After Anne Hathaway’s red-carpet “facelift” hair trick went viral, people began recreating the look at home using a simple styling hack that promises a lifted, sculpted effect in minutes.
Hathaway revealed her hairstylist Orlando Pita’s “secret” technique on social media while getting ready for the 2026 Academy Awards. It involves pulling small interior braids tightly from the temple area and securing them discreetly at the back of the head.
The tension creates the illusion of lifted brows, sharper cheekbones and a more “snatched” face shape — all without injectables or surgery. “And you look a little bit more awake,” Hathaway laughs in her BTS video, also featuring her makeup artist Hung Vanngo and nail artist Tom Bachik.
The trend taps into a wider beauty shift towards instant, non-invasive results. The only problem is, doing it too tightly or too often could put too much stress on the hairline.
That’s according to Danielle Louise, hair and beauty expert for the Fresha self-care app. “If people are pulling the hair too tightly around the temples, they risk causing tension, headaches, breakage and over time, traction damage around the hairline,” she says.
“Start with two small, clean sections of hair from the temple area or just above the ears. Gently pull them backwards, either twisting or braiding them, and secure them flat behind the head with discreet grips or a small elastic,” Louise says.
“The aim is a subtle lift, not pain or tightness. You should feel the hair is secure, but you should not feel your scalp being pulled. Then style the rest of the hair over the secured sections so the technique is hidden.”
For a softer finish, Louise recommends adding volume or movement through the lengths.
“Loose waves, a soft blow-dry or face-framing layers can help disguise the pinned sections and make the lift look more natural. The mistake people make is pulling everything back too severely, which can look harsh and put unnecessary strain on the hair.
“If the style hurts, it’s not being done correctly. This should be an occasional styling trick, not something you rely on every day. The temple area is delicate, and repeated tension can weaken the hair over time.”
Louise warns people to stop or loosen the style if they notice:
- Headache or scalp pain — the hair has been pulled too tightly.
- Redness around the temples — too much tension on the scalp.
- Small broken hairs — early signs of stress or breakage.
- Thinning around the hairline — possible traction damage from repeated tension.
- Soreness after removing the style — the technique has been worn too tightly or for too long.
“People should also avoid sleeping in this style or using very tight elastics. If you want the lifted effect regularly, it’s better to speak to a professional stylist who can show you a safer way to create shape and lift without putting pressure on the hairline.”