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Face Framing

Face framing layers are shorter pieces cut into the front sections of your hair so the ends fall along your cheekbones, chin or jaw instead of hanging flat past your face. This is the cut for long hair that has grown into one heavy block, for anyone stuck in the awkward stage of growing out a fringe, and for anyone who wants a change that shows up in photographs without giving up length. Book the most popular face framing haircut at PIED-DE-POULE in London.

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Softer Face Shape

Cheekbones read higher, jawline looks lighter

Length Stays Put

A real change without losing inches

Faster Mornings

ront pieces fall into place on their own

Grows Out Well

No awkward stage between salon visits

What is a Face Framing Haircut?

How the cut works

A face frame haircut removes weight from the two front panels of your hair and nowhere else. The stylist sets the shortest point first — cheekbone, chin or jaw — then cuts a graduated line down from there, mirroring it on the opposite side and blending it back into your length so there is no visible step where the shorter pieces end. The ends get softened with point or slide cutting, which is why face framing layers move instead of sitting in a hard line. Take weight out of the front and hair stops dragging flat against your cheeks; that single change is what makes the face look narrower and lifted.

How it differs from full layers and from a fringe

Full layers redistribute weight across the whole head, including the back and crown. Face framing touches only the front, so your overall shape, density and length stay exactly as they were. It is also not a fringe: nothing is cut across the forehead, and if a solid line above the brows is what you actually want, a fringe trim is the shorter, faster appointment. Curtain bangs sit somewhere between the two, starting higher and reaching a defined split at the centre parting.

Who face framing hair cut works best for

Long hair that has grown into one flat sheet with no shape around the face
Anyone growing out a fringe with front pieces that will not sit anywhere
Fine hair that needs movement at the front while the ends keep their density
Thick hair that feels bulky and wide around the jaw
Curly and wavy hair, cut to the point where the curl springs rather than where it hangs wet
Long hair with face framing layers before a wedding, a shoot or a new job, when cutting length is not an option

How to Style Face-Framing Layers

Styling face-framing layers is effortlessly simple:

Blow-dry front sections with a round brush, rolling away from your face for volume
Use a flat iron or curling wand to add gentle bends or waves to the layers
Apply a light texturizing spray for piecey, lived-in movement
Let air-dry naturally for relaxed, effortless texture

Quick styling tips:

Always direct heat away from your face when blow-drying to create lift
A small amount of smoothing serum prevents frizz and adds shine
Tuck layers behind your ears for a sleek look, or leave them loose for softness
Side-part your hair to emphasize the asymmetry and dimension

Your PIED-DE-POULE stylist will demonstrate personalized styling techniques during your appointment to ensure you can recreate the look at home with ease.

Why Clients Love face frame hair cut

You see the change the second the hair dries. The first week is the honest test — the layers fall differently once you have slept on them and washed them yourself, and by day three most people stop styling the front at all. Around six weeks the shortest pieces soften and start sitting lower on the cheek, which is when a long layered haircut with face framing looks its most lived-in. Brightening those same front sections is the most common follow-up, and face framing highlights in London are usually placed along the shortest pieces so the layers catch light where they bend; balayage does the same job with a softer root.

Session lengths at PIED-DE-POULE

30 minutes — layers cut into your existing length, finished dry
60 minutes — full cut with a blow dry and a home styling walkthrough
90 minutes — cut, shaping through the mid-lengths and ends, and a bond or protein hair treatment for hair that has been lightened

Book a trim every eight to twelve weeks. Two or three visits is usually what it takes to grow a first set of face framing layers into a full long layered shape.

How Face Frame Haircut Is Done at PIED-DE-POULE

Consultation

Your stylist looks at your face shape, hair density, natural growth pattern and where you actually part your hair day to day. Together you fix the shortest point — cheekbone, chin or jaw — and how much movement you want through the front.

Wash And Preparation

Hair is washed and conditioned for its texture, then combed through and left damp. Wet hair gives the cutting line accuracy; the dry check comes later.

Sectioning

The front panels are separated from the rest of the hair and your parting is set where you wear it, not down the middle by default. Everything behind the ears stays untouched, which is what protects your length.

The Cut

The graduated line is cut from the shortest point downward and mirrored side to side, then blended into the length so the join disappears. Ends are point cut or slide cut to keep them soft rather than blunt.

Dry Check

Hair is rough-dried and the layers are assessed as they fall naturally, since curl and cowlicks lift the front by a centimetre or more. Small corrections happen here, on dry hair, before anything is finished.

Styling And Rebooking

A round brush directs the front sections away from the face, and your stylist shows you the exact angle to copy at home with one product, not five. Rebook in eight to twelve weeks to hold the shape.

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Treatment Benefits

Weight Removal At The Front
Taking bulk out of the two front panels lets hair fall away from the cheeks instead of clinging to them, so the face reads narrower from the first blow dry.
Built-In Movement
Each front piece finishes at a different length and therefore bends at a different point, turning hair that used to hang as one sheet into something that shifts when you move.
Visual Lift To The Cheekbone
The shortest piece lands at the level you want people to notice, pulling the eye upward and away from a heavy jaw or a long, straight silhouette.
A Shape That Survives Growing Out
Blended, softened ends leave no hard line to grow past, so eight weeks later the cut still looks deliberate rather than half-finished.

FAQ

What does face framing mean?

It means cutting shorter, graduated pieces into the front sections of your hair to draw attention to the eyes, cheekbones and jaw. The rest of your hair keeps its original length and weight.
Do face framing layers suit round faces?

Yes — for a rounder face the shortest piece is usually set at or below the chin to lengthen the shape rather than widen it. On a longer face the same layer works better starting at the cheekbone.
Are face-framing layers the same as curtain bangs?

No. Curtain bangs are a fringe with a defined centre split that reaches the brows, while face framing layers start lower and leave the forehead clear.
Will I lose length?

No. Only the front panels are shortened, and the back stays where it is.
How long does the appointment take?

Thirty minutes for layers cut into existing length, sixty with a blow dry, ninety if you add a treatment or fuller shaping.
Does it work on very long hair?

It works especially well — long hair with face framing layers is the most requested version of this cut, since the front pieces break up length that would otherwise hang straight.
How often do face framing layers need trimming?

Every eight to twelve weeks keeps the shortest point where you want it. Left longer, the layers simply blend into your length rather than looking overgrown.
How much does it cost?

Pricing depends on hair length and whether styling or colour is added; current prices for both London salons are listed in the online booking system.

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