Anne Hathaway’s ‘Facelift’ Hair Hack Goes Viral, but Experts Warn it Could Damage Your Hairline
Actress Anne Hathaway recently went viral for the “facelift” hair hack her stylist Orlando Pita showcased at the Oscars in March. Now, with the craze all over TikTok and taking over Hollywood and beyond, experts are warning about what it could do to your hairline.
Here are the signs to watch for when recreating the red carpet look, plus how to achieve the lift yourself safely.
What is Hathaway’s ‘facelift’ braid hack
Anne Hathaway’s “instant facelift” hair hack involves creating small, hidden braids at the temples that are pulled back and fastened to create a subtle, lifted appearance. The technique that can make you look younger and “more awake” involves securing hair at the sides to create a snatched effect.
Pita did the “facelift” trick again on Hathaway forThe Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere in London to provides a tighter, more contoured appearance without needing face tape. The tension created the illusion of lifted brows, sharper cheekbones and a more “snatched” face shape, without surgery, injectables or salon treatment.
However, there is a downside to as it can cause damage to your hairline.
“The issue is that TikTok often turns professional styling tricks into extreme DIY hacks. If people are pulling the hair too tightly around the temples, they risk causing tension, headaches, breakage and, over time, traction damage around the hairline,” hair and beauty expert Danielle Louise explained via Fresha.
The red flags you should pay attention to when sporting this look include headache or scalp pain, redness around the temples, small broken hairs, thinning around the hairline, and soreness after removing the style.
According to Louise, “If the style hurts, it’s not being done correctly. This should be an occasional styling trick, not something you rely on every day. The temple area is delicate, and repeated tension can weaken the hair over time. People should also avoid sleeping in this style or using very tight elastics.”
How to get the look at home and minimize the damage
So what are Louise’s tips for recreating this style yourself with lesser stress on the hairline?
She says, “Start with two small, clean sections of hair from the temple area or just above the ears. Gently pull them backwards, either twisting or braiding them, and secure them flat behind the head with discreet grips or a small elastic. The aim is a subtle lift, not pain or tightness. You should feel the hair is secure, but you should not feel your scalp being pulled. Then style the rest of the hair over the secured sections so the technique is hidden.”
For an even softer finish, Louise recommends “Loose waves, a soft blow-dry or face-framing layers can help disguise the pinned sections and make the lift look more natural. The mistake people make is pulling everything back too severely, which can look harsh and put unnecessary strain on the hair.”
