Hairdresser Manuel Zabaleta calls the side fringe one of the most rewarding cuts there is - it softens features, adds movement and has a subtle lifting effect. The sentence is worth translating: there is a haircut that does part of what others charge for with a needle.

The cut turned up this autumn on Spanish actresses at the big European festivals - Maribel Verdu, Penelope Cruz, Natalia de Molina. What makes it usable is not that somebody wore it on a red carpet, but that it works at any length: midi, long hair, bob, pixie.

Zabaleta describes it as the right choice for anyone who wants a refresh without a radical change, and adds that it works on every hair type - straight hair falls elegantly, wavy and curly give a carefree effect. He calls it a transversal fringe that adapts to any age simply by adjusting the density and length.

Which face shapes benefit most: round and square ones, where the diagonal line visually lengthens the face. On oval and elongated faces it works better with volume and a slightly more off-centre parting. It does not require changing your existing haircut - it fits into it.

The styling is quick. Blow-dry from the roots with a round brush, directing the air to the opposite side for volume and lift. Then straighteners or a curling iron for a gentle outward bend. Heat protection beforehand, serum or a light spray afterwards against frizz. And for during the day, Zabaleta has the most practical tip: "If it loses its shape, just run a finger through it with a bit of wax or dry spray and it goes straight back into place."

What gets said least is who it is actually made for. Past forty and fifty, the side fringe softens the lines on the forehead and carries attention to the eyes and cheekbones - and that is precisely why it is the most requested thing in salons. The industry sells it as a trend, because "an alternative to a cosmetic treatment at the price of a haircut" does not sound like something you want to print in a catalogue.