Everything I Wish I Knew Before Getting A Fringe

“If you cut more than 1cm off my hair I will cry hysterically” was the line I used for the past 15 years to force disapproving hairdressers into preserving my boring, long virgin hair.

I was fiercely attached to my locks and terrified of change, until one Thursday recently, when I woke up and decided I wanted a fringe. Mind you, I am far from a spontaneous person, so the eight hours before my appointment were filled with trial and tribulation.

I held a very serious vote in the office, my boyfriend photoshopped pictures for me to consider, and then, of course, I lay in the bath for some deep contemplation, because baths solve all my issues.

But alas, the jury reached its verdict, and I turned up at work the next day like that. Amazingly, I did not even burst into tears when my hairdresser revealed the final result, and if you are also thinking about bringing bangs into your life, here is all the wisdom I gained after making the leap.

Before I got a fringe people kept telling me how high maintenance it would be to style every day. I was like ‘pfftttt I have a 10 step skincare routine, how bad can it be?’ The answer is bad. Many mornings I wake up looking like a flabbergasted chicken. In saying this, most fringe fiascoes can be dealt with by using just my ghd Ceramic Vented Radial Brush. This dynamic duo smooths and gives body to my fringe in under 2 minutes. The radial brush is also perfect for training both sides of my fringe to meet in the middle and avoid an unfortunate parted situation. If you’re getting bangs you’ll need this brush. 

There is a common rumour that fringes will cause you to break out with acne. And yes, this may be true if you are neglecting this now concealed area of skin. Enter - Murad Age Reform AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser - a product I have repurchased multiple times. This triple action exfoliator uses physical and chemical exfoliating agents to remove dead skin cells and impurities from the skin. I use this scrub three times a week and can confidently say I haven’t had a forehead breakout since getting a fringe. In fact this product is so good that everyone should have it, regardless of fringe status. 

It is fair to say I have developed an intimate and dependent relationship with dry shampoo since cutting a fringe. R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo in particular can take my hair from looking sad and flat to effortlessly stylish with minimal effort. As a profusely sweaty member of society, I particularly recommend this product for after exercising. Sure, it doesn’t rid me of my tomato red face but it does make my fringe look freshly washed. Like all R+Co products, this dry shampoo smells like a dream - it also comes in a mini version for on the go fringe emergencies. 

Hair clips are having a welcome resurgence and are the perfect way to spice up a fresh do. I use the Valet Mafalda Barette Duo in Pink for when I’m feeling a bit fancy or want to take my outfit to the next level. These are also very useful if you decide you’re sick of the fringe-a-licious life and need to grow it out, OR you just want to flash back to the olden days when you had no fringe and less fun. With so many choices in the Valet range you’ll struggle to stop at just one. 

Yes, I may have screamed as I watched long chunks of my hair fall to the ground at the hairdresser, BUT on the way home I sang ‘A Whole New World’ as I felt like a whole new woman. Getting a fringe has been a complete game changer for me. It always looks like I’ve tried harder than I actually have and you can get away with much less makeup (after all, half your face is now covered by hair). My go to is the Giorgio Armani Crema Nuda Tinted Cream for the optimal ‘no-makeup’ look. You only need the tiniest bit of this miracle product to achieve a natural glow that doesn’t highlight blemishes or dry patches and nourishes your skin in the process.  

So if you are still wondering if you should get a fringe, I say do it. With a few products you can easily manage life with bangs, you’ll feel like a new person and at the end of the day, hair grows back quickly...right?