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Hair Contouring Trend

What is "Hair Contouring?" A Celebrity Hairstylist Explains The Trend

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While makeup contouring has developed from trend to a near-daily step in our beauty routines, hair contouring is still in its infancy. The technique promises to help sculpt your face the same way makeup would, but with strategically placed hair colour instead.

Because it's complicated to get right, the trend used to be reserved for pro stylists. However, now brands are rolling out at-home versions of hair contouring products. we reached out to master hair colourist at IGK Salon, Stephanie Brown, who has worked on celebrity clients like Kate McKinnon and Melissa Villaseñor, to find out more about this emerging trend, plus a few products that will allow you to try out the trend for yourself.

Image Source: Courtesy of Amika

What Is Hair Contouring?

Brown explains that the trend is not unlike contouring your face with makeup. "Hair contouring is using dark and light colours to help soften or accentuate different features on your face," she said. It also has the added bonus of adding dimension to your hair, which can make it look fuller.

Similar to makeup, how you choose to contour will depend on your face shape. If you'd like to make a longer face seem rounder, Brown suggests adding brighter pieces toward the ends of the hair. Have a round face? Brown says that highlights paired with darker pieces framing your face will make it look longer.

Brown also suggests thinking about what you want to hide and what you'd like to accentuate. "Brighter and lighter tones help soften imperfections where [as] darker tones highlight it more," she said. "Think of a picture frame; when you want to see every detail you frame it with black while it's the opposite when you frame it in white."

While this may only be the beginning of products labeled as contouring sprays, you can also achieve the same effect with other spray-on colour products. Check out a few options, ahead.

Amika Strobe Contour Kit

Amika Strobe Contour Kit ($50, available in September)

Amika Strobe Contour Kit
$50
from loveamika.com
Buy Now

IGK Amaro Ombre Highlight Spray

IGK Amaro Ombre Highlight Spray ($29)

IGK Amaro Ombre Highlight Spray
$29
from igkhair.com
Buy Now

Oribe Airbrush Root Touch Up Spray

Oribe Airbrush Root Touch Up Spray ($32)

Oribe Airbrush Root Touch Up Spray
$32
from oribe.com
Buy Now

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Hush Hair Camo Hair Shadow Spray

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TRESemmé Root Touch Up Temporary Hair Colour Spray

TRESemmé Root Touch Up Temporary Hair Colour Spray ($8)

Image Source: target.com
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