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    The art of hair contouring

    Updated:27 Apr 2016 9:04 AM | Posted by
    Astrid Taemets's picture
    Astrid Taemets
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    By now, you know a thing or two (or three or four) about how to create the illusion of higher cheekbones, a thinner nose and defined jawline with the magic of make-up (thank you, Kim Kardashian!), but this is 2015 and regular contouring is so last year. There’s a new canvas for contouring: our hair. Yep, you read that right. The theory is that we can sculpt our faces with meticulously placed highlights and lowlights.

    UK-based stylist and art director at Charles Worthington, Mark Trinder, pioneered the trend, claiming that you can literally alter a face shape by applying colour to specific areas of the hair. Pretty cool, huh?

    But before you go crazy with highlighting your tresses, pause to identify your face shape.
    Now, let’s look at each one below and figure out what you need to request from your colourist next time you’re in the chair:

    Oval

    Oval-faced beauties, you’re incredibly lucky! It’s the most desirable and versatile face shape for colouring, contouring and styling. Most of you will suit anything, but talk to your colourist about tones that will add depth, texture or shine to really accentuate your features.

    Round

    Round faces generally have a strong bone structure, so opt for light tones around the hairline and ear to ear, and save darker tones for underneath the ears and the ends of hair. The former brightens and elongates the face, while the latter gives the face shape more of a point.

    Oblong

    To slim down and shorten your naturally long face shape, apply deeper hues to the roots along the parting. Pair this with delicate, highlighted pieces from above the ears to the ends of the hair.

    Square

    The trick here is to soften your wider facial features and strong lines. Aim for multi-tonal layers of light and dark at the ‘corners’ of your face, as well as around the jawline and temples for more depth and softness.

    Heart

    Anyone with a heart-shaped face should go for lighter pieces woven around the jawline and ears. This works to soften the bottom half of the face.

    What do you think of hair contouring? Would you give it a try?

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    74 Member Comments

    mania1 26 Nov 2019 6:06 PM

    That 's someting most of the girls are looking for it to style thier hair with different color which can reall make the differene for hair loss treatment there is best hair restoration center in Pakistan where you can get details information about hair loss treatment..

    Margi59 22 Aug 2019 2:42 PM

    Certainly something different so a bob hairstyle with a fringe would suit my face shape.

    ThisIsMe 31 May 2019 12:46 PM

    Mine is inbetween an oval & heart shape

    Lucy16 16 Nov 2018 7:32 PM

    Hair contouring? This sounds fascinating. If only I could find time to visit the hairdresser!

    cosmoslyn 7 Aug 2017 11:23 PM

    i don't even know what face shape i am yet

    Lucy16 16 Nov 2018 7:31 PM

    Like most people, probably a combination of shapes rather than sitting in one neat box! ;)

    onlyoni 5 Aug 2017 6:37 PM

    I still can't work out what shaped face I have but at present my hairdresser has given my short hair darker tones through the fringe and in front of my ears to frame my face, with lighter shades and highlights through the top. And, yes, I'm very happy with it.

    Shop A Everyday 15 Jul 2018 1:01 AM

    No I am finding it hard too, and your colour and cut sounds amazing

    clearcrystalwater 3 Aug 2017 11:31 AM

    I'm the purple one!

    Trinasmakeup 16 Dec 2016 12:20 PM

    I totally cannot figure mine out I won't be using this

    Pixie96 5 Jul 2016 11:38 PM

    I have a round face. I think hair contouring sounds interesting.

    Linda_Vesinger 3 Jan 2016 4:16 PM

    Never heard of hair contouring before, it's not something I'd ask my hairdresser to look at

    Yohanna 4 Dec 2015 6:48 PM

    when women are bored...they come with ideas like "contouring", sigh...

    Simonja 1 Dec 2015 2:10 PM

    I think I have a mixture of round and square shape face, not quite sure which one it would be. I have relied so many times for the stylist to 'give me a look that suits my face' but I have never been 100% happy with the result especially when I cannot maintain the look myself. It is just too expensive to visit the hairdresser every 5 or 6 weeks for touch ups so always coming back to some kind of bob seems to be the best solution for my right now although I would love a drastic change. I guess I'm just not daring enough.

    Petal 15 Sep 2015 11:19 AM

    Hair contouring sounds good in principle, but I'm slightly confused about my face shape - it's round but also a bit square.

    Reneebrennon 24 Jul 2015 11:34 PM

    How cool, i think i will try that at my next appointment.

    Shop A Everyday 3 Jul 2015 3:32 PM

    I think I may be round, but I am not positive

    Shop A Everyday 11 May 2015 1:01 PM

    Its amazing how it suits your face

    Shop A Everyday 11 May 2015 12:22 PM

    Ooh reminded me of Debbie Harry

    Elefante 7 May 2015 4:34 AM

    I dont know if im oval or heart

    Vi 5 May 2015 11:49 PM

    I get my hair cut and coloured the way I want it. I don't think I will follow this

    Karen496 5 May 2015 4:46 PM

    Another fad. Colors fade with time, the sun etc so if we wait long enough we can have natural contouring within a month of color.

    Anita1502 4 May 2015 11:03 PM

    Ha, now that is interesting!

    Zenna.X 4 May 2015 1:26 PM

    i like to just leave the style of my hair at the moment

    Beautybabe140194 4 May 2015 11:34 AM

    Probably won't be doing this, sounds tricky haha

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