Fringe theatre

A fringe is as much of a must-have accessory for autumn as platform heels and just like shoes they come in all shapes and sizes...

In celeb land they're loving the heavy fringe, as seen on Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Connelly, Selma Blair, Hilary Swank, Amanda Peet and Lily Allen, as well as the side-swept fringe - Jennifer Love Hewitt, Natalie Imbruglia, Erin O'Connor - while Kylie is doing big things for the now you see it, now you don't micro variety.

  Anne Hathaway A fringe is the smart option when you want to change your image and bring a fresh perspective to a hairstyle you're bored with without the risk factor of a total restyle. It makes a focal point of beautiful eyes, will disguise a high forehead to rival Ant McPartlin's and is better than Botox when it comes to diverting attention from 'trainline' frown lines.

Andrew Barton, Saks International Creative Director and resident hair expert on Channel 4's '10 Years Younger', says, 'Fringes make a fashion statement whether they're schoolgirl blunt or cheeky peek-a-boo. Slanted and swept to one side is also in vogue as well as short and chopped for texture. The fringe is all about versatility and where one suits one face shape it may not suit another. Try short and sweet on a round face and an eyelash-tickling and blunt fringe on a long face shape. More or less anything goes if you have the perfect oval-shaped face. Remember that your hairdresser should offer a free fringe service to keep the look maintained. Don't opt for a fringe cut to last six to eight weeks to match the rest of your cut. Instead have it cut to the length you love and pop into the salon between visits for maintenance.'

If your hair salon isn't as obliging as Saks and you prefer to trim your fringe yourself between appointments, tread carefully. Sobriety and a steady hand are a must! Don't cut hair when it's wet as it is at full 'stretch' and will spring up once dry. A good tip for trimming a long, grown-out fringe is to gather it into a ponytail and to chip into the ends below the hair elastic for a level and natural looking finish.

Fringes can be fiddly if your hair has any kind of wave. If yours tends to split in the middle, form cowlicks, or stick out, blast cold air straight down the nozzle attachment of your hairdryer. The air should be directed from the top of your head down towards the tip of your nose. This will encourage a flat, sleek, shiny finish. A radial brush is also invaluable for imparting smoothness to a fringe. We like Denman's collection of Thermoceramic Hot Curl Brushes, from £8.25 (www.denmanbrush.com) for creating a straighter finish during blow-drying. Skinny straightening irons such as the Corioliss Slimline, £99 (01273 461111) are also fabulously fringe friendly. Try Aveda Self Control Hair Styling Stick, £14 (www.aveda.com), a push-up pomade that adds shine and control in hard-to-manage hair.

Before definitely making up your mind as regards the tricky, flicky matter of a fringe, have a chat with your stylist as to your options – which by the way include faking it with extensions - and take along pictures of the kind that appeals to you. Relying on verbal descriptions only means there's always the chance that your 'miles too short' might be a hairdresser's 'grown out'.

Fringe-speak for beginners – how to cut through the confusion to get what you want... Louise Brooks/Blunt - severe, straight and wide, finishing above or around eyebrow level. Peekaboo – half-covers or completely falls over one eye ideally in a voluptuous wave. Grown out - as it sounds, an eyelash-tickling sweep, which is also a great 'vehicle' for adding colour. Micro - very, very short and only for the brave, or the beautiful. Feathered - a flattering option with a lot of the weight removed with a razor for a softer, more separated feel, but the length remains. Wispy - long fine strands of fringe usually taken from a side parting and finishing mid cheekbone. Shattered - a broken-up fringe particularly suitable for hair with a natural wave. Creates a jagged effect to frame the face and immediately makes a style more contemporary looking. Asymmetric – fringe cut on a diagonal line from short to long, looks its edgy, effective best combined with sleek, heavy texture.