44+ Different Types of Bangs for Women and Men + Tips

There are many celebrities sporting bangs these days, and there’s a style that will work for virtually everyone. Let’s dig into a deeper understanding of what bangs are, what they are not, and how they differ from “fringe.”

Your new look awaits, so let’s go!

What are Bangs?

Bangs are patches of hair that fall over your forehead. Bangs are intentionally cut shorter than the hair falling on the sides of your face and behind your head. There are many ways to cut bangs, and some are much longer than others. For instance, side-swept bangs are quite different in appearance than short, straight bangs.

The Reputation of Bangs

Bangs haven’t always been a favorite hairstyle for teens and adults. They can go horribly wrong or amazingly right.

When you think of any hairstyle with bangs, your mind might go straight to blunt-cut bangs that hang thick over your forehead. They tend to flip out on the ends if you don’t curl them under in true 80s style. You may also imagine them having little to no shape or leading you dangerously close to the mullet look.

Maybe you know your bangs grow out incredibly fast, which means falling in your eyes repeatedly. Of course, they’re too short to pull back, so you’re left to deal with them in your eyes, right? It’s annoying, but that comes with any short hair that you want to grow out of.

If your childhood was like mine, you may even have flashbacks to dangerously short spikes of hair that traveled upwards across your forehead in an obviously crooked line. For years, I cringed when I heard the word “bangs,” but I have learned that there’s beauty in the bangs when they’re professionally cut and blended into a full hairstyle.

The Beauty of Bangs Done Right

Why are we reading about bangs if they have so many potential downfalls? Because they’re flattering to any face when cut properly and are always coming back in style.

It’s currently 2022, and bangs have been making appearances on runways and famous faces for at least a couple of years. Priyanka Chopra has been posting pictures in her bangs since 2020. Megan Fox grabbed headlines by wearing a short micro-fringe to the Met Gala in 2021. There have even been sightings of Jennifer Lopez and Selena Gomez in long bangs.

The stylish bangs worn by these celebrities are a far cry from the ones my mom cut when I was a child. Even I have reconsidered my bias against them. If you’re still on the fence, this guide will help you put them in perspective.

The simplest definition of bangs is a small patch of hair that hangs over your forehead. That sounds unremarkable, but there is something exciting about this when you really dig into the many styles available.

In the next chapter, we’ll look at 36 types of bangs that each have their own style. When you look at the incredible range of possibilities, you see why this is a haircut option that will likely never go completely out of style.

Fringe vs. Bang – What’s the Difference?

If you’re from the United States, follow American fashion trends, or spend a lot of time in the states, you’re probably familiar with the term “bangs.” What you may not know is that the same hair concept is better known as “fringe” in Europe. You can use these words interchangeably, even though one or the other is more commonly used in various world areas.

Why Do Americans Call Fringe “Bangs?”

The term “bangs” is heavily used in the United States and many areas of Canada. You may also hear the term used in some other countries where English is the primary language.

The term is believed to come from “bangtail,” which was a short, straight cut used for horsetails in the 1800s. The term was representative of the straight short nature of that equestrian cut. At some point, the shortened form “bang” was related to human hair.

Why are Bangs Sometimes Called Fringe?

It’s rather obvious why the term “fringe” is used in other world areas. Bangs look much like the decorative fringe that you may see in other areas of fashion and housewares. Pillows with fringe are used in home décor. You can buy everything from leather pants to blue jeans to blouses with fringe accents.

When you think about fringe in clothing and housewares, there are many style options. There’s short fringe, long fringe, even braided fringe. The same goes for hairstyles, but there are potentially more banged hairstyles than décor styles. Yes, you can even braid your bangs for a playful, fun look.

Ready to Give Your Look a Bang?

Are bangs a bit more interesting than you thought at the start of this? Hopefully so because we have a lot more information to get through before you’re ready to schedule that appointment with your hairstylist. In the next chapter, we’ll look at more than 30 types of bangs, along with suggestions for blending them into modern hairstyles that flatter your face.

What style of bangs will flatter your face, bring out your eyes, and give your look a new edge? We’ll see you in the next chapter to figure that out.

Wherever you are, bangs can help you look and feel your best. The first step to choosing your ideal bang style is understanding all of your options. I created this compilation of bang trends just for you. It’s a delightful blend of classic, punk, emo, modern, and vintage. Have some fun!

There are so many factors that may help you determine the right type of bangs. We could start with the shape of your face or hair type, but let’s leave that to the next chapter. Let’s have some fun and do a little window shopping.

Just as you might walk by windows at the mall to check out the latest fashion trends, you’re about to scroll through a list of more than 30 bang styles. Stop to read about styles that catch your eye. Spend a moment pondering the styles that you find ridiculous.

In the end, you may fall in love with a few of these style options. For now, if it just fits your mood or looks interesting, it’s good enough. We’re just window shopping, not committing.

Let’s get started.

Blunt Bangs

Blunt bangs fall in a sharp, straight line across the forehead. All hairs are the same length and are styled in one straight line. These are the simplest bangs to cut, but they’re not the most flattering option for many people.

