The bell-bottom haircut has found an A-list fan in Amal Clooney. If we could trade hair with any celebrity, it would have to be her. Long, glossy and enviably thick, her signature brunette lengths are always impeccably styled. Stepping out at the Cartier Women’s Initiative event in Bangkok, the human rights lawyer debuted a new shape, dubbed the “bell-bottom haircut” by her go-to hairstylist, Dimitris Giannetos.
Drawing inspiration from Clooney’s geometric lilac Prada dress, Giannetos wanted her hair to have a distinctly ’70s feel. “I wanted to complete the look with something timeless, chic, but at the same time make it bold,” he wrote on Instagram. “Since her dress is geometrical, I wanted her hair to have a ’70s flair! I gave her the ‘bell-bottom haircut’ before I styled it into a soft, bouncy blowout.”
Taking its name from the flared jeans that defined the decade, the bell-bottom haircut is all about shape. “It borrows the face-framing softness of the butterfly haircut and combines it with the volume and movement of ‘70s blowouts,” explains Neale Rodger, Style Director at STIL Salon. “What feels new is the silhouette, as the shape is fuller through the mid-lengths and ends, which creates that soft bell-like outline that gives the trend its name.”
Who suits the bell-bottom haircut?
“It’s incredibly versatile, but it tends to suit people who want movement, volume and softness around the face. It’s particularly flattering on medium to long hair and works beautifully for anyone wanting to create the illusion of fuller, more voluminous hair with a modern vibe,” explains Rodger.
There’s a reason it photographs so beautifully, too. “Balance. The face-framing layers open up the face and highlight your features, while the fuller shape adds softness and movement, and the length provides the comfort blanket. It’s one of those rare cuts that can make hair appear thicker while also feeling light and airy. The shape naturally draws attention to the eyes, cheekbones and jawline, which is why it photographs so well.”
Matt Taylor, senior stylist at Hadley Yates Salon, points out that the haircut itself is actually fairly understated. “It’s essentially a one-length haircut with some shaping through the front,” he says. “It’s mainly in the styling.” Think soft, rounded blow-dries that create movement through the lengths rather than perfectly polished curls.
If you’re tempted to give this haircut a whirl, Rodger recommends asking your stylist for “long, soft layers with plenty of movement around the face while maintaining fullness through the perimeter. Reference photos are a must, as the overall silhouette is what defines this look. The key is avoiding layers that are too choppy or disconnected. Everything should blend seamlessly.”
Antonio Hector, stylist at Hershesons Belgravia, agrees that less is more. He recommends asking for “a one length silhouette, minimal layers on the top with shaping focused on the very bottom front layers,” adding that if your hair is particularly thick, “a little invisible layering at the bottom will help contribute to some needed movement.”
