People who like to mark the significant events in their life with a new haircut will know that bangs are the most transformative look you can get. They can change the shape of your face, highlight/hide certain features and get noticed even by clueless fathers who can never guess you got a haircut. BUT, bangs are also synonymous with haircut accidents, especially when you do them yourself at home. A hairstylist worth their salt will know that you must consider multiple factors before getting bangs. Natural hair texture, face shape, everyday styling routine and even the products you are familiar with all decide how good they will good. All of this can feel overwhelming, but e genuinely believe that any and everyone can pull off bangs if you know what you’re doing. Here’s a handy guide to help you ace the cut, styling and maintenance of the ever-trendy bangs.
The ‘Mane’ Styles
If we were to deep dive into all the types of bangs out there, the tally would run up to 50! Yup, a few strategically placed snips are enough to edit an already well-known bangs style. This means that your choice of cut can be highly customised and unique to you; you’ve just gotta take a pick from these broad categories to avoid experimenting beyond your comfort level –
1. Curtain
Arguably the trendiest look RN, curtain bangs are cut to frame your face from both sides. They are shorter in the middle and longer on the sides. This makes them ideal for people with round faces who wish to make their frame appear longer. They are also centre-parted, giving you the freedom of pinning them back on days you do not want to style them.
2. Blunt
A throwback that keeps making a comeback, blunt bangs are cut in a sharp line straight across the forehead. They are often the go-to cut for people with naturally straight and thick hair. The style, while a classic, might be a little tricky to pull off, with oval face shapes being the only kind to effortlessly carry blunt fringes.
3. Choppy
Choppy bangs are extremely good at living up to their name – they are cut in different lengths to end in a choppy finish. They are often cut in baby or micro lengths and are angled to give them a textured yet geometric look. This cut is not for the weak-hearted as they tend to lay close to the hairline, which many find difficult to fall for. Long and oval face shapes can benefit from this rough yet fun cut.
4. Side-Swept
The side-swept fringe consists of a side part instead of a centre. They are longer in length and blend into your hair. In fact, they hardly even qualify as bangs because they are in such harmony with the rest of your hair. They are highly manageable, easy to style and suit most face shapes.
5. Layered
From the front, layered fringes almost look like curtain bangs, but on the side, they are given gradual layers that get longer and blend with the rest of the hair in the end. They are ideal for taking some weight off of thick hair and have the advantage of being easily styled on either side of the face.
6. Shaggy
A by-product of the shag haircut trend, the non-uniform, non-conforming fringes are the new ‘IT’ bangs. They are messy in all the right ways and do not require much styling apart from a usual dollop of texturising cream. Wavy and curly hair types can pull them off the best.
7. Curly Fringes
Curl pattern types 3 and 4 are often devoid of bangs. But, if you like to wear your hair naturally, curly fringes are the way to go. This one requires a long chat with a hairstylist who has experience working with curly hair. The cut needs to be longer to account for shrinkage, one of the many things that the right hairstylist will be able to take care for you.
8. Wispy
Wispy fringes are delicate, soft, feathery and light – they are perfect for anyone looking to have a taste of bangs without going all the way. The cut sits well on fine hair, falling just so lightly on the forehead and dusts the top of your eyebrows for a unique look.
9. Classic and Voluminous
This list would not be complete without a shout-out to the classic, voluminous bands. They are thick, bulky and ever-so-subtly parted in the middle to frame the face. They can help balance out long and oval faces, which is why they are quite a popular choice for first-timers.
10. Clip-In Extensions
Not sure about getting a haircut at all? For commitment phobics, the market is filled with options of clip-in bangs. They come in various styles, cuts, lengths and textures for you to find your best fit.
The Right Bangs For You
By now, you know that all bangs are unique and do their own thing. The right one for you should be decided based on your face shape. These 5 commandments will get you started –
1. Round face shape – Angular cuts like side-swept and choppy bangs
2. Long face shape – Blunt and classic, voluminous bangs
3. Square face shape – Wispy and shaggy bangs
4. Heart face shape – Layered and curtain bangs
5. Oval face shape – You have your pick of the lot as this face shape can pull off any kind of bangs!
The Styling
A couple of things to remember while styling your bangs are –
1. While blowdrying them, do it side to side and downwards. This is is to make sure you do not get any frizzy flyaways post styling and keep it sleek.
2. While brushing them, do it from upwards and never under. Getting your hairbrush or comb under might end up giving you cowlicks (oops!).
3. Keep it simple with product use on bangs, especially the hairspray that can mess them up! Keep the styling products limited to smoothening serums or curl creams – the most you should use is a light hold spray on windy days.
4. For oily air types, you can just wash your bangs and use your fingers to add piecey details to them. There’s nothing worse than muddy and oily bangs; there’s no absolutely no saving them.
5. To add bends to longer fringes, work in some product and pin them back with a centre parting.
The Grow Out Process
Growing out your bangs is all about wearing the right hairstyle. Pick a parting and start pinning them to the side. Pinning them at the top can put a lot of stress on your hairline. Keep your hair nourished and moisturised to avoid split ends and having to cut them. You can style baby braids to prevent awkward-looking long fringes, which can be left down or pinned to the side. On average, bangs take about 3 to 4 months to grow out, so patience and perseverance are essential in this process.
