As a naturally kind-of-straight, kind-of-wavy, but mostly nondescript hair girl myself, I’ve been wronged by viral haircuts many times. And, I know I’m not alone. While social media can be a great resource for discovering new haircuts and trends, not every style works for every hair type. It is so important to do your research before jumping into a new style.
That said, it’s not often that I find a style I haven’t heard of in my beauty-related scrolling. I was intrigued when I saw a TikTok boasting the “hime cut” as a trendy, functional hairstyle for people with naturally straight hair. But before I started recommending the style to fellow non-curly girlies, I knew I needed to speak with a pro. I tapped Kennedy Trisler, hairstylist to stars like Jeremy Allen White and Cameron Brink, for the full breakdown of everything you need to know about the hime cut.
What is a hime cut and what makes it so unique?
“The hime cut is a Japanese hairstyle that consists of blunt-cut cheek length side locks and frontal fringe, with the rest of the hair [kept] long,” Trisler explains on the TikTok-viral style. “It looks almost as if the person wearing it has a blunt bob, but also has really long hair.” Essentially, the front pieces are cut short enough to mimic a bob if the rest of the hair is pulled back. The strands from behind the ears are left long and flowing.
Why is the hime cut so good for straight hair?
The viral hairstyles of today are often more suitable for one hair type than another, but it’s rare for pin-straight hair to be the ideal texture for a trending look. “The hime is a great cut for those with straight hair because it gives their hair versatility and interest while styling it,” says Trisler. “It feels edgier and intentional to have such sharp geometric edges around the face, which is shown off more when the hair is straight. So if you’ve already got straight hair, it means less work for you!”
Can you do a hime cut on any hair type?
Trisler explains that the hime cut is ideal for clients with naturally straight hair due to its high level of intrigue but low level of maintenance. But, Trisler assures that the hime cut can work on wavy or curly hair too. “The hime cut can be done on mostly any hair type, as long as you’re dedicated to styling it,” Trisler explains. “If you’ve got curlier texture, it’ll still look great.”
Hime Cut Styling Tips
As with any hairstyle, proper styling is key to keeping your cut fresh and healthy. “Always use heat protectant before you use any heat,” Trisler says. “If your hair is wet, use a blow dryer and large round brush to get the sides of your hime cut smooth with a little volume, then run a flat iron through the sides.” Trisler also says you can have textured flat iron waves on the longer parts. “The GHD Platinum + Styler 1” ($279) is a great flat iron to use for this. If you want to lock your bangs in place to stop them from moving or splitting throughout the day, I recommend hair spraying them heavily with a strong hold hairspray. R+Co VICIOUS Strong Hold Hairspray ($37) is a great one to use, and it smells amazing.”
