Curtain bangs are a daily styling inspiration to stay away from boring hair. They are one of the most popular types of fringes. However, if you are unsure of how to style bangs, you will spend hours in front of the mirror trying to discipline them or find a fringe for your face shape.
There are many ways to style curtain bangs. Some methods involve using velcro rollers, others require a solid effort with a round hairbrush and a hairdryer. One of the easiest ways to keep curtain bangs in place is to use a hair straightener — that is how you end up with the coolest curved bangs styles.
So if you want to know how to style curtain bangs with a styler at home, let's have a look at what you need to prepare. After that, we will look at how bangs can be incorporated into hairstyles for short or long hair.
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Prep Time: Styling Curtain Bangs
If you are going to use a straightener, it is always a wise choice to use a heat protectant like Davroe Thermaprotect beforehand. Assuming you have washed and blow-dried the rest of your hair before, you can apply a few drops or spray pumps of a thermal protectant only on the curtain bangs.
If you have thin hair, use a spray or a foam with a hold. Daily styling of curtain bangs needs bond repair, too. Try not to be a scrooge with oil serums. Choose the best quality you can afford, particularly if you have dry hair.
Do I Need a Blow-dry Before the Hair Straightener?
When dealing with naughty thick hair that wiggles under the hair straightener, first blow-dry the curtain bangs.- Wrap the bangs around a round ceramic brush such as the Fuzzfighters ceramic smoothing brush.
- Pull them up and forward at a 45-degree angle.
- Repeat the motion moving from the roots to the ends, pulling straight all the time.
- Use the hairdryer to remove moisture from hair altogether.
- Leave the hair alone to let it cool down.
- Take the ends on both sides and flip them over to the outside.
This trick may be enough if you don’t like using heat stylers every day - but not so if you need a stronghold or when your curtain bangs are on the short side.
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The Funnest Way to Style Curtain Bangs (and the Easiest)
If you thought this way includes the flat iron or the straightener you have at home, you are right. However, you can try all tricks your hairdresser does and still never end up with the same result. That is expected.
Tricks of the trade aren’t for everyone. However, here are several tips that can help you end up with a much better outcome than hoped. Don’t get desperate — get busy, and expect delightful styling surprises!
1. Double-C Curtain Bangs
This weird way of styling bangs works, even if it doesn’t seem so in the beginning.- Split the hair in the middle.
- Separate each side into two smaller sections.
- Take the top section on the right side and use the straightener’s heat to create a small C, curved to the centre of your forehead.
- Take the bottom section on the right side and repeat the styling, creating a large C curve facing the same direction.
- Repeat on the other side.
- Take the inward-curved sections and pull the ends outwards.
- Add clips for extra support during the day and to put on makeup.
There you go. This unexpected method for styling curtain bangs with a straightener works!
Extra tip: Pull your hair up to see the effects of this trick. Curtain bangs look fantastic when you remove your hair from your face and tuck it behind your ears.
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2. Add Volume to Curtain Bangs with a Heat Styler
Use the same hair straightener you used to pull the bangs apart to the sides. Bring the two side bangs into a centre section and use the heat to create an inward-facing, shaggy wave. This styling provides more forehead coverage and gives you that Farah Fawcett vibe.
Extra tip: Leave the hair to cool down after every heat application - don’t be in a rush to style.
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3. No Time for a Blow-Dry? Worry Not!
You can repeat the same motions as you did with the hairdryer to create break-down zig-zag bangs. This is excellent when your curtain bangs are longer than the middle cheek length. If your bangs are really long, you may want to replace the hair straightener with a curling iron. Check out this article to learn more about the best hair curlers for short, long, find, and thick hair.
Note that you will end up with more waves than bangs. However, that only adds to the bouncy glam, especially if you use a styler to take care of the rest of the hair, too.
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4. Side-swept Shebang
Middle-parted curtains are a bit overused. If we are honest, they are everywhere on Pinterest boards, and Instagram feeds. And, they may not look perfect on your face shape. For instance, if you want to style wispy bangs, a middle parting is not always flattering. Many people disagree that side-swept bangs are curtain bangs. We tend to disagree: side-swept bangs introduce freshness.- Check your profile to highlight the better side.
- Work with your texture, not against it.
- Split your hair into smaller sections for easier styling
- Pull each section diagonally from your forehead.
- Wait for 2 minutes, set the bangs with your fingers, and fix them with a styling spray.
