Hairstylist Tricks That Instantly Slim

Shapely Curves

“Avoid straight lines in your haircuts, when you’re trying to look thinner,” says Blandi. “Rather, create a soft curve around your cheekbones and eyes. We have a tendency to look at the nose and eyes, so when you soften this part of the face, it becomes more attractive and appealing.”

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Side-Swept Bangs

“If you have a round face or you’re gaining weight, a straight-across mod bang is the worst thing you can do to yourself,” says Blandi. “It’s a misconception that bangs will make you look slimmer. Your face really starts from your eye line; you can eat and eat, and you won’t see your forehead getting wider. Instead, cut bangs gently around your face and cheekbones, and watch out for bangs cut too short.”

Textured Bob

“If you want to look slimmer, definitely don’t go for blunt haircuts like the Louise Brooks–style bob that Katie Holmes and Rihanna have worn,” says Blandi. “Instead, opt for a longer, shaggy bob with softness and movement.”

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Face-Framing Half-Updo

“If you pull your hair straight back, your face looks rounder, because the temple is the widest part of your face; and the place where you actually gain weight — between your cheekbone and your jawline — is now exposed,” says Blandi. “To soften the look, pull some hair down around your cheekbones to create a frame around the face.”

Wispy Ponytail

Similar to the half-updo, “if you pull hair back into a severe ponytail, you’ll see the gained weight in that telltale jaw and neck area,” says Blandi. “When wearing a ponytail, make sure it’s soft and high; then play around with what type of fringe looks best with your bone structure.”

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Heightened Updo

“If you want to look thinner, don’t wear hair flat, straight and long,” says Blandi. In this look, Jennifer Lopez adds length to her face by teasing hair up into a high vertical bun. The added height makes her face look slimmer: “It elongates her face and adds visual interest,” says Blandi.

Heavenly Highlights

“Color softens up the haircut,” says Blandi. Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively is a great example of how highlights can add depth and shape. For her pumped-up waves, prep hair with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner, and blow-dry with a round brush. After coating strands with a light-hold spray, curl sections, using a large barrel curling iron, and brush through. Back comb underneath the set, using a wide-tooth comb, and mist the surface with a high-shine spray.

Soft Waves

“The Old Hollywood Veronica Lake look adds weight because the curls are very hard,” says Blandi. “Soften the look with subtle waves. It’s about proportion. For instance, if you’re very short, very large curly hair will add width in a negative way. But if you’re taller and wearing, say, an A-line skirt, hair that’s worn too tight to the head gives you a bowling-pin figure.”

Added Length

“Stay away from short haircuts — longer hair is always going to look more slenderizing,” says Blandi. But if you’ve got naturally short hair, like Jessica Alba’s, or just fell victim to a bad haircut, you’re not stuck. “Extensions are amazing,” says Blandi, noting Alba’s recent one-night return to long locks. “We live in an age when you can do anything you want with your hair because of them.”