Hair Tips To Make You Look Thinner

Unless you are naturally skinny, not a day in the summer months goes by that every woman alive doesn't wish she could lose a few pounds before having to step out in that sleeveless blouse, strappy sundress or (worst of all) that swimsuit.

Even if you are a gym rat (or perhaps even particularly if you are a gym rat), you look in the mirror and wish for a thinner you staring back. Well, why we at Believe don't have a magic wand to make you instantly leaner (if we did, we'd surely be a lot richer than we are), we do have the next best thing...

Some hair and skin tips to make you look like you've lost weight:

Go for the change up: If you are still lugging around that long hair from your younger days (maybe even your college days?) it might be time for a change. Long, lank hair can make you look not only hang-doggy, but can draw the eye down to your jowls, double chin or overly ripe bosom and point right to those ever-expanding hips. A shorter do can perk up your whole look, emphasize your high cheekbones and gorgeous eyes, draw the eye upward to show your pretty face and add a little spring to your step (carrying yourself well is one of the best tricks to looking thinner.) Stand up straight, look people right in the eye, flash your brightest smile and, combined with your new cut, people may not only think you dropped a few pounds, but maybe even that you look so good, you must have had a “little work done”. Shhh! We won't tell, if you won't.

Bobs aren't the answer: When considering your new cut, steer away from the classic flapper's bob, the one that reaches right to your chin and perfectly frames your face with cute little side curls. Those curls will point right to a double chin. Chin-length bobs also tend to add volume on the sides of the head, which will make your face look even wider. This type of cut can actually give the illusion of adding pounds instead of subtracting them. Go instead for a bob above chin level to draw the eye up. Or go a bit edgier with the asymmetrical bob, where it is shorter in the back and longer than your chin in the front. No Buster Brown or Early Beatles bowl cuts for you. One-length hair can make you look heavier.

Try longer layers: Layers are great for creating the illusion of an elongated face, just so the layers are vertical-shaped and not horizontal. Also make sure the layers aren't too wide or too short. Try for a length that falls between the bottom of the ear and the top of the shoulder. Discuss what you are going for with your Believe stylist who will make sure about cutting the layers precisely, so that when they “shrink” after cutting, they end up the right shape and length. Think of it the same as choosing not to wear horizontal striped T-shirts, and why your favorite pin stripe suit always makes you look taller, thinner and leggier. Long layers do the same for your face.

Start at the top: The crown of your hair is where you want to add height and volume. Not only will you appear taller, but the extra lift “upstairs” brings the attention up to your beautiful eyes and noble brow. Flat hair on the crown makes your face look like a balloon with a brick on top of it. Have your Believe stylist show you how to dry your hair so that you build the best volume. She'll show you how to use duck clips, a diffuser, the best brush techniques and the perfect products, like Aestelance Volume to build the volume and lift you, in the words of the immortal singer Jackie Wilson, higher and higher.

Using bangs and parts: Full bangs of the type that march straight across your forehead (alá Vogue Magazine's Anna Wintour) are a no-no for a full face. No blunt-cut bangs for you. They take away from the length of your face and make it inevitable for everyone to notice the width. Instead, grow your bangs long and sweep them to the side in a wispy shape. You get all the benefits of bangs that way, with none of the detriments. The diagonal sweep will accentuate your cheekbones and soften a round face. A side part does much the same thing—take the attention of your face's circular shape. A deep side part will help make your face look longer (and thinner), whether you are wearing your hair up or down.  

When in doubt, accessorize: Not only will you dazzle when you walk in a room bedecked with hair jewelry, but accessories are a stand-out way to look thinner. Place the accessories at the base of any updo and as close to the crown of your hair as possible, helping make your face (and neck) look longer and thinner.

Darker is better: To our detriment, every woman learns early in the game, that she looks thinner the tanner she gets. In this day of awareness of sun damage and skin cancer, what is a girl to do? At Believe we carry a product called Dr. Dennis Gross Glo-Pads that can darken your skin and impart a healthy glow without taking in one harmful UV Ray. Just swipe and wait for your skin to turn a lovely (and thinning) bronze.

We, at Believe hope these tips help you hide those few extra pounds (now go and have a guilt-free ice cream cone for us, will you please?)