These are the bangs you might have worn as a child, providing your parent was able to hold the scissors steady and get them straight. I wasn’t so fortunate.

Birkin Bangs

If you love your Birkin bags, why not add Birkin bangs to your look? This bang style was named after French model turned fashion icon, Jane Birkin. She wears a long bang that hangs between her eyebrows and eyelashes with a blunt—straight—cut. Her bangs often have a wispy look, but they aren’t quite wispy bangs—I’ll tell you what those are in a moment.

Side-Swept Bangs

If you wear side-swept bangs long enough, they will go in and out of style several times. These are the bangs that seem to keep coming back about every five to 10 years. If you can imagine longish bangs swept to one side of your forehead into your side hair, you understand the side-swept bang.

Since they stay brushed to the side, you can get away with cutting your bangs a bit thicker with this look. You’ve probably seen it before since so many celebrities have sported side bangs at one time or another. Think of Lauren Conrad on The Hills or Paris Hilton on The Simple Life. Yes, those shows are old now, but remember, these are the bangs that keep coming back.

You can do these bangs at different lengths. If you have longer bangs that you sweep off to one side, they qualify as side-swept bangs even if they cross with some other bang styles mentioned here.

Side Bangs

The term “side bang” is often used interchangeably with “side-swept bang,” but there is a difference. While side-swept bangs are longer and swept to the side, side bangs are often around eyebrow length or shorter. They’re pushed to the side in one clump.

When you consider the length of a side bang, there is a big difference. Longer bangs sweep to the side in a soft flow, while shorter bangs kind of hang straight with a harder edge.

Curtain Bangs

Think of curtain bangs as you might a red curtain sweeping to the sides to give the talent a chance to curtsey for the crowd. The only difference is we’re talking about your hair, and the stage is your forehead. Where’s the talent in this analogy? Oh, it’s all in your beautiful head.

Curtain bangs were popular in the 60s and 70s. Look up Farrah Fawcett if you’re too young to remember. These longer bangs are split down the middle and swept to the sides, where they fall into the side hair with elegance.

Just like real curtains, these bangs are known to fall back over the face at times. If you don’t like sweeping them back to the sides and you have silky hair that doesn’t stay put easily, you may find yourself dreaming of blunt bangs or a new hairstyle altogether. For others, curtain bangs are a great way to accentuate the face.

Choppy Bangs

Choppy bangs look like they were chopped by a child rather than cut with professional precision. They’re often short, but each piece or clump is a different length. Think of it as looking intentionally unkempt. It goes with the grunge and disheveled look that a select few can rock amazingly well.

Remember me talking in chapter one about the super short bangs that my mom gave me when I was a kid? They were a blend of choppy, asymmetrical, and very short bangs. Just imagine if I knew back then that women around the world would rock that style intentionally and with pride in the future.

Long Bangs

So many bang styles on this list will fall into this more general category. Long bangs are simply bangs of longer length. Instead of stopping above or just below the eyebrow, they can fall mid-eye or even below the eye if you have long hair on the sides and back.

Long bangs are often swept to the sides, pushed to one side, or blended into layers that go around the head. They’re also easier to pull back when you want to go with a high ponytail or bun. There’s less commitment with a long bang because there’s not much work involved when growing them back out.

Layered Bangs

When your hair is layered, it’s divided into sections moving from the bottom of your head up. Each section is cut to a different length, creating an appealing look in the back as the different lengths blend together. The goal is to create an illusion of greater volume. The shorter hairs pump up that volume while the longer hairs ensure you have that long-hair look.

Layered bangs aren’t much different. They’re cut into separate layers or lengths and then blended. There are many ways you can wear these bangs, depending on the lengths chosen. It’s one of the trickier bang techniques, but many professional stylists can do it quite well.

Feathered Bangs

Think of feathered bangs as curtain bangs gone wild. They’re long like curtain bangs, but you don’t have to style them with a deep part down the center. The goal is to feather them into your side hair, but you can split them any way you want. Push them to one side, split down the center, or just let them fall wherever they want each morning.

Feathering is a hair technique designed to add texture to your hair. It is different than layering, though the finished looks are often similar for those with medium to long length hair.

Curved Bangs

Curved bangs are shorter bangs that create an arch across the forehead. They’re shortest at the center of the forehead and then curve down to both temples. It’s almost like the rim of a bowl. This bang style often cuts much further into the side hair than many other bangs.

You may also see curved bangs referred to as Arched bangs or Rounded bangs. The concept is the same for each of these terms. Cut the bangs along the natural curve of your face from forehead to temples.

I can’t say that this is one of the most popular choices for bangs. It is a more creative look that may allow you to stand out if it fits your face well.

V-Shaped Bangs

You may also see V-shaped bangs referred to as Triangle bangs or Pointed bangs. They’re cut into the shape of the letter V in the center of the forehead, which also happens to look like a triangle or a sharp point. While this isn’t the most challenging bang style to cut, evenness is essential. You should go slow, taking a small section of hair at a time to ensure a perfect V upon completion.

These bangs are sometimes seen in the goth or club scene. While they’re not the most common bangs, they are an option if you want something fun that stands out from the crowd.