Whenever bangs are in question, get ready to befriend the dry shampoo. Fewer rinses are not only a time-saver but also keep your hind hair strong and healthy.
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How to Style Short Hair with Bangs: From Preppy to Casual and Chic
Revamping short hair with bangs is an exciting way to spruce up a hairstyle. With just a small change, you will transform yourself into a completely new person. Short bangs draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones, making the best of your facial features more prominent. And if you want to look younger, you can pull off the youthful look with short-fringed hair!
Moreover, a fringe is an excellent way to hide lines on the forehead without using expensive anti-wrinkle moisturisers. Be careful though, a very blunt fringe on short hair can make your face look round. The smartest move would be to pair bangs with longer layers around the face.
Wispy bangs need to be longer at the ends and shorter in the middle to create that elongated look. Once you've picked your style, hair colour and length, you'll then need to learn how to style short hair with bangs.
Layered Short Hair with Fringe
One of the most flattering hairstyles for all facial shapes is short hair with bangs and layers. The hairdresser will have a lot of room to manoeuvre the cutting techniques. By chopping, thinning, and leaving hair precisely in the areas that best suit you, you will get grateful, easy-to-style hair.
Layered short hair requires less styling and blow-drying than other, more symmetrical hairstyles. Usually, even a simple wash-and-go will be enough to get a presentable look. But it is of crucial importance to get a haircut from a person that knows their trade. They'll also give you some insider tips on how to style short hair with bangs to keep the perfect look even when you leave the salon!
To illustrate the versatility of this fab hairdo, picture all the shaggy, chopped, and textured bobs that you have adored over the past several years. Here are a few examples of medium-length and short hair with bangs to get you inspired if you are considering a new haircut.
Short Hair with Bangs and Glasses
Wearing glasses is another factor you should consider when looking for inspiration for short hair with fringe hairstyles. Glasses can cover a lot of the skin around your eyes and become the central point of your face. That is why it is even more important to choose the right cut. But if you hit the mark, wearing fringed short hair and glasses can create a quirky, cool personal stamp for any hairstyle.
Make sure you pick a suitable glass frame. While doing so, include the eyebrow line, the fringe line, and the glasses line in the list of criteria. As a general rule, the frames of your glasses should cover the eyebrows, but not always so when you wear a fringe.
Blunt, thick bangs and glasses may not be the ideal hairstyle for most shapes but oval faces can play with them as much as they like. In fact, choosing stylish glasses on very short hair with bangs can complete a stunning and daring look: take a look at the selection of short hairstyles with bangs to picture the style potential.
I Have a Round Face and Short Hair: Are Bangs for Me?
That is a great question and the answer may surprise you.
Despite what many people say about round faces, a short haircut with longer layered bangs can create the illusion of a longer face. Think of a pixie coif that is very short at the back and longer in the front.
The only moment you need to be careful about is a small forehead. But even then, if your hairdresser adapts the haircut to your face shape, you can't go wrong. Thinning the fringe into a wispy shape or combing it to the side will put an accent on all the right places. The many variations can be refreshing.
Keeping Your Bangs in Order
What will happen to your short hair with bangs once it starts growing? You have several options:
- Schedule bi-monthly trims at your hairdresser,
- Let it grow with a long wispy bangs hairstyle, or
- Turn a pixie into a concave lob.
Whatever you choose, cutting your own bangs should not be high on your list of priorities.
How to Style Long Hair with Bangs
Are you considering adding a fringe to your same-old, same-old straight hairstyle? Wonder if curly or wavy hair goes well with bangs? it's time to eliminate those typical conundrums about long hair with bangs once and for all. Take a look at the solutions we provide to refresh and maintain a sassy fringe on long hair for as long as you are inspired or until the next revamp idea.
The Most Common Challenges of Styling Long Hair with Bangs
Having long hair with bangs seems like the easiest of all fringe haircuts to style. But depending on your skills, budget, and the hairstyle itself, quite the opposite can be true. Perhaps you don't have the time to go to the hairdresser and get regular trims. Maybe your hair is straight and flat and you are worried you might take off from its volume if you cut bangs on a long hair. Or, maybe, you aren't sure if you have what it takes to carry a fringe hairstyle with allure.
Are those bangs or layers you have seen on a model?
What type of bang haircuts will flatter your fashion style and lifestyle?
