As Diwali approaches, the excitement of festive celebrations extends to our beauty routines as well. A stunning haircut and vibrant hair colour can uplift your overall look, and who better to guide you than Uma, Style and Technical Director at Toni & Guy? In this exclusive interview, Uma shares her expertise on choosing the right haircut for your face shape, adapting trends to suit individual features, and essential styling tips to maintain that salon-fresh look. Whether you’re preparing for a family gathering or a festive event, these tips will help you look your best this Diwali.

How does face shape influence the ideal haircut?
We always consider face shape first before giving any haircut. For a smaller face, we try not to cover too much by adding shorter pieces in the front. It’s important because you want your face to be visible, so adding a fringe or shorter front layers helps open it up and enhances your features. Earlier, face shape was a big factor in choosing haircuts, but nowadays, clients like to experiment even if a style doesn’t traditionally suit them. We personalize the cut to match their face shape and style. Confidence also plays a huge role in pulling off a look. For instance, it used to be a myth that fringes don’t suit curly hair, but now many clients confidently sport fringes with curls, as long as they have the right styling products. Why not give it a try and see what works for you?

Which haircuts enhance specific facial features?
For an oval face shape, we can go with almost any haircut since this shape is versatile, making it the luckiest face shape. For round faces, we avoid chin-length cuts as it can make the face appear rounder. Instead, we either keep the length above or below the chin to elongate the face. For broader face shapes like square or diamond, we add soft fringes or curtain bangs to balance the features. Haircutting, in this sense, is like makeup – just as you use contouring to define features, we use fringes or longer curtain bangs to create a slimming effect.

What styling tips help highlight a haircut for a particular face shape?
Many people love their hair right after a salon visit – it’s styled, blow-dried, and glamorous. However, after a wash, it may not look the same. That’s normal! Your haircut provides the shape, but maintaining the style requires some effort at home. Your stylist can show you how to blow-dry specific areas, like the fringe or crown, to keep your hair looking salon-fresh with minimal effort. Post-care is crucial, like sunscreen for your skin. A little at-home styling, whether for curly or straight hair, keeps your cut looking polished until your next visit.

When using a blow-dryer or hot tools, always use heat protection products. Also, be gentle with your hair, especially at the front, to avoid damage. If your hair is naturally straight, you may not even need hot tools. People often believe that oiling hair promotes growth, but hair is actually dead cells. Our scalp naturally secretes sebum, which nourishes and hydrates the hair. Over-oiling can clog pores and hinder healthy growth, so if you use oil, it should be rinsed out within 10 minutes.

How can trends be adapted to suit different face shapes?
When it comes to trends, adapting them to your face shape is key. We see a lot of people following the Curly Girl Method (CGM), which has been in trend for a while. Curly haircuts need special attention to maintain texture and movement. After the cut, using the right products and techniques like scrunching helps keep curls defined without a dryer. You don’t have to follow trends blindly; you can always adapt them to suit your individual features and needs.

What’s the latest hair trend?
One of the latest trends is embracing natural hair texture. The Curly Girl Method has been popular for a while now, especially for those with curly hair. It’s not just about the haircut, but also how you maintain the texture post-cut. Using the right products and techniques like scrunching helps keep curls defined.