French girls have somehow managed to make the bowl cut chic

Excusez moi?

BEAUTYcrew Beauty Editor / February 21 2022

The term ‘bowl cut’ is one that has historically sent shivers down our spines, and incurs traumatic flashbacks to our mothers hacking at our hair in the kitchen with nothing but a bowl and a pair of scissors to aid them. 

But it seems, finally, we’re starting to soften to the idea of returning to a hairstyle that used to give us literal night terrors. 

And evidently, we have the French to blame.

A country seeped in fashion history and classic tastes, it seems the French have got their hands on the bowl cut and have decided that it is their duty to make it chic. 

And we’d put up more of a fight – if we hadn’t already weakened at the sight of the modern mullet celebrity hair trend.

As for the French bowl cut? It’s decidedly nostalgic and makes reference to the structured, textural cuts of the ‘90s. Think: Linda Evangelista and Halle Berry.

Image credit: Getty

Image credit: Getty

The modern French version is made more palatable through accessorising, which came as a surprise to us.

Truth be told, prior to the French getting their hands on it, the only headwear we deemed suitable for accessorising a bowl cut was a very large hat. 

French stylist Loïcka Grâce has schooled us all however, on how to appropriately style a bowl cut by demonstrating the versatility of a headscarf: positioned at the top of the head with a few inches of fringe on show. 

Image credit: @thevisuelofgrace

Image credit: @thevisuelofgrace

Accessorising or no, we do have to admit, the bowl cut is not for the faint of heart. Are you up for the challenge? This could be the perfect opportunity to start a scarf collection…

Main image credit: @thevisuelofgrace

Briar is the Beauty Editor at BEAUTYcrew. Her 'down for anything' attitude has resulted in more than a handful of hair transformations, and she doesn't mind being used as a guinea pig for the industry's most unusual products and treatments. Her work has also appeared on Refinery29, Girlfriend and beautyheaven.