There’s a bit of a fringe frenzy lately, have you noticed? Fans of Hulu’s Normal People are gushing over Daisy Edgar Jones’ bangs and even the array of mini bangs on Netflix’s Bridgerton are serving as inspiration. “Bangs are fabulous and they’re a great way to make a statement without saying anything at all,” says hairstylist Matilde Campos, who’s worked with Beyonce, Iggy Azalea and Nicki Minaj. “But they are a commitment and they are an extra ‘to do’.” True, but they also look fabulous (when done well) and are an instant refresh button for your whole look. So what looks freshest right now? Curtain bangs, wispy bangs, side-swept fringe and for those a bit more daring, the mini bang.
Celebrity hairstylists — including Campos, Cynthia Alvarez, who works with Shakira and Alicia Keys, and Gemma Chan and Leighton Meester’s pro Clariss Rubenstein — explain who can confidently pull off each style.
Curtain Bangs
Not sure where to start with bangs? ‘Here’, says Alvarez. This style, made popular by Brigitte Bardot in the ‘60s and Goldie Hawn in the ‘70s, makes a draped curtain shape to frame the forehead. Alvarez calls the curtain “one of the most versatile and flattering” bang styles because it “can be worn by almost any hair texture and face shape,” from long to round and everything in between. Campos recommends working with a professional (DIY can be tricky when first cutting bangs) “to guide you in the right direction” for a style that suits your hair’s texture, part and length.
Another beauty of this style according to Rubenstein, who wants to try the look on client Alison Brie: “You can let it grow out a bit and it still looks good,” unlike other bang styles that require trims every two to three weeks. Plus, “Curtain bangs grow out pretty easily should you decide they are not for you,” adds Alvarez.
To recap: Curtain bangs frame the features beautifully and work with every hair texture, length and face shape. They’re low maintenance for trims and grow out easily.
Wispy Bangs
“I’d love to give Shakira wispy bangs to complement her natural hair texture,” says Alvarez of this piecey style that’s softer than a thick, straight-across fringe. “These bangs are low maintenance and would go well with her lifestyle.” Alvarez says wispy works particularly well on curly hair and “creates an airy bounce and movement.”
Square face shapes with a strong jaw can wear wispy bangs because they add softness to the face. And women with rounder faces “should keep the corners of the bangs a bit longer than the middle to give the illusion of a narrower face.”
Bottom line: Wispies work on long or oval faces, as well as square and round if tapered properly. They suit thin hair and curly textures particularly well.
Side-Swept Bangs
“This effortless and chic style is rolling back in and I’m here for it,” says L.A.-based Campos. Adds Alvarez: “This bang is really low maintenance and works well for people with thin hair. It can be worn by round or square face shapes, with straight to wavy texture.”
Campos explains that a side sweep “defines the jawline and gives hair a bit of volume and movement,” making it ideal for round face shapes. It also breaks up a wide forehead, typical with a heart-shaped face or inverted triangle. With bangs, “Going too short and too straight across can make the face appear fuller. You always want to open up the face, emphasizing your features instead of the hair resting on them,” says Campos.
When styling this, or any bang, says Rubenstein, “Go easy on the product. Natural-looking is much more modern.”
In summary: Side-swept bangs are particularly great on round-, inverted triangle- and heart-shaped faces, and also work for ovals, long and square shapes. Those with thin, straight or wavy hair will appreciate the ease in styling this look.
Mini Bangs
This petite fringe channels Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, a sexy-edgy rockabilly vibe, a trendy-yet-effortless French girl, Anya Taylor-Joy in The Queen’s Gambit and even the mini curtain bangs from Netflix’s Bridgerton. Rubenstein says the look can be “fairly high maintenance because it needs to be cut frequently.”
Also, “It’s harder to pull off if you have very curly hair, but works for straight and wavy textures.” The look works best on oval shapes that can support the dramatic proportion of the micro-cut. And diamond shapes — with a narrow forehead and chin and wide cheeks — can wear tiny bangs if they’re soft and textured, not blunt and thick.
“They will definitely make your face look rounder, so if you’re trying to avoid that, avoid this look,” says Rubenstein. Likewise, square shapes will look squarer and long faces will look longer.
In a nutshell: The micro bang suits oval and diamond face shapes (if soft and textured for the latter), and complements straight or wavy textures.
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