Updos & Buns

French Roll

A vertical seam of hair rolled inward and pinned flat against the back of the head, with the ends hidden inside.

BeforeFrench Roll

↔

This render comes from the same edit instruction HairGlam uses for this look, applied to a studio portrait. In the app the style lands on your own photo instead.

12 free looks in the app
Your face, not a model's
Ready in seconds

Try French Roll on your photo

Free on iPhone and iPad. 12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks, no paywall in between. Or try it free in your browser.

The hair is swept to one side, pinned in a vertical line down the center back, then the remaining half is folded over that line of pins and tucked under itself. Done properly there is no visible elastic and no loose end anywhere, because the roll is a closed tube. It is the most formal shape in this family and it survives a long evening, though it takes practice and a row of hairpins rather than bobby pins.

Suitsoval, round face shapes. All the bulk sits in a vertical seam at the back of the head, so no width is added anywhere near the cheekbone and the face keeps the proportions it already has.
Hair typemedium density, thick, straight, wavy. It wants collarbone length or longer with some weight behind it, since very fine or heavily layered hair slips out of the fold and needs a pin every inch.
UpkeepA trim every eight to ten weeks keeps the tucked ends from splitting out of sight inside the roll, and setting it takes ten minutes and about a dozen hairpins.
Ask forAsk for one length to at least the collarbone with no layer shorter than the nape, and say you want to be able to wear it in a French twist.

HairGlam Hair Studio: one face, a row of different haircuts

In the HairGlam app

Try French Roll on your own photo

Add one selfie. Front on, even light, hair off your face. No account.
Tap French Roll in Hair Studio, or any of the other 298 looks.
See it in seconds on your own face, then save it for your stylist.

12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks. No paywall in between, no account.

Try French Roll free

Questions about French Roll

Who does the French Roll suit?

It works best on oval, round face shapes. All the bulk sits in a vertical seam at the back of the head, so no width is added anywhere near the cheekbone and the face keeps the proportions it already has.

Does the French Roll work on my hair type?

Best on medium density, thick, straight, wavy hair. It wants collarbone length or longer with some weight behind it, since very fine or heavily layered hair slips out of the fold and needs a pin every inch.

How much upkeep does a French Roll need?

A trim every eight to ten weeks keeps the tucked ends from splitting out of sight inside the roll, and setting it takes ten minutes and about a dozen hairpins.

What do I ask my stylist for?

Ask for one length to at least the collarbone with no layer shorter than the nape, and say you want to be able to wear it in a French twist.

Can I try the French Roll on my own photo first?

Yes. HairGlam puts the French Roll on a photo of your own face in a few seconds, so you can judge it against your face shape and hairline before you book. It is free to download on iPhone and iPad with 12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks, and some looks can also be tried free in your browser at hairglam.app/try.