Your facial shape matters, too. Oval shapes tend to offer more styling opportunities, while round, rectangular, and square face shapes are somewhat limited. With a little effort, you can even grow a short hairstyle with bangs into its longer, sultrier variant.
If you want to know how to help yourself by answering these common questions and concerns about long hair with bangs, keep reading.
How to Style Long Hair with a Fringe
By far the best hairstyle for a fringe is a versatile one: you need to ask your hairdresser to cut your hair in a way that provides several styling alternatives. Varied bangs hairstyles demand less upkeep and are not that hard to style by yourself in the first place. That is why they should be your preferred option.
Of course, if you carry a statement look, such as a bold pixie or a 20s thick fringe, you won't have as much styling liberty. (But you'll have plenty of admiring glances coming your way!) The variations are endless. Here is how to manage the fact you are spoiled for choice when it comes to long hair with fringe and solve the most common problems mentioned above.
Long Straight Hair with Bangs
For hair above shoulder length, you can style bangs and layers on a bob or rather a lob. (Many don't consider bobs to be a long hairstyle.)
The bangs can be:
- Side-swept, giving a delicate yet dramatic cover for lines and wrinkles
- Bold and thick, cut in a straight line across your forehead
- Curtain bangs that frame your face from both sides
- Wispy fringe, freshening up a stale look
- Layered, seamlessly flowing into the rest of your hair
Whatever style you choose, make sure you get some texture into that haircut to compliment your forehead, eyebrows, as well as your face shape overall.
Styling short wispy bangs could also be another great look!
A well-chosen fringe on long hair can accentuate your best features, such as lonely eyes or exquisite cheekbones and make your look even prettier.
Softer bangs generally look better on tousled hair. Don't over-style to maximum sleekness as your bangs may look unnatural on a super-neat hairstyle.
Keep in mind that bangs on long hair are an easy way to make a change and keep the length. However, they can transform your appearance quite dramatically, so stay prepared to welcome the change.
Long Hair with Side Bangs
Side-swept bangs are a flattering hairstyle that suits most face shapes when done correctly.
If you go for long with a shorter fringe, cutting side bangs will be one of the safest choices, always trendy and sexy.
You can even comb your hair to one side and achieve the side bangs look with shorter layers from around your face. Unless your facial shape is an emphasis oval, you can turn most of your hair into one big, textured fringe that will be as easy to style as a pie.
Side bangs look great on updos, too, and are an effortless way to a great style if you are too lazy to blow-dry the rest of your hair.
Get the Maximum of Long Hair with Bangs and Layers
Layers on long hair give an air of softness and sexiness that is just not possible with straight, prim and proper hair.
If you want extra points in the coolness department, wearing long hair with bangs and layers is a definite yes. Thin, wispy fringe looks better than full bangs that can easily overwhelm your face. For the maximum romantic effect, pair long waves with a long fringe on long hair. Whatever you choose, keep in mind that bangs and layers on long hair will:
- Make you look younger
- Flatter everyone, regardless of their face shape
- Boost hair volume on thin and dull hair.
Thick, layered bangs on long hair will create a gorgeous flow when they are cut at an angle towards the layers.
With this hairstyle, your hairdresser should avoid creating any bulk in the hair. Usually, the best outcome is when you can't tell where the bangs end and the layers begin.
Long Hair with Bangs on a Round Face
Bangs on a round face are not in the forbidden zone. You want to stay away from strict straight lines and find the style that elongates your face. Side or curtain-style bangs will create a slimmer appearance. Here are several ideas of how to style long hair with bangs on a round face:
- A textured shag with feathered bangs
- Thick bangs on a concave lob
- Bardot-style curtain bangs
- Asymmetrical (diagonal) bangs
- Middle-parted bangs on long wavy hair
- Brow-skimming wispy bangs
There are no limits on how you can style long hair with bangs. Whether you are a devoted boho, a hopeless (or hopeful) romantic, or a cool ash blonde that needs some inspiration in the hairstyling area, cutting a fringe is a balanced change towards a new low-maintenance hairstyle.
You could even consider adding a fringe with short hair too. If you aren't sure how you will look with the new haircut, check out our article with professional tips about the best fringe for every face shape.
Bangs have been on trend for several years now and that doesn't look to be changing anytime soon. What are your favourite styles?
This blog has been updated and republished in August 2024 to include references to current products.