I cut a 'French' fringe at 43 - and why you should, too

I’ve been stuck in the same hair groove for 10 years, I just didn’t realise it until I cut it. Never one to fall in line with convention, I was resistant to the idea of adapting my hairstyle with my age. Why shouldn’t I sashay through my 40s with long, nothing hair? Of course, you can get away with anything these days. The old adage of going shorter as you grow older went away with dressing for your age. It’s not about the decade you’re in, it’s about curating an evolving style that suits your attitude, personality and lifestyle.

However, I wasn’t evolving. I was missing a trick. I’ve tried going shorter over the years; I’ve dabbled with a mid-length and a bob, but neither felt like me. And this is the most important thing of all. ‘It’s SO you,’ is the best compliment one can receive when launching a new style. If your hairstyle isn’t in alignment with your true essence, you won’t pull it off with confidence. And confidence is the secret to looking your best. It is also the trick to looking youthful.

I’ll admit it: I’m wedded to long hair. I like the security and versatility it affords me. Nevertheless, I was itching for something new. With the sun making an appearance and the fashion floors brimming with flirty floral dresses, the mood was calling for a change. Desperate for an update, but deeply attached to my length, I booked a consultation with hairdresser Larry King. When I sat in his chair, he said one word that changed everything: ‘fringe’. I was sold.

I began researching fringes with excitement. The most ageless fringes, it turns out, belong to Parisians. Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin, Françoise Hardy, Lou Doillon and Caroline de Maigret (the model co-author of How To Be Parisian: Wherever You Are) – they all possessed bangs with the qualities I most wanted: soft, effortless and elegant.

‘The thing that makes these fringes timeless is the softness around the sides. It’s about keeping the sides long enough for it to blend in with the rest of your hair so that it skims your cheekbones and softens your face,’ explains King.

The French formula, he suggests, suits everyone, no matter your face shape. ‘Hair must be thick enough to make an impact and long enough to separate a little and show some forehead. With the sides slightly longer, these bits fall naturally around your cheekbones to frame your face when you put it up, which is what makes it flattering on anyone of any age.’

Since returning to have my fringe cut, I can attest to its versatile nature. I blow-dry it forward when I want to look bolder and cooler, separate it in the middle for something softer, or leave it wavy and imperfect for casual moods. But, the best bit about having a fringe of French proportions is how it makes me feel – completely different and yet completely the same.

And that is what all the best hairstyles feel like: an updated version of who you already are. 

5 tips for an ageless  Parisian fringe

1. Don’t go wider than your eyebrows  ‘To ensure your fringe is flattering, it shouldn’t be cut wider than the outer corner of your brows, otherwise it will make your face appear wider,’ says Larry King.

2. A fringe adds the illusion  of thickness ‘The hair around your hairline is the most delicate area, prone to wispiness and breakage, which is especially evident when you put it up. By cutting in a fringe, your hair will look thicker and chunkier, which is perfect for those with thin hair,’ he says.

3. Accessorise  with colour  Adding lighter bits around your fringe area not only adds  an element of youthfulness by framing and brightening your face, it also gives oomph as colour swells the cuticle. ‘Even if you are brunette, you can add thickness by asking your colourist to lighten your hair first, then darken it back to its original colour,’ suggests King. Try  the Rogue Blonde colour treatment  at Larry King, a highlighting technique that illuminates  your hairline.

4. Update your styling products Don’t overload a fringe with styling cream or  it will fall flat and look greasy. Instead, Larry suggests investing  in a thickening product to add bounce and a touch of volume. Try Redken Full Effect 04 All-Over Nourishing Mousse, £12.30, or a volumising spray like Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist, £25, or Redken Windblown 05 Dry Finishing Spray,  £9. For in-between shampoos, arm yourself with a dry shampoo for quick touch-ups. Two good ones are: Ouai Dry Shampoo, £24, and Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Two Day Extender, £12.35.

5.  Consider a make-up rethink Fringes put more  focus on your lips, therefore it’s the perfect excuse to experiment with a bolder lip colour like a bright fuchsia or coral. Try Lancôme L’Absolu Lacquer Lipstick in Ultra Rose, £23. Or Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Kiss Me Coral, £7.49.

For bookings at Larry King, see larryking.co.uk