There are as many bangs hairstyles out there as there are faces to frame. So if you're thinking about changing your look in favor of a hairstyle with bangs, this comprehensive guide will help you find your ideal face-framing haircut.
The benefits of bangs are twofold: not only are they on-trend, therefore a great way to modernize your style, they're also incredibly flattering. And while bangs hairstyles don't necessarily have a reputation as being easy hairstyles, if you pick the right one it will give you an stylish look with minimal effort. “Getting a fringe is an instant style uplift and gives you that effortless look when done right," says A-list stylist and Viviscal hair expert Adam Reed. "Slightly heavier, 70’s inspired fringes and the shaggy look have been at the front of hair trends for a good year now.”
Bangs hairstyles are also a great way to give your style an update without losing the length from medium hairstyles, while paired with short hairstyles they offer a chic, polished look. Whatever your face shape, current cut or hair texture, there's a bangs hairstyle to suit you. From curtain bangs to a bob with bangs and medium haircuts with bangs we've curated the most inspiring looks on social media to help you get it right.
Which bangs hairstyles will suit me?
"Pretty much everyone suits bangs hairstyles, as long as they fit the face shape, jawline, and haircut," says Belle Cannan, co-founder of Salon Sloane. The main considerations our experts recommend are:
- Hair texture: Bear in mind your natural hair texture vs how you’d like your bangs to look. "Although it's a bold cut, sharp and blunt bangs can work well with either poker straight and sleek styles or softened with tousled waves," says Cannan. While those with curly hairstyles may suit longer, softer bangs hairstyles.
- Maintenance: Bangs have a high maintenance reputation, and generally, the heavier the fringe the more day-to-day attention it will require. Consider daily styling time, if you'll need the best hair dryer to keep the look in check or whether you will be able to wash-and-go. Your stylist will be able to advise which fringe suits your lifestyle.
- Bone structure: "Long bangs are brilliant at accentuating the cheekbones or for brow skimming, whereas super short bangs work great on a French bob. Blunt, eye-grazing bangs are also perfect for those who want to accentuate their eyes and bone structure." says Cannan.
- Personal preference: Ultimately, picking the right hairstyle comes down to how you feel, rather than following rules. “The best style for your own face shape will always be the one that you feel most confident and comfortable wearing,” adds Vernon François, Global Ambassador for Redken.
Bangs for round faces
Kirsten Dunst
“To balance out a round face, I’d go for a squarer fringe, although that doesn’t have to mean severe. Either a blunt fringe or one that has been softened will work to suit rounder faces,” suggests Glasshouse Salon Senior Stylist Michelle Garwood.
Bangs for square faces
Sandra Oh
“If you have a square face try a curved, 70s style fringe where it opens up around the cheekbones to avoid sharp angles," suggests Garwood."Maintaining length will soften the jawline and give you a more rounded face.”
Bangs for oval faces
Halle Berry
Oval-shaped faces are the most versatile and will suit pretty much any bangs hairstyles you like, including more daring shorter fringe styles. “Oval face shapes can most fringe styles, whether a full fringe or a sweeping side fringe or even the riskier micro fringe,” agrees Garwood.
Bangs for heart-shaped faces
Kristen Wiig
“If you have a heart-shaped face where your forehead is wider than your chin, a straight, short fringe works well," says Garwood. "The aim with this face shape is to make the top of the head seem smaller, to balance out the chin.”
The best bangs hairstyles for women:
Short bangs hairstyles
So many short haircuts lend themselves well to bangs, like bob hairstyles, so you're spoilt for choice with options. Whether you choose face-framing wisps or block bangs, there's something to suit your face shape and lifestyle—just remember to get both your ends and bangs trimmed regularly to keep the style looking polished.
1. The French girl bob with bangs
Face shape: oval, square | Hair types: medium to thick
2. The pixie cut with sweeping bangs
Face shapes: square and heart | Hair types: fine to medium
3. The '20s-inspired bob with bangs
Face shape: oval, heart | Hair type: thick
4. The short choppy bob with bangs
Face shapes: oval, square, heart | Hair types: fine
5. The feathered pixie cut
Face shape: oval, heart | Hair type: medium to thick
6. The volumized cut with feathered bangs
Face shapes: oval, square | Hair types: fine to thick
7. The undercut bob
Face shape: all, particularly heart | Hair type: fine to medium
8. The jaw length bob with curtain bangs
Face shape: square or heart | Hair type: medium to thick
9. The short braided bob with bangs
Face shape: oval or heart | Hair type: braided, medium-thick
10. The tapered curly crop
Face shape: any | Hair type: curly, fine to thick
Long bangs hairstyles
As well as regular trims every four to six weeks, the most important thing about long hairstyles is keeping your hair in good health. Keep your mid-lengths and ends well moisturized using the best hair masks for condition. Consider investing in a less damaging heat styler like the L’Oréal Professionnel SteamPod 3.0.
