Are Bangs Back? Here’s How To Figure Out If They’d Look Good On You

People often get bangs as an impulse decision, thinking that it would be better to cut a small portion of hair rather than changing their entire hairstyle. But what some don't realize until it’s too late is that bangs are a commitment. 

Bangs fit some people really well, but for certain face shapes, they aren’t always flattering. And then, when you’ve cut the bangs and hate them, it could take months or years to grow out the way you want them to. Nonetheless, all of us will probably attempt bangs once in our lives, so let’s be prepared before we do it.

You might’ve noticed that bangs are making their way back into the spotlight. Think Emily in Paris or Wednesday, or look to TikTok for some curtain bang inspo. There are different styles of bangs that can help those feeling an impulse to cut them. Some styles are going to be a bigger commitment than others so if you aren’t sure about it, try some low-maintenance bangs first. Something wispy, or longer-style curtain bangs. As a hairstylist, I talk about this topic with my clients often, so keep reading if you want some advice before making any decisions.

Face Shape

There are seven different face shapes, including oval, square, round, heart, diamond, oblong, and pear. The oval face shape is the most versatile as far as flattering haircuts go because it looks decent with most haircuts. The goal of a haircut for any face shape is to make the face look proportional. For example, if you have sharp facial features, you want soft layering and something that is going to soften your overall look. For those with a very round face, you want longer hair to elongate the face. Think about the haircut that is going to give you a more oval-looking shape. 

This goes for bangs too. If bangs will make your face look disproportionate, it won’t be flattering. This doesn’t mean that bangs are a no-go, it just means you need to consider the type of bangs that fit your face. Some of the different styles of bangs are blunt, straight across bangs, curtain bangs, side swept bangs, A-shaped bangs, micro bangs, etc. Here are some tips depending on your face shape.

Oval Face Shape

Like I said before, the oval face tends to be the most proportional and flattering, so you have more options with this face shape, lucky you! Have fun trying out just about any style of bangs. Maybe do a blunt, straight-across bang, something fringey, baby bangs, or anything that makes you feel cute.

Wide Cheekbones or Very Long Face Shapes

With the distinct features of a square, heart, or diamond face shape, it’s smart to do what softens the face. With face shapes wider at the cheeks, you want a style that tapers around the face. A-shaped bangs or something soft, fringey, or tapered would work. This also goes for oblong face shapes, as they will balance your features. Blunt bangs will just add to the sharp features of the face or make the face look even wider. Find what makes things soft and proportional. 

Round Face Shape

Ladies with a face that is more full and round, stay away from straight across, heavy bangs. This will make your face look wider. Go with some side-swept bangs or longer curtain bangs. Bangs that will add length to your face is the goal for these face shapes.

How To Style Your Bangs

Another component to having bangs is accepting there will be some level of styling involved in your daily routine. I recommend having a blow dryer and round brush, flat iron, or curling iron on hand. Different types of bangs require various ways of styling, so check out some of these tutorials to give you an idea of what to do.

For bangs that go straight across the forehead, you can use a flat iron or hair dryer. Consider using a texture spray to give the hair some grit before styling. For the flat iron, you can take a comb and use it to guide the flat iron forward, then curl it in toward the face. When the hair cools a bit, you might want to “mess them up” a bit and then spray. If you’re using a round brush and hairdryer (or a dryer brush), use the brush to bring the hair forward and curl under. 

For the girls with tapered or curtain bangs, you can go backward or forward using styling tools. Check out these tutorials for a visual explanation. 

Those really defined curly bangs require some curl-defining product. Here is an example.

Closing Thoughts

Bangs are obviously trending right now, but choose them wisely. Think about your face shape and cut the bangs accordingly. You don’t want any regrets because the grow-out time for bangs can take a while. But with a good choice and some styling tools, you’ll have the bangs you’ve been dreaming of.

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