The ‘pinch hair hack’ is the easiest way to add volume and texture for phwoar hair

We live for simple hair hacks that take less than a minute to do, but make things look 8,000 times better. The ‘pinch hair hack’ is one of those, and we can’t believe we’ve only just been introduced to it.

Over on makeup artist and hair stylist, Emma Chen’s Instagram, we’ve noticed there’s a simple trick the pro puts to good use again and again to create that incredibly tousled and airy texture that she’s known for. And, even though we don’t profess to have her hair skills, this pinch hair hack is a technique we’re pretty confident we can master. 

Emma explains that there might be a better way to encourage some oomph in hair, without blasting it with too much texturising spray and dry shampoo. “Do you over prep hair?” she asks. “Using too much product can sometimes be as bad as not using any product at all. Hair becomes weighed down,  limp and over-processed,” she adds.

The alternative? “The key to adding volume and texture without relying on product is creating different shapes in the hair. It stops the hair barrelling into itself and creates dimension,” Emma says. 

One way you can do this of course, is with styling tools. Styling your waves in alternate directions helps to add a mussy texture. But, when it comes to framing your face and adding extra lift, movement and shape at the front, that’s where “the pinch” comes into play.

Pinching together the two sections of hair at the front of your parting brings the top part closer together while the rest can swoop further apart, which gives a cool-girl curtain fringe shape. It adds a little extra root lift at the “pinch” and when paired with some tactical waves that curve at your cheekbone it gives our facial features a little extra definition. The best part? You don’t need to be in front of a mirror with all your styling tools to hand. It’s a trick you can use anywhere at any time to refresh your style  and add some pretty dimension. 

For more from GLAMOUR’s Deputy Beauty Editor, Elle Turner follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk