Hair contouring is the face-framing hack that we predict will dominate 2022

Money piece highlights may be taking over your Instagram feed, but hair contouring is a slightly more subtle way to frame your face. 

Yes, contouring is a makeup technique that adds dimension to your face by using makeup that is slightly darker and lighter than your actual skin colour to accentuate specific features. Unlike foundation and concealer which we want to match our skin, contouring is all about creating the effect of shadow and light.

But did you know that you can contour your hair as well? Hair contouring is the latest hair trend that is guaranteed to be all the rage in 2022, according to celebrity hairstylist and European Creative Director for evo hair, Tom Smith. 

“The famous Money Piece hair trend is back with a modern twist,” Smith says. “In 2022, it will evolve into the ‘Hair Contour.’ Instead of clusters of highlights, hair contouring uses a softer-contrast lighter shade, painted around the face in a soft colour block, incorporating all the hair directly around the face including the shorter baby hairs.” 

Hair contouring works for anyone, but it is best for the types who wear their hair away from their face because the contrast provides face-framing that someone with bangs might already have from their cut. 

“This is a great technique for those who flip their hair over or push their hair back away from the face as the softer contrast between hair colour and skin tone lifts and brightens the face,” Smith adds. “Ask your hairstylist for a soft contrast panel of colour painted around your hairline that is a shade or two lighter than the rest of your hair colour. It’s widely considered the most flattering hair colour trend ever.” 

The best thing about hair contouring? It’s super low maintenance because it doesn’t require a full head of highlights and won’t require frequent touch-up appointments. What’s not to love?

This article first appeared on Glamour US.