It's The Summer Of Boho Bangs - Here's How To Style The Retro Cut Now

Retro bandanas, silk scarves, chiffon maxi dresses... It's safe to say that bohemia has once again taken the fashion world by storm – and it seems a sense of nostalgia is now filtering into the beauty subconscious too. Case in point: the 'boho fringe' - seen on everyone from Suki Waterhouse to Alexa Chung and Daisy Edgar-Jones - has been cropping up more than ever this summer, be it at Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage or front row during couture week.

Defined by soft layers and subtle texture with an effortlessly undone finish, the boho fringe's allure is simple: not only does it speak to the world's renewed fascination with the 1960s free-spirit and nostalgia, but it comes with instant cool factor.

Don't be fooled, though; what might appear as a laidback, laissez-faire fringe is, in fact, the work of an expert cut, some clever styling tools and a handful of hardworking products. Below, Izzy Warren, a stylist at Hershesons Fitzrovia, breaks down this summer's biggest fringe trend and shares styling tips and techniques to emulate the look yourself, no matter your hair type or texture.

What is a boho fringe?

'A boho fringe is a more relaxed effortless fringe; it's not harsh and one-length but features shorter pieces which gradually become longer. It’s slightly messy and undone, with a soft and wispy outline,' shares Warren.

While the boho fringes of old might have felt choppier and fuller, today's iteration is slightly softer and more undone. 'It’s evolved today by the way it's styled and its versatility: you can keep this look effortless with a more "cool girl" finish or you can blow-dry it to create a more polished look,' she notes.

Boho fringes of today can veer anywhere from Suki Waterhouse's choppy boho fringe, Florence Welch's piece-y fringe, to Daisy Edgar-Jones' boho curtain bangs. What ties these hairstyles together though is their undone, slightly messy finish – the soft layers and nonuniformity mean the hairstyle can also work for a number of different hair types and textures.

How to style a boho fringe

There is a different and specific cutting technique when it comes to this style of fringe, notes Warren. 'A full fringe is cut in the same length whereas with a boho fringe, the middle is the shortest point. You can then gauge if you want to keep it slightly fuller or choppier. Once you have the base, you can then gradually make each section longer for that undone effortless, boho-inspired finish,' she adds.

Once the fringe has been cut, styling is also key. 'You can rough dry the fringe from left to right, stretching the root out with your fingers to help create that natural kink and shape without a round brush,' she notes.

If you're after a slightly more polished look, a round brush will look slightly more preened and put-together. 'Place the Hershesons Great Hair Clips on your bangs whilst your hair is still wet, parting your bangs where you’d like them to sit to set your fringe. Don’t remove until your hair is full dry and then spritz with the new Hershesons Air Dry Spray to create that gorgeous, natural boho texture,' she concludes.

As to the reason why bohemian-inspired hairstyles are taking hold right now? Perhaps it's a sudden sense of rebellion pervading in the beauty space and a distinct move away from homogenous, clean-beauty trends – or simply that we're all in the mood to experiment with our lengths come summer.

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Amelia Bell

Multiplatform Beauty Director

Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.