What Is Hair Contouring? The Face-Framing Hair Colour Trend (2024)

Have you ever wished you could highlight particular parts of your face and downplay others without using makeup? With hair contouring, now you can.

Hair contouring makes use of highlights, tones and shades to accentuate features, soften or lengthen your face, or create a broader or narrow face shape. And best of all – it works on anyone. Wondering what hair contouring might do for you? Read our helpful guide.

You might have heard about the very popular “money-piece” hair styling technique, which uses highlights to frame the face. We’ve seen it everywhere – even on celebrities like Dua Lipa and Beyoncé. But now there’s a new colour styling technique taking the world by storm. Inspired by “makeup contouring”, which uses light and shade to create dimension and highlight particular features, hair contouring uses a similar approach to help frame the face.

Contouring contrasts lighter highlights with a larger softer tone to create highlights which are spread, rather than clustered, around the face. To be effective, it’s crucial stylists understand the technique and how tones can be used to add light or dark shades. Contouring can be used to match and accentuate any face shape, features or skin tone.

The great news is that contouring works well with any face shape, with the aim being to create a symmetrical, balanced appearance by balancing light and dark shades.

If you have a square face, you’ll likely want to soften your angular features and lengthen shape. Darker shades applied to the hair closest to your face, with highlights added to the outer area, will give you the perfect look.

If your face is round, you can also utilise hair contouring to give your face shape more length. If you have strong facial features, your stylist might lighten your lighter tones and deepen the darker ones, to create an overall effect that’s dramatic and complementary.

If you have a rectangular face, your stylist should apply dark tones to your roots and nape – the lower part of your head. Light shades could be added to thin strands by your ears, with colours blended towards the end. This will achieve overall balance.

If your face is heart-shaped, contouring is more straightforward. Your stylist will likely get you to choose between two techniques: sombré (minimal lighting, with a greater focus on natural shading), or ombré (a more dramatic gradient from darker tones to intense, lighter shades). These techniques will help you soften your jawline while maintaining your natural shape. You could even add a couple of money pieces as a final touch.

Pamper your luscious locks atStrut Hair & Beauty– the place to go for outstanding hair and beauty treatments. Our hairdressers and stylists have over 30 years of combined experience giving valued clients the cut, colour and style they’ve been dreaming of.

Want a complete makeover or want to maintain your already amazing style? Our professional hair colourist will help you find the perfect treatment for your needs. Call us today on (07) 5443 5605 orbook online.