Jen BoothSalon Business Coach and Salon Owner, J Booth Salon · Salon Owner & Salon Business Coach

Why Your Neckline Matters More Than You Think

18 Sept 2026 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

2:02

In this video, Jen Booth explains how the neckline of a garment acts as a visual frame for the hair and can dramatically affect the overall look. She defines the neckline as the top or collar around the neck and shoulders and shows that high, closed necklines (crew necks, turtlenecks) make hair appear heavy and the face feel cramped, while open necklines (V‑neck, scoop, unbuttoned collar) create space, lengthen the neck, and make hair look lighter and more styled. Booth offers practical guidelines: people with thick, long hair should favor open necklines to avoid a heavy feel, whereas those with short or fine hair can tolerate higher necklines because the hair doesn’t compete for space. She also notes that when hair is freshly colored, wearing darker or simpler tops near the face lets highlights pop, whereas busy or bright tops compete with the hair. The overall message is that a cohesive beauty plan considers hair, face, and clothing together, and that a mismatched neckline can be the hidden reason a look feels off.

Chapters

Did you know your neckline matters more than you think? Your hair can look amazing, but if what you're wearing right now, your collar, is working against you, your whole look can still feel off. And most people don't even realize this is happening. We call this your neckline, but all that means is the top or collar of what you're wearing right around your neck and shoulders. It's the frame around your hair. And if that frame is off, your hair cannot stand out the way it's supposed to. So let me show you what I mean. Like if you're wearing something high, like a crew neck or a turtleneck, and your hair is sitting right on top of it, everything starts to feel heavy, kind of like closed in, like there's no space. Now, the second you switch to something more open, like a V-neck, a scoop, or even an unbuttoned collar, now there's space. Your neck looks longer, your face opens up, and your hair instantly looks lighter and more styled. Here's the easiest way to think about it. More fabric near your face equals a heavier look. More space near your face means lighter, more lifted look. Now let's make this really simple for you. If you have thick or, uh, thicker, longer hair, you usually want more open necklines so everything doesn't feel too heavy. If you have shorter or finer hair, you can wear a little bit more structure like higher necklines. Because your hair isn't competing for space. And here's one most people miss. If you just got your hair colored and you want those highlights dimension to stand out, wearing something darker or simpler near your face will make your hair pop. But if your top is really busy, bright, or high, it can actually compete with your hair. So this isn't about trends, it's about things working together. This is what we mean when we talk about your full beauty plan. Your hair, your face, what you wear, it all connects. So if you've ever looked in the mirror and thought, hmm, I don't know what it is, something just feels off, it may not be your hair. It might be what's framing it.