Nothing changes your look as quickly as a new set of bangs. Whether you're a longtime bangs-wearer looking to change up your routine or a total newbie cutting your very first fringe, bangs can provide a total transformation in just a few snips.
Bang trends come and go; just ask anyone who wore sky-high, teased-up “mall bangs” in the ‘80s. While some styles are forever, like a classic straight-across bang or a lower-maintenance curtain bang, others cycle through and soak up the spotlight every few years. And despite what you may have read, there is a bang style for everyone—just ask your stylist to help you find yours!
Before the scissor starts trimming and slicing, it's important to chat with your stylist about a few different bang-related discussion points to find your best fringe. According to Matt Swinney, a Redken ambassador and co-owner of Evolution Salon in Minneapolis, you should start by talking about your styling habits and lifestyle; do you mind doing a little styling each day or do you prefer a more hands-off approach? Do you work out daily and get super sweaty? Does this bang style work for your face shape and hair texture? In addition, ask your stylist about bang trim frequency; can you squeeze in more frequent salon visits to maintain the style?
Below, we break down some of the biggest bang trends. Scroll on to see which best suits you.
Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs are the perfect “starter bang” because they're cut longer and can be brushed to the side, so if you cut bangs and realize “Oops! This is so not me,” the grow-out is a little easier. According to Swinney, curtain bangs “open up the face” because they don't fully cover the forehead; they are typically parted in the center like curtains on either side of a window.
“They're somewhat low-maintenance and grow out gracefully, and they're versatile and flattering on many face shapes,” Swinney says. While he adds that curtain bangs are generally a “universal safe bet” for most face shapes, they really shine on oval, round, and square shapes.
On oval faces, curtain bangs “enhance symmetry without overpowering features,” and the vertical lines and middle parting help elongate round face shapes. A feathery, layered approach “softens angular jawlines” of a square face shape.
Wispy Bangs
Also called feathered bangs, these are a lighter, softer style than a full blunt bang. Swinney describes them as “soft, airy bangs with lighter weight and texture.” Wispy bangs can be more uneven or piecey, he explains, because they “don't form one solid ‘wall’ of hair” like a straight-across bang.
Wispy bangs are a great way to soften features, and Swinney says they “integrate nicely with layered or textured hairstyles.” The shine on square and angular faces as the softness helps break up strong lines, and they're also great on heart-shaped faces, as their wispy texture “draws attention away from a broader forehead.”
No matter which type of bangs you choose, you'll have to do a little styling. Swinney's best tip is to blow-dry your bangs immediately after showering to “take control of any growth patterns or cowlicks.” This helps ensure they lie exactly how you want them.
Bardot Bangs
We might as well go ahead and rename them Sabrina Carpenter bangs, because the Man's Best Friend singer has made these long, flirty bangs her signature look. Bardot bangs are similar to curtain bangs, but are typically cut thicker and fuller for more body, explains Franck Izquierdo, hairstylist and co-founder of IGK Haircare. “This look is very sultry, very bombshell. They bring instant volume and movement around the face,” he explains. “This look is perfect if you like to blow out your hair or wear it wavy.”
Bardot bangs work well on a variety of face shapes, says Ashley Streicher, celebrity hairstylist and R+Co Collective member. “This look is pretty much made for every face shape; it’s more of a curtain shape fringe, which really frames your entire face. It’s also in my opinion, the most ‘classic’ bang," she says.
“Tell your stylist you want long curtain bangs that start around the cheekbones and sweep out softly to the sides,” advises Izquierdo. “Ask for more density at the center and blended layers toward the jawline.”
Streicher's favorite bang styler is R+Co ZIG ZAG Root Teasing + Texture Spray, which she says gives “natural matte hold and texture to the roots of your bangs where you need it most.” It also helps “eat up” grease and heaviness thanks to the matte texture and holds bangs in place.
Bunny Bangs
So cuuuute! Bunny bangs are a fun way to play with layers, as they're typically cut straight across but paired with longer layers at the outer edges to highlight your face. Softness is key here, as a lightweight, airy texture gives bunny bangs their charm. Bunny bangs are easily customized to any face shape, but they really sing on a heart-shaped face, as they draw attention to cheekbones and facial structure.
Who knows? If you like bunny bangs enough, you might even want to graduate to a bolder hime or jellyfish cut.
Micro Bangs
As their name suggests, micro bangs are super short bangs that are typically cut well above the brows. “They're bold and edgy, sometimes slightly choppy or textured so they don't look overly harsh,” says Swinney. Micro bangs look best on diamond-shaped faces, to show off cheekbones and highlight the mid-face, but they're also a good option for square and oval faces.
“Micro bangs are for the girl who wants to make a statement. They completely transform your face," says Izquierdo. “Suddenly it’s all about the eyes and cheekbones. They’re confident, and when cut right, they feel couture.” Micro bangs also work well on wavy and curly hair types.
Birkin Bangs
Named after the iconic Jane Birkin, these bangs have a classic French-girl appeal that never gets old. “This is effortless, undone French fringe that looks like you woke up in Paris and didn’t even try,” explains Izquierdo. “[Birkin] made imperfection look beautiful. The bangs are soft, feathery, and frame the eyes in the most romantic way.”
Birkin bangs work well on almost every face shape, he says, but look especially good on square and heart-shaped faces. “The soft, face-framing layers break up strong angles and balance a wider forehead.”
At the salon, tell your stylist you want “long, wispy fringe that hits around the lashes and opens in the center,” Izquierdo advises. “Ask for it to blend into cheekbone-length layers on each side; that’s what keeps it wearable and easy to grow out.”
Side Bangs
Side bangs are precisely what they sound like: bangs that are typically styled to one side of the face, versus a straight-across or full bang. They're another classic style that works well for a variety of face shapes. In case you needed convincing that side bangs are here to stay, Gen Alpha style icon North West is a fan! You'll definitely want to hit your bangs with heat and dry them as soon as you get out of the shower to ensure they're moving in the direction you wish. A blowout brush can help sculpt your perfect shape.