Wavy Bangs

Wavy bangs are bangs with a light wave instead of hanging straight down the forehead. If you have naturally curly hair, you may end up with a wavy bang if you cut them straight across the forehead and leave them natural. You can wear wavy bangs at different lengths, and there are many styling options.

Curly Bangs

Take those wavy bangs and tighten up the curl. You now have a curly bang. It’s easy to achieve this if your hair is naturally curly. If not, you can create the look with a small curling iron or hair rollers. Some of the most head-turning curly bangs are worn with a full head of voluminous curls.

Asymmetrical Bangs

If your bangs aren’t the same length on each side of your forehead, they’re asymmetrical. They may also fall into other bang categories presented on this list. The most common asymmetrical bangs appear to travel up or down the forehead in a straight line. Wavy or curly bangs may also hang in an asymmetrical line naturally.

You can create a lot of drama or personalize your style if you have the courage to get playful with asymmetrical shapes. Imagine clipping one corner of your bangs up to the hairline and gradually getting longer until the bangs on the other side blend down into your side hair.

It’s almost like hair art when you see what some people can do with asymmetrical cuts. It can give you more edge.

Pinup Bangs

Pinup bangs are often referred to as Rockabilly bangs or Betty bangs in honor of one of the most popular pinup models, Bettie Page. The look starts with straight, even bangs that are then turned down with the ends resting on the forehead. These are short bangs, so they should fall around the middle of your forehead, if not a bit higher.

Katy Perry modernized these bangs back in 2014. They originated from the days of pinup models and were often worn with the victory roll, which we’ll talk about next.

Victory Roll Bangs

The victory roll is a vintage style from the 1940s. It features one or two big rolls of hair swept back into a voluminous or tightened curl. You may also see the curl sweeping under with a wave-like shape that curls into itself. These large, controlled curls were often placed all around the head, creating a sculpted look. One victory roll sweeping back away from the forehead with long bangs was common as well.

Victory rolls were popular for pinup girls but also with working women filling the shoes of men during World War II. The back-sweeping curls kept their locks from falling in their faces, allowing women to look their best while working hard. They could also unfold those large curls for glamours volume after work.

Victory rolls were often worn with bandanas in the 40s. They remain one of the more creative hairstyles that you can take into the modern world for a vintage touch.

Short Bangs

This is a general bang category that includes any style of bang that is short. The further you get from the top of the eyebrow, the more your bangs are likely to fit into this category. Of course, at some point, you’ll slip into super short bang territory. Let’s talk about that fringe style next.

Super Short Bangs

This is another general bang category that will include some other bang styles on this list. Super short bangs are simply cut very short. Think mid-forehead and then go up an inch or two. The closer you get to your hairline, the stronger your bravery must become.

Super short bangs made a comeback in 2020, and you can still catch them in action if you look around in some cities. Whether you pair them with a super short haircut or keep the rest of your tresses long, super short is a great way to give your eyes room to shine.

Piecey Bangs

If that just-rolled-out-of-bed messy look is your thing, meet the piecey bang. These bangs hang in small clumps that are separated from one another. It’s like small pieces with some space between them. Compare that to many other bang styles that create one solid line of hair across the forehead.

It may look like these bangs are thin enough to barely cover the forehead while leaving some open spaces. It’s more like a deliberate cut that allows short to medium-length bangs to hang light and easily.

You can make any bangs piecey by using a small amount of pomade wax or hair gel to twist the ends of some hairs together, creating a bond that becomes a piece. Multiple small pieces across the forehead will become piecey.

Braided Bangs

Braided bangs are bangs long enough to sport one or more braids. Longer bangs are often braided and pulled to one side. You can also braid long bangs and allow the braid to trail underneath your side hair. Then there are the real braided bangs, which are small braids dangling across your forehead. Try different types of braids and find the one that suits better.

Box braid bangs are a popular option for black hair, but this is a style that anyone with braidable hair can adopt. You may also consider braiding longer bangs one day and then releasing the bangs for a naturally wavy or curly bang the next day.

Dreadlock Bangs

If you don’t want the smooth, classic look of braided bangs, what about some gritty edge with dreadlocks? This type of bangs is often chosen because it’s easier to maintain from day to day. You can get away with far less hair washing, which can save you some time when getting ready.

You can combine dreadlock bangs with a full head of dreads or choose another complimentary style for the rest of your head. Keeping dreads healthy requires maintenance once or twice a month. There are a lot of methods and products that can work, so do your research or talk to a knowledgeable hairstylist if you’re new to the world of dreads.

Wispy Bangs

Any style of bangs with that light, wispy appearance floating across your forehead will fit into this category. You create them with a combination of short, straight hairs and longer, feathery hairs. They’re typically long and fall down close to if not in your eyes. They may also fall into the textured or feathered bangs categories, depending on how they’re cut.

If you’re looking for bangs that need little to no styling, wispy bangs are a good choice. When they’re cut right, you can get away with basic maintenance. Keep in mind that you may need to cut them every two or three weeks to keep them at the right length. That’s how it goes with many longer bang styles.

