She’s not one to steal the limelight in an obvious way; however, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has quietly become one of the most stylish senior royals. And it’s not just her enviable sartorial choices – her hair has also achieved ‘most asked for’ status in hairdressers’ worldwide.
Her look is usually classic, understated and consistently elegant, but the Duchess recently pushed the boundaries with a TikTok-inspired hair colour. Photographed recently at a London community hub visit, Sophie’s hairline looked notably lighter and fresher, much like the Scandi highlighting technique (or lift-lights) doing the rounds on TikTok.
The Scandinavian subtlety of this hair trend sits well with Sophie’s style ethos. So, if you’re looking for a similar colour refresh, this clever technique, where baby hairs around the forehead are purposefully lightened to appear sunkissed, will elevate your hair in moments.
What is Scandi highlighting?
'The Scandi hairline technique is a lightening method that ultimately creates a brightening effect around the hairline and face,’ explains Louisa Moore, senior colourist at Jo Hansford Mayfair. This face-framing, 'halo' effect will make highlights look even brighter with minimal effort.
How is Scandi highlighting done?
Your hairdresser will use a fine comb to lift the soft, tiny baby hairs around your forehead, then using a freehand colour technique, lighten them one to two shades lighter than your natural hair colour. After your usual colour service and pre-shampoo, the baby hairs around the hairline are purposefully lightened with bleach to appear sunkissed.
What are the benefits of Scandi highlighting?
This instant pop of colour creates a ‘halo’ of brightness around your face which is instantly flattering and youth-giving. It’s also a good way to maintain the best condition for your hair and freshen up your hairline so you can stretch out your colour.
Will the Scandi hairline technique work on darker hair?
‘This hair colouring technique is not suitable for all hair colour bases and is designed to be flattering on very light bases,’ says Louisa, ‘it brightens the hairline to create that Nordic blonde.’ If you’re looking to create a similar effect and don't naturally have a light base, Louisa recommends face-framing highlights which are more suitable for darker bases.
