Hair Contouring Is the Face-Framing Hack That 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 color 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 color 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 color and skin tone lifts and brightens the face,” Smith adds. “Ask your hairstylist for a soft contrast panel of color painted around your hairline that is a shade or two lighter than the rest of your hair color. It’s widely considered the most flattering hair color 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?

Need more hair inspiration heading into the new year? Check out Glamour’s guide to the biggest hair color trends of 2022.