Shaggy Bangs

Get ready to rock and roll with shaggy bangs. Shaggy hairstyles are highly layered and textured, with some feathers thrown into the mix. You can style your full head in true shaggy style or just give your longer bangs a touch of shag in styling. This hairstyle is popular in the rock scene, but you can sport it anytime you feel like tossing your hair up for fun.

Spiky Bangs

Spiky bangs are short, thin bangs that come to points or spikes at certain points on the forehead. They’re often paired with short hairstyles for women. While this style can work for any age group, the short, spiky bangs were highlighted by AARP as one of the best bang styles for older women. Some older celebrities are known for their short, spiked bangs as well.

Baby Bangs

Baby bangs are tiny versions of longer, fuller bangs. They may go up two or more inches from your brow line and often appear wispy or spiky, depending on thickness and how they’re cut or styled. The “baby” of this term refers only to the tiny length. You can have baby bangs that are blunt, textured, wispy, or parted in the middle.

Faux Bangs

Do you want the bang look without committing to the look full time? You can do that when you learn how to create faux bangs. The general idea is to pull some or all of your long hair up onto the top of your head in a very high ponytail. You then flip the pony forward, allowing the ends to create the look of bangs along your forehead.

You can use pins, clips, bandanas, scarves, and other accessories to fill in between the flipped pony on top and the bangs in front. There are other ways of doing this, but the goal is to create the look of fringe without cutting your hair. You can do this to see how you might look with bangs of different lengths.

Voluminous Bangs

Voluminous bangs are puffed bangs with a lot of volume. They may also fit into other bang categories because they’re often swept to one side, parted down the middle, or pulled back into a large curl similar to the victory curl. The general goal is to keep them long and style them with as much height and depth as possible.

These bangs are great for creating sophisticated or high-class hairstyles. You can pump up the volume for special events or make this an everyday adventure to feel and look your best.

Eye-Skimming Bangs

Eye-skimming bangs are longer, kind of wispy bangs that fall just along your eyelashes, possibly slightly lower. They’re often kept thin and light so that they don’t interfere too much with vision. You may also see them curled under slightly or pushed to the side where they cover just one eye slightly. There are many ways to wear this long bang style.

Growing Out Bangs

Have you ever had the experience of growing out your bangs? They go through this kind of annoying phase where they’re not quite long enough to pull back into a ponytail but long enough to fall into your eyes over and over. You can clip them to the sides with a decorative barrette or maybe contain some of them in a headband, but they’re going to end up back in your eyes at some point in the day.

Well, you can wear your bangs at just that length intentionally. They’re simply referred to as growing out bangs, but most women understand because they’ve gone through that growing-out process before. These longer bangs are similar to eye-skimming bangs but may fall a bit longer.

Dyed Bangs

If you want to play with color, try dyed bangs. You can dye them a different color than the rest of your hair. Go with traditional colors like blonde, brown, or black. Have some fun with purple, pink, or a combination of playful colors. There are no limits, and you can do this with bangs of any length, thickness, and style.

Classic Bangs

Classic bangs are full bangs that cover the forehead and are often quite thick. This is more of a general category because they can look like blunt bangs, choppy bangs, or other styles of bangs. Classic bangs can work with a variety of hairstyles for women of any age. There’s also a lot of variance in how they’re cut and styled.

Retro Bangs

Retro is a general category of bangs that includes many vintage styles from the past. These styles tend to come back into fashion from time to time and are often used for self-expression or to make a statement in photos. If your bang style reminds you of celebrity photos from years past, you’re possibly sporting some type of retro bangs.

Micro Bangs

Micro bangs are the miniature version of baby bangs. If you thought it couldn’t get much shorter than babies, you were wrong. When you see bangs dangerously close to the hairline, you’re possibly in the micro territory. These bangs will accentuate your forehead and can make some eyes “pop” for a bigger and more prominent appearance.

Parted Bangs

Parted bangs have a slight part in the center, but they don’t sweep the side like a full feather or curtain bang. This is more of a styling option for blunt bangs and many other short bang styles. You can use styling products to create a little part even if your hair doesn’t naturally part exactly where you want your hair to split.

Face Frame Bangs

Face frame bangs are longer bangs that hang to the side, framing the face. Your bangs may eventually fall into this style naturally if you’re growing them out from a shorter bang style. You can also have them cut into your hair, and they look great when blended with feathered or layered hair. Think of it as framing your face just as you might a picture that hangs on the wall.

Textured Bangs

Textured bangs are cut with layers but may also include other haircutting techniques to create a more interesting or dynamic appearance. It’s not much different than using wall painting techniques to create a texture in addition to the color. Textured bangs are individual, so there are a lot of ways to cut and style them. They can come in different lengths and may look like other bang styles on this list at times.

Long Pixie Bangs

Have you considered going short with an adorable pixie cut? If so, don’t assume that your only option is to keep the short look all around. Some people are now rocking longer bangs with short pixie cuts in the back. You’ll have a little more hair along your face while feeling that breeze across the back of your neck and looking super chic.

Emo Bangs

You may also see these referred to as Scene Bangs. They were once quite popular within the emo and club scenes and are still seen from time to time. This look may seem similar to voluminous bangs, but they are different because they start further back on the head.

