Fashion and beauty trends are cyclical, and while every decade has its iconic moments, few match the looks from the 1990s. The era has delivered a slew of beauty trends and continues to serve as inspiration for the top styles today. The latest look to resurface is a haircut inspired by supermodel Christy Turlington. Aptly dubbed the Christy cut, the look is soft, fierce, effortless and strikingly bold all rolled into one. It’s no wonder the look is going viral on every platform after a post from The Hair Bros (@thehairbros) hit TikTok. To learn more about how to get the effortless look of the Christy cut, we chatted with three stylists. Below, they share what to know about the layers and styling tips for every hair texture.
Featured Experts
- Rodney Cutler is a hairstylist and owner of Cutler Salons
- Kevin Hughes is an editorial hairstylist and Moroccanoil’s VP of Artistry
- Beau Dieda is an LA-based hairstylist
What is the Christy cut?
Natural-looking hairstyles are becoming more popular, and the Christy cut aligns perfectly with the trend. It’s essentially a mashup of the page boy pixie and a bob, borrowing the best characteristics from each style. Bobs are beloved for their face-framing abilities, and the Christy cut uses a similar round shape to highlight your best facial features. Hairstylist Rodney Cutler notes that the textured finish and cropped nature favor a traditional pageboy style but give the Christy cut a more modern shape. The result is a softer bowl shape that beautifully showcases the cheekbones and eyes.
According to hairstylist Kevin Hughes, two key design elements define the Christy cut and add to its signature shape. “Instead of straight cuts, this style features an angled perimeter and graduated layering throughout the sides and back,” he says. This allows for more length on top and helps to make the style more versatile. Hairstylist Beau Dieda mentions that this type of layering also adds movement to the cut and gives it a lived-in, natural feel.
Who does the Christy cut work for?
Not all haircuts work for every hair type. For example, the pros note that the Christy cut works best with thicker hair and natural textures. “Curls and thick waves help show off the shape of the cut,” notes Hughes. This cut is all about embracing your natural texture and, as Cutler mentions, using it to your advantage. While it can be adapted to fit finer hair types, having a bit of curl will better showcase the nuances of the cut.
In terms of face shape, both stylists agree that the Christy cut is best suited to soften structure. “With this haircut, you are building weight around the cheekbones, which will visually widen that area, which is not ideal for round or square face shapes,” says Hughes. However, if you have the latter and want to try the look, Cutler mentions that adding bangs can help streamline the look and keep the shape softly balanced.
What to ask for at the salon
Pictures are always helpful at the salon to ensure you leave with a cut you love. Luckily, there are tons of Christy Turlington pictures online to serve as inspiration. But if you want to be thorough, Hughes says that having different angles of the cut, showing the front, sides and back of what you are looking for will be best. The Christy cut has lots of layers designed to fall effortlessly around the head. “Getting the different elements and layers right will depend on your hair’s texture and the length you’re hoping to achieve,” says Cutler.
Once you’re in the chair, Dieda recommends asking for soft, face-framing layers over choppy or piecey styles. “The layers should blend seamlessly into the longer lengths,” he says. The cut naturally has movement, but if you want to amp up the bounce factor without losing density, he suggests also requesting internal layering.
How to style the Christy cut
While the Christy cut is low-maintenance, having the right tools and products tailored to your hair type will help keep it looking polished. “A curl cream throughout the hair, like Moroccanoil’s Curl Defining cream ($36), followed by a diffuser, is a great method for enhancing natural textures and bringing out the beauty in curls and waves,” says Hughes. For finer textures, Cutler says that a gel consistency is better suited to add definition. He recommends Redken Sculpting Curl Gel ($32) to style the hair into place and amplify the cut’s shape. Dieda notes that a large barrel curling iron and a round brush can also be ideal for fluffing the layers on finer textures.