11. The shag cut with long curtain bangs
Face shape: long or oval | Hair type: medium to thick
12. The block bangs
Face shape: any, particularly oval | Hair type: thick, straight
13. The classic split bangs
Face shape: any, particularly oval | Hair type: fine to medium
14. The long wavy side bangs
Face shape: any, particularly oval | Hair type: any
15. The layered curly style
Face shape: any, especially heart or oval | Hair type: curly, coily
16. Ultra-volumized coily style
Face shape: square or oval | Hair type: curly, coily
17. Eye-grazing bangs hairstyle
Face shape: square, heart or oval | Hair type: fine to medium
Medium bangs hairstyles
Medium hairstyles are what we like to call the Goldilocks of hairstyles—short enough that they don't take forever to dry or heat style, but long enough that they don't have to be trimmed all the time to stay looking fresh. Add bangs, and you're well on your way to a seriously chic hairstyle.
18. Medium shag with bangs
Face shape: square, oval | Hair type: medium to thick
19. The curved bangs
Face shape: square, oval | Hair type: fine to medium
20. The shoulder length style with side bangs
Face shape: any, particularly oval | Hair type: fine to thick
21. The layered shoulder length cut with bangs
Face shape: any, particularly oval | Hair type: fine to medium
22. Braided bangs hairstyle
Face shapes: any, particularly oval and square | Hair types: natural, braided
23. The volumized coily bangs
Face shapes: oval and heart | Hair types: curly, coily
24. The vintage cropped fringe
Face shapes: heart, oval and square | Hair types: fine to thick
25. The volumized long bob with bangs
Face shapes: any, particularly oval and square | Hair types: fine to thick
26. The swoop bangs
Face shape: oval, square | Hair type: medium to thick
27. The blunt bangs
Face shape: any, particularly oval | Hair type: fine to thick
28. Crochet braids with bangs
Face shape: oval, heart | Hair type: natural, braided
29. The ombre lob with curtain bangs
Face shape: square, round or oval | Hair type: fine to medium
Curly bangs hairstyles
"Textured hair works well with shaggy, messy bangs and compliments a tousled hairstyle," says Cannan. "Bangs are a commitment, so I always advise my clients, especially those with curly or textured hair, that it’s best to start longer and from there they can go shorter."
30. The corkscrew bangs
Face shapes: any, particularly oval and heart | Hair type: curly, coily
31. The curly long bob with bangs
Face shape: any, especially square and heart | Hair type: curly
32. The wavy bob with shaggy bangs
Face shape: round, oval | Hair type: wavy, curly
33. The finger coil bangs
Face shape: any, particularly heart and square | Hair type: curly, coily, kinky
34. The classic curly bangs
Face shapes: oval, heart | Hair type: thick, curly, coily
35. The glossy long curls with bangs
Face shapes: square, round, heart | Hair type: thick, curly, coily
36. The mohawk with quiff bangs
Face shapes: oval, heart | Hair type: natural, coily or kinky
Side-bangs hairstyles
Don't want the maintenance of full bangs? A side-swept style might just be the answer, plus it's one of the most youthful hairstyles around. Whether you choose feathered bangs or a dramatic, sweeping fringe, side bangs hairstyles give you a few more options than full bangs, which require commitment.
37. The layered cut with side bangs
Face shape: all, particularly oval and heart | Hair type: thick
38. The heavy side bangs
Face shape: square, round or oval | Hair type: medium to thick
39. The thick layered style with side bangs
Face shapes: all, particularly oval and heart | Hair types: thick
40. The rounded layers with side bangs
Face shape: any, particularly oval | Hair type: medium to thick
41. The shaggy side parted style
Face shape: any, particularly heart| Hair type: medium to thick
42. The long layered side bangs
Face shape: any, particularly oval | Hair type: fine to medium
43. The shoulder length style with soft bangs
Face shape: oval | Hair type: medium to thick
44. Ultra short natural side bangs
Face shape: square, heart, oval | Hair type: natural, curly, coily
45. Long style with side bangs
Face shape: any| Hair type: fine to medium
How to maintain bangs hairstyles
If there's one thing that puts a lot of women off having bangs, it's their high maintenance reputation. So we asked Belle Cannan how much trimming bangs really require (and whether it's ever OK to do it yourself?)
"I would always advise going to your hairdresser in between salon visits for your regular cut and color," says Belle. "However, if you cannot get to a salon, and want to trim your bangs at home, I would advise doing this on clean, dry hair and making sure you have the right tools (clean scissors and a comb for sectioning)."
"Start by sectioning the rest of your hair back to keep it off your face and out the way, then section the bangs hair from the corner of your eyebrows up to the parting to create a triangle section. Determine the length, but leave it a fraction longer—you can always go shorter. Point the scissors carefully into the ends—this creates a softer line as opposed to a blunt line which can be quite challenging to achieve at home."
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woman&home thanks Belle Cannan of Salon Sloane, Adam Reed, Viviscal hair expert, Vernon François of Redken and Michelle Garwood of Glasshouse Salon for their time and expertise
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