For the emo bang look, start your bangs back toward your crown rather than cutting a small patch across your forehead. Keep them long so that you can sweep them forward, going across your forehead to one side. The thicker your hair, the better because you want to create a voluminous sweep of hair that flows right into the side hair on one side of your head.

You may need hairspray, gel, or other hair products to keep this look in place. The great news is that these long bangs are easily brushed back and worn like layers if you don’t want the emo look all the time.

Two-Tone Bangs

This is another style option that will work with virtually any bang style. You dye each side of your hair a different color, including the bangs. This is a dramatic look that works well with standard hair colors like browns, blondes, reds, and black. It also works with fun colors like purple, blue, and green. You can leave your hair down or pull it up in the back, leaving your bangs to tell the story on their own.

Blended Bangs

Some may argue that blended bangs are more short layers than actual bangs. We’re going to include the option here because everyone should know that this is an option. You don’t have to go full-on schoolgirl with short wisps barely covering your forehead.

Blended bangs are longer bangs that hang on the sides of your forehead and blend into layered hairstyles. The length varies because you want them to blend nicely with the overall cut. They typically split onto each side of the head from the natural part line, but you can flip more hair to one side than the other to create a different look. It’s like moving your part line to fluff one side.

Beaded Bangs

Beaded bangs are bangs with beads added. You can go with small beads, but chunky beads hanging from the ends of long side bangs or short braided bangs are the most popular option. This is a style option that you may wear for a special event or short period of time, but it could also become your everyday look if you love the idea.

Beach Wave Bangs

Beach wave bangs form a tall wave on one side of the forehead. Longer bangs will allow you to get a taller, more dramatic wave. It’s essentially curled bangs that sweep up and to the side, creating a shape that looks much like a wave you might see while at the beach.

You may also hear reference to a “beachy wave with bangs” from time to time. This is a different look that includes soft, slightly curled hairs on the sides with shorter bangs in front. You can also do that soft beach wave on the side and wear the beach wave bangs to one side.

Bardot Bangs

These bangs were named after French actress Brigitte Bardot. She wore unkempt bangs that were shorter in the center of the forehead than at the temples. It blends several of the bang styles on this list with a messy look. It’s one of the best ways to look like you put no effort into your look while still looking amazing. A little part in the center of the shorter bangs will give you the true French model style.

Clip-In Bangs

Clip-in bangs are hairpieces that you clip in, so they aren’t really your hair. I wanted to include this on my list of bang styles because it’s a great option if you aren’t sure you’re ready to commit to real bangs. A cheap clip-in will show you what you might look like with bangs. A more expensive and higher quality piece may give you the bang look occasionally without cutting your real hair.

Another option is to ease into bangs with long bangs that you can sweep to the side, blending them into your side hair. You can gradually cut them a little shorter if you want to continue experimenting with bangs. You don’t have to jump to a super short bang. There are so many in-between alternatives.

What bang style fits your current stage of life? Are you looking sassy in your braided fringe or keeping it classy with long side-swept bangs? Now that you have a list of options, it’s time to talk about how you decide on one bang style.

So many bangs, so little time, right? Let’s hit the next chapter and help you make that decision.

Moving forward, it’s time to consider the best bang style for you. There are a lot of personal factors involved, and we’re going to guide you through them right here.

What to Consider When Selecting a Type of Bangs

The first step is to identify the parts of a bang haircut. There are five primary factors that define each style of bangs. Before you can select the right style and communicate what you want with a hairstylist clearly, you need to understand what characterizes a cut with bangs.

Length

Length is the first consideration when selecting a bangs style. Bangs have a significant range. On one end of the spectrum are very short bangs like micro or baby bangs. On the other end are long bangs that hang to one side or part down the middle, often blending in with the hair on the sides of the face. You can also push long bangs straight back from the face.

There are many mid-length bangs as well. These bangs may fall anywhere from the middle of your forehead to eyelash level. Long bangs can go lower than the eyes, especially when pushed to the side.

One way to see how you might look with bangs of different lengths is to tie some or all of your hair into a ponytail at the top of your head. Flip the ponytail forward, allowing the ends of your hair to fall over your forehead. You can put a headband to hold the hair in place and then pull the ponytail to adjust the length of your false bangs.

Thickness

There’s a wide range of bang styles when it comes to thickness as well. On one end of the spectrum are thin bangs that allow a greater view of your forehead. These bangs may look wispy. You can also style them in clumps so that the thin strands come together rather than spreading out.

On the other end of the spectrum are thick bangs. These may start further back on your head to get the added thickness. They don’t allow much, if any, view of your forehead and may work well if you like curling your bangs under or pushing them back for some retro hairstyles.

Most bangs fall somewhere between those two ends of the spectrum. A single layer of bangs will likely provide adequate forehead coverage while remaining thin enough for one quick curl under or an easy part down the middle.

When determining the thickness of your bangs, think about the overall thickness of your hair. If you have thin hair that hangs rather flat, then you may look great in thin, wispy bangs. If you have extremely thick hair that grows quickly, then you may get away with thicker bangs.

