Fringe, yes or no, the horrors of lanky hair offset against ageing

[alpharinth]

I have absolutely straight, fine, greasy hair. I would love long flowing locks but have learned that it really doesn't work for me. I use Phillip Kingsley products, have regular cuts, blow dry every day and have 'settled' for a short bob, higher at the front and pretty high cut at the back. This gives the back style and volume that I would never have believed possible. But I'm never very happy with the front view .

I'm hankering after a fringe because I know/feel this will be more flattering on my 45 year old face. I have quite a high hairline (would have been fashionable in the middle ages . However, when I last had a fringe it's thinness and tendency to stick to my head in hot weather drove me mad. It won't be a Winkleman!

Any advice?

I have a side fringe. Best of both worlds, on some days I have a fringe and on others I sweep it back. I'm 42 with high forehead and high hairline, and my hair and bob sound like yours.

Find a good hairdresser. I tried a fringe several times and each time got what you have described - a thin fringe whichever wispy and didn't "hang" how a fringe should - found an amazing hairdresser who promised that she understood the problem and how to address it, have kept my fringe for 4 years now!

You need to make sure the hairdresser includes enough of your hair in the fringe to make it look thicker! When your hairdresser understands this your fringe problems are over. (Fellow sufferer.)

I have just had a side fringe cut in after a few years of all one length. It looks great and I'm really pleased with it. Much more flattering.

The hairdresser made me promise not to cut it myself and she'd do it for free if it needed trimming.

I think a blunt fringe on a bob can be ageing, twee and frumpy if you are not very careful, whereas a classic bob with a side parting and no fringe or just a long, layered side-swept fringe is always an elegant yet fashionable classic, if that's not too much of an oxymoron.

Also with a very high hairline and fine hair a fringe that lays on your forehead will be difficult to pull off - it may end up looking stringy and just won't hang right. A side parting and sweeping the longer hair to one side should 'shorten' your forehead.

I'm nearly 50 and I have the same problem to an extent in that when my fine hair gets too long my face starts to look dragged down by it. I've ruled out having a full fringe again though as I think my face it too fat for it. I just keep some layers and a long flicky side swept fringe for some texture and volume and I'm careful not to let my hair get too long.

See, you all gave me hope, then DontDrink dashed it away.
Stringy and twee are not a look I'm after.
But neither is haggard.

Oh god, I turned into Great Aunty Sarah when they put my fringe in. It was fucking awful. I am scarred for life.

Yes side fringe all the way. Also using dry shampoo (sparingly!) can help with lankness issue

at Juggling
Thing is, can a side fringe have enough body on fine hair?

I mean, surely it will split apart like this (and obviously she is much younger, prettier and girly looking than moi).

This is my fringe in mid length very fine hair (needs washing and styling - been at work & out in the rain today!)

I have fine hair (but loads of it!) and a full straight fringe works well for me. Watch the youtube tutorials on the side to side trying method.

I do sometimes wash just my fringe (I don't like washing my hair everyday, just makes it get greasy faster, takes ages, and knackers the colour!)

Alpha I have very fine naturally blonde Scandi hair and I add texture with styling dust (is that a word?), dry shampoo or mousse. It does not split apart but it needs to be trimmed regularly and your hairdresser needs to check which direction your hair grows, where the natural parting is and whether there are stubborn flicks.

Mixtape that's an impressive fine hair fringe.
I think I also need to consider the fact that my face is fairly, although not absolutely round and I wear glasses at least 50% of the time (probably need new ones of those too).
I do sound like a right catch.

Stubborn flicks? That would suggest something with natural life. 5 different hairdressers have told me over the years that my hair is the straightest and the most resistant to blow drying into style that they have ever known. (I'm sure they say that a lot though).

I walk 40 minutes to work so my hair is subjected to a lot of weather. I don't think anything I do will give a great result under those conditions.

Just seconding StatisticallyChalkenged's advice to google side to side fringe drying method. Sali Hughes does a good one

I had a side fringe with similar hair and style. I loved it. I intended to keep it like that forever, but eventually got bored and went asymmetric. But I will have a fringe again. Similar age and I think it made me look younger.