Kim Kardashian is famous for (among other things!) taking the art of makeup contouring to the next level. By strategically highlighting and shading parts of her face, the miniature mogul is able to completely transform the way she looks.
Much like the way Kimmy uses makeup to enhance her features, is the way we dress to flatter our figures. We use clothes to draw attention to our favourite body parts and to help disguise the bits we don’t like.
And now, hair contouring has arrived.
Image source: Instagram @gilsonbitencourt
The idea behind hair contouring is to paint your hair in the best shades of light-to-dark possible, in order to compliment the shape of your face. To begin the process, your colourist will evaluate your face shape and hair colour. Face shapes can be divided into round, square, heart-shaped or long/rectangular. Going by the rule of thumb that the ‘oval’ face shape is the most flattering.
The next step is to use the hand-painted colouring technique of balayage, along with highlighting, to blend the colours of your hair. This gives the impression of an oval face shape, while also ensuring that the chosen colour flatters your facial features, compliments your skin tone and eyes while looking underdone and natural.
For example, lighter, brighter colours are more salient, while darker tones fade into the background. So, if your face needs lengthening, highlights will be applied to the top and the ends of your hair, and darker shading on either side of your face. The shadows on the sides of your face will elongate your face, and the lighter colours on the top and bottom work to create the illusion of longer hair.
Hair contouring doesn’t necessarily mean getting a whole new head of colour. It’s more about expertly tweaking the colour you’ve already got, in order to make your best features sing, and enhance the natural beauty you were born with.
Feature image: L’Oreal