Angle

The angle of the bangs is where you get to have some fun playing with your hairstyle. Some bangs are cut straight across the forehead, but that’s not your only option. You can angle your bangs to one side of your forehead, making it easier to sweep them off to the side for a blended overall hairstyle. You can also get creative by creating shapes or designs. The V-shaped bangs we discussed in the previous chapter would apply there.

The angle determines how your bangs fall across your forehead and how well they blend in with the rest of your hair. Some angles work better with different bang lengths.

Blending

How much do you want your bangs to blend in with the rest of your hair? Do you want your bangs to stand on their own and make a statement? Or would you prefer longer bangs angled to the side so that they feather into your layered locks beautifully?

It may help to look at pictures of hairstyles with bangs before deciding what you like in this area. You can find thousands of pictures online. Try searching Google or Pinterest to get a wide range of style ideas.

Create a swipe file on your computer or phone because some of those pictures may become useful as you describe to your hairstylist what style of bangs you want. You may start out saving every picture that has some element that you like. You can thin out your collection to just one or two pictures of the bangs you want.

Face Frame/Forehead Coverage

The final element of bangs is how well they cover the forehead and frame the face. Shorter bangs that go straight across the forehead won’t frame the face much at all. Longer bangs with the right angles can create a perfect frame that provides more coverage along the sides of the face as well as the forehead.

When you pick the bangs styles that you like, you should see whether you like bangs that frame your face or not. If you have a variety of bang interests, then consider going with the shortest style and experimenting with longer styles as your bangs grow out.

Remember, a bang style is never permanent. You can go short today and have long bangs a few months out. It depends on the speed of growth for your hair, but they will grow out and give you the opportunity to change elements of your bangs.

Bangs Ideas Based on Hair Type

Now that you understand the elements that help define various bang styles, it’s time to talk about how those elements work with your hair type. We touched on this briefly when we talked about bang thickness, but it’s time to go more in-depth with only hair type in focus.

Best Bangs for Thin Hair

If you have naturally thin hair or your hair is thinning out with age, you don’t want to select a heavy or thick bang style. You would have to pull too much of your side or top hair to your forehead to create a full bang. That takes away from the hair coverage you have elsewhere.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have bangs with thin hair! You just want to go with thin, wispy bangs or perhaps long bangs that frame your face. Long bangs can accentuate your facial features, while shorter bangs can give your overall look more edge.

Take a look at seven bang styles that may work well with your thin hair:

• Curtain Bangs – Curtain bangs are long. They often sweep out to the sides and can frame the face quite well. Long, wispy curtain bangs are a great way to add some depth and shape to thin hair that otherwise wants to hang flat.

• Baby Bangs – Baby bangs are quite short, but they can create some drama if you have thinner hair. Just keep them to a thin line. You don’t want to take too much hair from the top of your head because you’ll lose volume for your overall hairstyle.
• Wispy Bangs – Wispy is one of the best bang styles for thin hair. You can keep it long like a curtain bang and allow it to frame your face without taking too much hair away from the top of your head.
• Braided Bangs – Braiding is a styling option for bangs with enough length to create a braid. You can either create one braid that pulls the bangs to one side and trails off underneath the side hair or go with smaller braids that hang straight down the forehead.
• Textured Bangs – Textured bangs are cut with layering, uneven strands, or some other element that delivers a new texture. You can add texture to long bangs that frame your face, creating a more interesting thin hairstyle.
• V-Shaped Bangs – This is more of a recommendation for someone adventurous who wants a bolder hairstyle. V bangs are often referred to as triangle bangs because they form a triangle or V shape on the forehead. You can cut a V with high, short wisps on the sides or keep it closer to your eyebrows with longer sides. You can also place the point of the V in the center of your forehead or more to one side.
• Arched Bangs – Arch bangs follow the natural curve of your face, so you could say they frame your face in a way. They’re often cut longer, so you can push them off to the sides if you want to add some volume to hair on each side of your face.

Best Bangs for Thick Hair

If you have thick hair, you have so many bang style options. You can pull more hair from the top of your head without losing much volume on the sides or in the back. Thick hair also looks great with thinner or wispier bang styles.

You want to select a bang style that works well with your overall hairstyle, but we have six bang style suggestions:

• Blunt Bangs – Blunt bangs have a sharp cut that goes straight across the forehead. You can cut them at various lengths with any thickness desired. They’re defined by their lack of texture or layers.
• Side Bangs – Side bangs are cut to hang on the sides of the face. They’re typically longer and can frame the face when cut properly. They’re rather versatile and can work with hair of various thicknesses.
• Choppy Bangs – Choppy bangs are designed to have hairs at various lengths rather than one consistent length across the forehead. They’re similar to textured bangs but are designed to look more chaotic than just layered. This is a bolder bang style that may draw some attention because they aren’t typical.
• Super Short Bangs – Bangs that are very short can create an interesting overall style with thicker hair on the sides and back. You can do this with curly, wavy, or straight hair to create different looks.

• Long Bangs – Thick hair is great for long bangs that you can style in so many ways. Allow them to frame your face one day and push them to one side the next. Pull them straight back into a swoop another day. You have so many options with thick hair and long bangs.
• Spiky Bangs – Spiky bangs are cut to create the appearance of spikes along the forehead. You may need to limit the thickness of the bangs to see the spike cut clearly. Some very thick bangs may lose that shape easily.

