9 Ways To Style Your Bangs Haircut This Season
There's a reason why wispy fringes are monopolising the runway, and friends who never change their classic cuts are suddenly re-emerging with bangs. Put simply, bangs have become the beauty insider's hairstyle du rigeur, and it's pretty easy to see why - distinctive but never bold, cool without trying too hard; they add instant style appeal no matter the haircut or finish.
It seems everyone is experimenting with their bangs right now (see Dakota Johnson, Dua Lipa and Daisy Edgar-Jones as your beauty muses). Whether it be with wispy side partings and choppy waves, or curtain bangs and ultra-straight ends, soft, textured strands with full fringes, there's a whole host of ways to make them work for you.
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How to style your bangs
While undeniably stylish, bangs aren't exactly low-maintenance. Depending on the cut you go for, be it classic, curtain, square or wispy, you will need to dedicate some TLC to your hairstyle. That will look differently for everyone, depending on your hair type and texture, but those who wake up with perfectly placed bangs are certainly the anomaly and not the rule.
No, most of us require high-tech products, the work of some straighteners or blow-drying tools and some pro styling inspo to master the art of our bangs at home. 'Bangs are high maintenance depending on your hair texture,' agrees Johnathan Eagland, a senior stylist at the Nicola Clarke John Frieda salon. 'The good news is that they can be tailored to your face shape, aesthetic and preference. The right fringe doesn’t necessarily have to be blunt and heavy; it can be broken up and textured to suit the face.'
If you're struggling to find the right hairstyle for your freshly cut bangs, or you're simply looking for new-season inspiration, here are all the different ways you can refresh your fringe for the season ahead.
9 ways to style your bangs this season
Side-swept bangs with undone waves
Soft swept bangs paired with undone waves are a red carpet mainstay for good reason. And while the perfect pairing might look effortless to recreate, achieving the expert tousled texture isn't always a straightforward affair. Eagland recommends using a blow-dry cream to help create a smooth finish but still maintain the softer-looking texture throughout the ends a la Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Long, sharp bangs with short hair
Verging on long layers as opposed to a classic fringe, these grown-out bangs are an ideal in-between option if you're reluctant to return to the salon every four weeks. Ideal for anyone with naturally straight hair, they'll inject some personality into your hairstyle rotation and help revive a messy top knot or low-slung bun.
As Eagland explains, 'straighteners are a great way to create the high-shine finish of this look. Always blow-dry your hair as smooth as possible first and then use the irons for the final polishing and finishing.'
Curtain bangs with elegant updo
If you're tiring of the same rotation of long hairstyles, let Dua Lipa's updo and curtain bangs combo serve as your soon-to-be festive inspiration. Forever a winning formula, this look can simply be styled with a pared-back make-up base and a bold red lip, and needs little in the way of styling products; it's also the perfect middle ground between a slightly cooler aesthetic and something more polished and refined.
Curly curtain bangs and half updo
Forever on our hair moodboard, Kaia Gerber's curly half updo and sweeping side bangs make for a fresh way to upgrade your go-to look, with the soft bangs perfectly framing her face. In even better news, a half-up style is also pretty easy to emulate yourself and adds instant volume and definition if you're embracing your natural curl texture (simply use a diffuser along with a styling cream or mousse).
Classic curtain bangs with long hair
If voluminous lengths and long layers are your ultimate hair goals, nostalgic curtain bangs are an ideal accompaniment. How to create this trending hairstyle? 'A round brush can help give you a bevelled fringe, or add some movement to the edges if you're opting for a grown out 1970s fringe,' suggests Eagland. 'Similarly, the Dyson Airwrap helps recreate the modern-day Farah Fawcett look. The smaller the attachment, the more body and movement you'll get,' he notes.
Curly bangs with short bob
A bob with bangs is growing in popularity lately, with everyone from Zendaya to Raye making a strong case for the popular haircut. Whether you have an afro bob or loose waves, ensure you are using the right curl-enhancing products and a curl cream suited to your natural curl pattern.
Bangs with bow hairstyle
Dakota Johnson is undeniably the poster girl when it comes to bangs. And here she proves just how easy it is to add fresh appeal to her go-to hairstyle. Taking reference from the AW24 runways, where the hair bow made its big return, Johnson employs the pretty hair accessory with a half-up style and an equally nostalgic mini beehive.
Bridal bangs
If you're embracing longer, fuller bangs, this bridal-inspired updo works for a range of hair lengths and can be achieved using old-school velcro rollers or a traditional blow dry technique to create added volume at the root. Equally nostalgic yet necessary is the use of some hairspray to fix the look in place.
Bangs with a flicked-out bob
The epitome of our favourite French-inspired bob, this hairstyle is shaping up to be one of the most coveted cuts of the season. If your hair is naturally straight, Eagland suggests using rollers to recreate the flick. 'If you want your hair to flick outwards, put the roller in with the hair going back over it and leave it in to allow it to set in place,' he shares.
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