The Midi Flick Will Make You Want To Update Your Lob

We just can't get enough of mid-length hair – from the lob to the Monica haircut, face-framing shapes seem to have us in a chokehold. Now the ‘midi flick’ is at the forefront of the trend for autumn and winter according to Tom Smith, hair stylist and Evo International creative director, who coined the term. And it's already going viral with over 42 billion views on TikTok to date. 

Hitting the sweet spot between fluffy ‘90s supermodel hair and TikTok's viral ‘coastal grandmother’ aesthetic (think a Desperate Housewives pouffed up blow-dry) it's proving to be one of the most compelling haircuts of the season. Or, as Tom puts it, “the coolest ‘uncool’ hair trend for autumn 2022.”

Both the classic lob and midi flick are characterised by a collarbone-skimming length. But that's where the similarities end. While the lob has blunt ends, often chopped in to be the same length all over, the midi flick has plenty of body on top, ultra-feminine layers and flicked up ends. With easy movement from root to tip, it's no wonder that a slew of stars including Jodie Comer, Kaia Gerber and Selena Gomez have already jumped on the midi flick trend.  

“The great thing about the midi flick is the way it is cut as it can be adjusted to cater for a variety of hair types and densities,” Tom told GLAMOUR. “If you want to preserve thickness in finer hairtypes, keep the ‘flicking’ layers to just around the face to retain maximum density of the hair. If the hair is bulky, you can utilise the layering to remove thickness from the hair and make it come alive with movement and shape.”

As for what to ask for in the salon, Tom recommends "a length that sits between the top of your shoulder and the top of your collarbone with soft, face-framing layers, designed to be worn flipped over on one side for maximum volume and airiness."

Not to mention, the parting and the length of the shorter layers are easy to pull off no matter your face shape or hair type. For example, with heart-shaped faces like Jodie's “you want to avoid flipping the parting over and exposing a wider forehead,” Tom says. “Instead, use a middle or side parting and have long sweeping bangs cut in that curve around the eyes and open up the mid-face and jaw.” On round faces, an off-centre parting and face-framing layers combine to create a contouring effect. “Square faces should also avoid a middle parting and be sure to have jaw-skimming, flicky layers cut in to soften the corners of the face," adds Tom.

"For longer faces make sure that the length sits closer to the chin than the collarbone and keep the face open – consider tucking one side behind the ear to widen the cheekbone area," Tom continues. 

While it gives off a certain messy 'I just woke up like this’ vibe, this isn't, however, the type of cut where the styling takes cares of itself. Start by raking mousse into damp hair (try Larry King Hair Care My Nanna's Mousse) then rough dry with a hairdryer before using a large round brush to add root lift and to bend out the ends. 

“Ultimately, the midi flick is ideal for giving life and body to fine to medium hair textures but with the right approach it can also be tailored to thicker hair types, too,” says Tom. “Because the length sits comfortably on the collarbone, the hair is supported and moves and bounces off the shoulder and neck.”

If a new cut is on the cards for sweater weather, trust us, the midi flick lob is going to be a winner.  Expect it to keep trending well into spring, too.

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