
Chat GPT Convinced Me To Get Dakota Johnson’s Fringe In My Lunch Break
I am famously unoriginal with my hair. I like it long, no layers, no colour. Natural. Boring. Unchanged since I was scarred by a rogue side fringe in 2007. I’ve pretty much hated every haircut I’ve ever had – a fact no hairdresser will be aware of as, in true British style, I plaster on a smile and pray for regrowth. This is not on account of their skills, but because I can’t stand losing even an inch of my security blanket.
But that all changed last week. After speaking to Dakota Johnson’s hairstylist, Mark Townsend, for an article, who stressed just how easy it was to recreate the actress’ signature piece-y fringe look, I was more than willing to give it a go. The conversation happened at a great time for me. Someone told me that change breeds change, and fresh from the end of a relationship, a new flat and a new job, I was primed to do something different.
The stereotypical break-up hair was the only thing missing from my new and improved life, and yet there was still a part of me that was reluctant to fully throw myself into fringe life. I take a less-is-more approach to my haircare, generally plaiting it wet before bed for no-fuss, no-heat waves come morning, and the idea of daily styling was daunting. Plus, what if it didn’t suit me?
To solve the latter, I called on the assistance of ChatGPT. After uploading a picture of myself with the prompt: “give me Dakota Johnson’s hair” – simple but effective – it replied with a rather interesting photo. While it had treated “me” to the soft fringe and long lengths that I had requested, it had also given me a full facelift. According to my colleague, I now resemble Jenna Coleman, but the result still gave me the encouragement I needed to take the plunge.
After very little discussion and even less thought, I rushed to Larry King’s Marylebone salon during my lunch break. I showed the picture to stylist Christina Beighton, who was quick to caution me that the AI Assistant likes to take a bit of creative license with the thickness of the hair. Yet I remained undeterred, and just over 45 minutes later, I returned to Vogue HQ with a new look and a more advanced haircare routine, my precious strands abandoned on the salon’s floor.
So, as I am a beauty writer, here are the details of my new routine, borrowed from my hair inspiration, Dakota Johnson, with a few other faves thrown in.