Has Lily-Rose Depp become the standard bearer of the big front community?

Are big foreheads about to become fashionable again? This is a wish expressed by many Internet users, having crowned actress Lily-Rose Depp as leader of the trend. A symbol of beauty and nobility in the Middle Ages, the high and clear forehead had since lost its splendor, to the point of being considered unadvantageous. Thus, hair fashion has adopted fringes, layers and highlights to conceal it, all the tips being good to help women hide the top of their face, in particular by means of a very trendy curtain fringe. Inspired by the daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis in the horror film Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers and released in December 2024, some have nevertheless chosen to assume their vast front. The sign of the return in majesty of a particular sign which, however, has long had a criterion of beauty?

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A little history

At the end of the Middle Ages, the high forehead was considered an attribute of beauty in the West. The latter highlighted the headdress, a very popular accessory in women's wardrobes of the time. “By Christian tradition, women are required to cover their hair: it caused distrust, it was considered a trap intended to seduce men, and therefore hidden,” explains fashion historian Gabrielle Charaudeau, author of My first fashion story (Editions Palettes, 2021). Before adding: “There is an importance on the headdress, because in the Middle Ages the head is considered the most important part of the body, the one which provides information on the status of the individual.”

We therefore give importance to the face, and in particular to its upper part, considered very elegant in women, because it symbolizes their youth and intelligence. To highlight it, some even use tricks to lengthen it: “From the end of the 14th century, the temples and the nape of the neck were shaved, the forehead was shaved, and sometimes also the eyebrows,” underlines Gabrielle Charaudeau. “The goal is to have a really large forehead, so that no hair protrudes beyond the cap.” To do this, women use razors made of thin glass blades, tweezers and even depilatory cream. The latter, “composed of quicklime, can be extremely harmful to health. This fashion lasted for a while at the start of the Renaissance, before running out of steam in the 16th century. In the 17th century, we broke with the idea of ​​a smooth forehead, and we preferred more full hairstyles, with curls, pearls, ribbons.

Lily-Rose Depp, ambassador of prominent foreheads

Long forgotten, this medieval trend could well come back into fashion thanks to Lily-Rose Depp. At 25, the daughter of Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp has established herself as a fashion icon and a talented actress. She now takes on a new role, that of spokesperson for the major fronts.

Indeed, currently showing the feature film NosferatuLily-Rose Depp delivers a performance highly praised by critics. Her outfits, inspired by the “Victorian Goth” style, characteristic of European fashion at the beginning of the 19th century, also won over the public. 070 Shake's companion sports a high forehead, highlighted by Victorian hairstyles, with braids wrapped on the sides. This beauty treatment, which leaves the forehead exposed, is typical of neoclassical romantic aesthetics and responds to a resurgence of medieval fashion, a phenomenon already observed throughout history. “In the 17th century, a microtrend emerged with the Fontange cut,” explains Gabrielle Charaudeau. The hair was pulled up and held in lace, but without hair removal as in medieval times.” Wearing a high forehead also made a comeback in the 1990s in the Netherlands, with the Gabber counterculture, where female followers shaved the base of their hair. “Throughout the history of hairdressing, we have observed microphenomena, where the clear forehead is becoming trendy again,” recalls Gabrielle Charaudeau.

The community of the great fronts

The Victorian style of Lily-Rose Depp in Nosferatu has enjoyed real success, and has influenced admirers on social networks such as Tik Tok who do not hesitate to reproduce her looks: “Lily-Rose Depp helped me to embrace my big forehead,” shared an Internet user. “Does my forehead make me look like Lily-Rose Depp?” asked another, a white headband in her hair clearing her face. Another fan sports a haircut similar to that of the actress in Nosferatu : “Big forehead = big heart,” she wrote in the caption. “I love Lily-Rose Depp who has done so much for the big forehead community,” said a fan in a video where she styles her bangs with barrettes to reveal her forehead.

They all advocate a true return to naturalness for long faces. On social networks, the “Medieval Core” is also emerging. The high forehead could therefore make a comeback in hair trends. Moreover, signs show that this fashion has been on the rise for several years, with hairstyles that reveal the upper part of the face. Indeed, headbands, buns and ponytails – called the sleek bun – are in vogue, worn by celebrities like Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner. “The history of fashion is marked by the return of trends,” concludes Gabrielle Charaudeau. Thanks to Lily-Rose Depp, the high forehead even becomes a symbol of confidence and singularity. To display with pride.