The Micro-Fringe Is 2025's Best Haircut, According To The Oscars Red Carpet
The Oscars red carpet has arrived and along with it comes an ample serving of glittering, star-studded beauty inspiration. From classic Hollywood waves to delicate neutral manicures, this year's arrivals welcomed a stream of cascading hairstyles, elegant nail colours and striking lip combinations. Among the familiar beauty accents, one striking statement haircut reigned supreme: the bold and graphic micro-fringe.
'A micro-fringe is a fringe that is cut to sit above the middle of the forehead,' explains Maria Sotiriou, co-founder of Silke London. 'It is designed to showcase the face and the rest of the hairstyle. A micro fringe could also be cut asymmetrically and have a textured finish, but they're less common. There are many variations, they are all very short and dramatic.'
Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Anok Yai all debuted stylish iterations of the cut yesterday evening, a surprising departure from their usual signature 'dos. Cyrus opted for a choppy take on a micro-fringe, complete with a contrasting slicked back ponytail and freshly bleached brows. Perry's bangs showcased a far heavier, fluffy version style, while Anok's midi-length curtains blended effortlessly into her tousled pixie haircut.
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The Oscars is far from the first time the micro-fringe has made an appearance on the red carpet this awards season; ELLE UK cover star Lady Gaga stepped out in a sharp, jet-black wig at the 2025 Grammys, a quintessential element of her new album Mayhem's beauty ensemble. Beyond this year's shimmering A-list events, Acne Studios, Ganni and Elie Saab also made a strong case for tiny fringes throughout the spring-summer 2025 runway.
What was once a sharp, dramatic haircut worn exclusively by alternative crowds has now officially made the mainstream. Here, expert hairstylists break down the best ways to wear a micro fringe in 2025, including how to style it.
What Is A Micro-Fringe?
As Sotiriou previously mentioned, the micro-fringe is a form of fringe haircut that sits closer to the hairline than it does to the brows. The Oscars red carpet does a splendid job of depicting just how versatile the playful cut truly is; whether you're blessed with natural waves or your hair is pin-straight, there's a version of the cut for most hair textures.
Who Is A Micro-Fringe Best For?
Whether it's a blunt cut from Lady Gaga or a more elegant side-swept look from Leighton Meester, the fans of this statement hairstyle are as different as the cuts themselves.
'One key thing with the micro-fringe is confidence,' says hairstylist and Arkive Headcare founder Adam Reed. 'The micro-fringe is great as it can be worn by anyone and it’s quite a statement if you’re wearing it with longer hair, as it’s all about the balance of the lengths. It’s a really nice way to frame the face; I know some clients with textured hair who wear their edges as a micro-fringe when they are not laying them down.'
How Do You Cut A Micro-Fringe?
While many of us will be familiar with chopping our bangs at home, it's best to leave the micro fringe haircut to the professionals.
'The micro-fringe is very multi-functional and it depends on how you’re going to wear it,' says Reed. 'If you like a blunt finish, cut it blunt. You can also shape around the face, do a feather cut or cut it dead straight.'
How Do You Maintain A Micro-Fringe?
According to Layla Smith, Kevin Murphy Platinum Educator, the best method of maintaining a micro fringe is to have a trim every 3-6 weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows. Alternatively, allow the cut to completely grow out and cut it back in as desired.
'The micro fringe is very short so it does not need lots of maintenance, even if it grows out a little bit,' says Reed. 'It’s still going to look short, and you’ll still see that differentiation between the lengths. I always recommend getting a micro fringe in salon and regularly getting maintenance cuts. You don’t want to risk cutting too short as it might like look like you’ve just cut the hairline away.'
How Do You Style A Micro-Fringe?
Fans of a fringe will already know that any curtains require commitment, namely additional styling time.
'If you have bouncy roots and you want your micro fringe to sit flatter you may need to stretch it out with a brush and hairdryer,' explains Smith. 'Specifically with a shorter fringe, I love setting the hair in place with some guarded clips and texture spray such as Kevin Murphy's Bedroom Hair, as opposed to allowing your hair to dry naturally.'
If you want to park the statement cut for a few days, Reed recommends using a gel creme to secure your shorter strands in a sleeked back position. 'Slick the fringe back using this L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni Art Liss Control, then just bring the fringe out when you want to wear it.'
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