a lightweight volumising mousse like Bstyled Thickening Mousse, or root-boost spray like Bstyled Root Boost Spray around the front section while the hair is damp,’ he advises. ‘Blow-dry it using a round brush, lifting the hair up and directing it away from the face. Once it’s dry, use a large-barrel tong or straighteners to create a soft bend, starting slightly back from the root.’
‘The key is not to over-curl it. You’re creating a ribbon of movement, rather than a defined wave. Let the section cool completely before gently brushing it through with your fingers, then finish with a light hairspray. That will give you hold while keeping the finish soft and touchable.’
How else can I use this hack if I’m short on time?
It’s useful on second- or third-day hair, too. ‘A quick refresh of the front section with a little dry shampoo or texture spray, followed by some heat and a soft bend, can make the whole style feel freshly done in minutes,’ says Jason.