Bangs Ideas Based on Face Shape

Are you starting to form a vision of your ideal bangs? Before you finalize your decision, let’s talk about how your face shape impacts your bang style. Some styles are better for different face shapes, and we’ll give you the breakdown right here.

Best Bangs for Round Faces

You’re so lucky to have a round face, and we hope you take full advantage of it! Round faces have that natural glow of youth and can help you look younger at any age. They’re often thought of as the more angelic face shape, but that doesn’t mean you’re always an angel and only deserve nice-girl haircuts. You can keep your bang style simple or give it some edge.

We recommend the following five bang styles for round faces. Keep in mind that your choice should also work well with the thickness of your hair. Of course, your personality matters as well.

• Asymmetrical Bangs – Asymmetrical haircuts are shorter on one side and longer on the other. Bangs with that cut feature various lengths but aren’t necessarily long on just one side. For example, round faces often look great with asymmetrical bangs cut shorter in the middle and longer on the sides, blending into the side hair with textured tips.
• Bettie Bangs – Take your style back to the days of pinup girls. Betty bangs are shorter with a blunt cut, but they often have some asymmetrical and choppy features. They look great on many women with rounder faces.
• Blunt Bangs – Simple bangs that are cut straight across the forehead work well with round faces as well. These are the bangs you may have rocked when you were a teen, so they may make you feel young again.
• Pixie Bangs – These bangs are often combined with very short pixie haircuts. You can go short or keep them a bit longer. They look great with a messed-up, just-out-of-bed look as well.
• Spiky Bangs – Do you want to give your round face some edge? If so, you can cut your bangs into spikes. They will hang at little points across the forehead rather than forming one straight line. It may give you that rocker vibe that your face may not convey naturally.

Best Bangs for Oval Faces

If you look in the mirror and notice most or all of the following features, you likely have an oval face shape:

• Round chin and jawline with no hard lines
• Forehead about the same width as jawline or a bit broader than jaw
• The widest point is the cheekbones

This is considered the best face shape for hair styling because almost all styles will work well. You may want to show off your perfect oval shape, which means hairstyles that stay back from your face most of the time. That makes bangs a great hair option.

We recommend the following six bang styles for oval faces:

• Side Bangs – Long side bangs that sweep to the side are a great option for oval faces as well as many other face shapes. They’re versatile and are a good pick if you’re a bit uncertain about short bang styles.
• Baby Bangs – If you aren’t shy about short bangs, baby bangs can accentuate your oval face. Give them a bit of texture on the ends and play with styling options to create the perfect style for your personality.
• V-Shaped Bangs – This is our recommendation for edgy personalities who want to stand out. V bangs are often called triangle bangs because they hang in a triangle shape rather than going straight across the forehead.
• Short Bangs – Keep it shorter to allow your perfect oval face to stand out.
• Arched Bangs – Arched bangs follow the natural curve of your face. They work well with round faces but can also work well with an oval face.

• Blunt Bangs – Since you have such a great face shape, you can easily pull off blunt bangs that hang straight across the forehead. The thickness of your bangs should coordinate with the overall thickness of your hair.

Best Bangs for Square Faces

Square faces are less common, so consider yourself a priceless gem if this is your shape. This shape is defined by equal width across the forehead, jawline, and cheekbones. You may also have sharp angles on your jaw with little to no curvature across your face.

Some women use bangs to hide their square faces or create an illusion of softer lines. Others show off their square because they know it’s unique and see the beauty. If you really want to stand out for your unique look, then choose bangs that will accentuate that square shape.

What bang styles work well with a square face? We have five recommendations, but also keep your hair thickness and personality in mind:

• Bettie Bangs – Bettie bangs can take you back to pinup days, but you can modernize the look with some texture on the ends and maybe an asymmetrical shape. These are shorter bangs that can work well to show off your square-shaped face.
• Curved Bangs – Curved bangs are shortest at the middle of the forehead and get longer as they wrap toward the edges of the forehead. That creates the illusion of a curve that is similar to the edge of a bowl. You can keep them a bit longer if you aren’t ready to bare your square face with short bangs.
• Curtain Bangs – These bangs hang to the sides of your face with a center part, just like curtains parting on the stage. Because they’re long and hang to the sides, they can help hide the sharper edges of your face if desired.
• Short Bangs – Simply going short is a great idea with a square face. You’re beautifully unique, so why not show it off and stand out?

By this point, you should have at least a strong idea of what type of bangs you prefer. Maybe you’ve experimented with bangs before but didn’t know you had so many options. That may make it easier to decide the right type of bangs for your current needs. If this is your first time cutting bangs, consider getting input from a professional stylist before making your final selection.

Whatever you do, remember that bangs will grow out just like any hairstyle. You can change them if you don’t like your first choice, so don’t hesitate to take the plunge into bangs if you’re ready for a change.

Join us in the final chapter of this series, where we’ll talk about how to maintain your bangs over time. Whether you want to keep the same style for a while or want to transition into a new style of bangs, we have some important information to keep in mind.

