It’s all about the Lift

The key to pulling off this look yourself? The Insider Trick to Pulling Off the Pulled-Back Styles It’s all about the lift. Work with your face shape and bone structure to curate the perfect style to enhance your look. “Pulling your hair back is essentially a mini facelift,” explains celebrity hairstylist Juan Carlos Maciques. “The higher you place the bun or ponytail, the greater the illusion of lift you create. Use the crown of the head as a guide.”

SOFT AND ROMANTIC

A loose, low chignon can be modified to fit almost any face shape. A slick center part can help round out your hairline, as seen on Kirsten Dunst. An elegant, messy updo with added height and volume, such as Jamie Alexander’s, elongates the face and draws attention to the cheekbones. A flirty side part combined with a feminine twist, shown on Alicia Vikander, helps balance and soften a heart-shaped face.

HALF UP – HALF DOWN

A half up-half down hairstyle is a great way to slim the face, narrow the hairline and widen the appearance of your cheekbones and jawline, while still keeping the hair pinned back and away. Saoirse Ronan’s deep side part changes the focal point of her face, allowing for a more oval appearance that highlights the cheekbones. Amy Schumer went with a fresher take on the classic style with added volume up top to elongate the face. By gathering hair at the temples, this style lifts at just the right place.

SLICKED BACK

A slicked back hairstyle can be a tough one to pull off but can work on certain face shapes, such as oval, round or sqaure. Malin Akerman’s slick back low bun is classic style that allows her bone structure to shine. If you’re looking for an edgier take, look to Rooney Mara for inspiration. Her braided high ponytail set at the crown of her head visibly lifts and tightens for a seamless, sophisticated look.

Looking for an extreme lift?

“The tighter you pull back the hair, the more an actual physical lift will be created, as opposed to just an illusion,” says Juan Carlos. “Be wary, you will need to medicate by mid-evening.”