Now we’re ready to discuss the aftermath of getting bangs cut. You love your new style, but now what? How are you going to maintain those bangs for months or years to come? We have some tips to help you keep those bangs in shape until it’s time for a new style.

Have your bangs trimmed at least once a month.

The best way to maintain your bangs is to have them trimmed on a routine basis. Depending on how fast your hair grows, you may need to trim them every two to three weeks. Once a month is an absolute minimum if you want to maintain the shape of your bangs, especially if they’re shorter.

If you don’t want to commit to regular trims due to the cost or inconvenience, you may want to go with longer bangs. As they grow out, you can sweep them to the side, braid them off to the side, or pull them straight back into a decorative clip. You don’t have to worry about long bangs getting in your eyes or becoming unmanageable if you let them grow out a bit.

Learn how to style your bangs quickly.

It’s no secret that hairstyles with bangs aren’t the easiest when it comes to daily maintenance. You will have days that you wake up with your bangs sticking in three or four directions. They may fall completely flat other days. You need to know how to pick up the volume or curl them back into shape before heading into your day.

You’re also likely to have circumstances where you’re short on time and can’t go through your normal daily routine. Experimenting with your bangs and different styling options will help you get through those moments without worrying that your bangs are a mess. When you have some extra time, spend it playing with your bangs to see how they respond to different styling options.

For example, are your baby bangs long enough to curl under with your smallest curling iron? Do your limp bangs respond well to a bit of volumizing spray or gel? What about a crimping or waving iron? Can you get faster at pulling long bangs to the side with a loose braid? Whatever style your bangs are, find your solution for those last-minute styling dilemmas.

Request a dry cut if your hair bounces up when dried.

Have you ever had a shampoo and hair cut only to find that your hair was much shorter than you expected once it dried? You don’t want to have that experience with bangs. Even half an inch can make a big difference when you’re talking about shorter hair along the front of your face.

Naturally curly or wavy hair is most likely to shrink up when dried, but it can happen with any type of hair. The solution is to ask the stylist for a dry cut. That ensures you see the exact length of your bangs without that after-dry shock.

Blow-dry your bangs instead of allowing them to air dry.

You may allow your hair to air dry, but that gives your bangs too much time to flip in the wrong direction. You can save yourself a bit of time by blowing them dry and styling them right away. You can still allow the rest of your hair to air dry if you prefer.

Hold the hairdryer up high and point it down on your bangs. That allows you to brush, curl, or otherwise position the bangs as they dry. Point the air in the direction you want your bangs to sit. They’re more likely to stay in place longer when styled in this manner.

If you don’t have time to style your bangs, go for a naturally messy look.

When we discussed the different types of bangs in chapter two, we noted multiple options for a messier look. We’re talking about choppy bangs, wavy bangs, and piecey bangs. Any style that is cut to look uneven or intentionally messy will allow you to get away with less styling. If you have naturally curly hair, your curly bangs may look great with a tossed look as well.

Find a hairstylist who understands your type of hair and bangs in general.

It’s not uncommon for a stylist to come with raving reviews from their regulars, but a newcomer finds her work less than satisfying. Some stylists are great at working with certain types of hair or have a lot of experience with specific types of cuts. It doesn’t mean they know bangs or have a deep understanding of your hair type.

When you find a stylist who qualifies in both of these areas, stay loyal. Ask for advice and listen to your stylist’s ideas and opinions. Even if they don’t always say what you expect or want to hear, they have experience and expertise that you don’t have. You’ll end up with a better hairstyle all-around when you work with a team with a knowledgeable stylist.

Keep all of your hair as healthy as possible.

Overall, hair health is vital to ensure your bangs look their best the day of a fresh cut and weeks after. You want every hair on your head to shine and have as much natural bounce as possible. The following quick hair tips will help you maximize health for your tresses:

• Don’t wash your hair every day unless it is extra oily. The drier your hair and the older you get, the less frequent washings you need. You can wash your bangs without washing your full head. You can do it in the sink if you need to wash them more frequently than the rest of your hair.
• Keep the shampoo mostly on your scalp and the conditioner mostly on the ends of your hair.
• Experiment with shampoos and conditioners to find the best products for your hair. Every head of hair is different.
• Minimize flat irons, curling irons, and other sources of intense heat. The heat can damage your hair due to routine exposure.
• Have the back of your hair trimmed regularly to maintain shape and limit hair loss.

Don’t go too short if you aren’t fully committed.

The final tip for maintaining your fringe is to stick with longer bangs if you aren’t certain that shorter bangs are what you want. It’s much easier to gradually shorten your fringe than it is to grow it back out due to regret.

You can play with faux bangs before committing to a bang style as well. Pull at least half of your hair into a high ponytail on top of your head. Flip the ponytail forward, holding it in place with a headband. Pull the bangs over your forehead at different lengths to get an idea of what you might look like with different styles.

You can also talk to an experienced hairstylist if you really aren’t certain what type of bangs you prefer. They can help you select the right bang based on your face shape, eyes, and the type of haircut you want in the back. Sometimes, the best bangs are the ones that work well with your overall hairstyle.