The Undeniable Sex Appeal of Bangs

There’s no doubt that haircuts with bangs are hot and sexy.

Bangs can be worn many ways and can be easy to style. (If you don’t find that to be the case why not check out our resource article covering all about how to style them and more.)

Beyond that there are good reasons why some consider them to be shear genius. And if you aren’t careful you may find yourself to be a fervent fringe convert sooner rather than later because…

• Bangs are chic. Trendy. Hip. That’s just got to be true when the fashionista wife of the President gets them.
• Bang devotees recognize their ability to transform your look without surgery and all without sacrificing even a quarter of an inch of the length you’ve worked so hard to grow.
• Those passionate about trendy razor cut bangs are quick to point out that you can add instant texture and movement.
• And you can’t ignore they can be a snip free way to turn back the clock instantly.
• Fervent bangers claim a flirty fringe, as they are referred to by some, confers transformational power. That offers an easy way to rehab your appearance and introduce a bit of beauty drama with a few scissor snips.

All with good reason.

• Under the magical spell of a bangs makeover your face becomes thinner, more angular.
• In a flash, your eyes are more dazzling and sexier.
• Not to mention bangs bestow a stylish elegance not easily found in other cuts.
• You aren’t as apt to get in a styling rut either. As you’ll see in one of the videos below you can pull them off your face, let face-framing layers hang down (or not) or in the case of side swept flip them from one side to the other. Any of these simple styling moves can change your entire look.

Guess you could say bangs are capable of giving you a beauty boost that lets you assertively strut out the door ready to take on the world confident in your look. And when they’re the hot look like they are now they develop a cult like following that’s hard to resist.

So are you reaching for your cell to make an appointment with your stylist?

Well, before jumping in, you will want to consider things like the thickness of your hair, which facial features you want to draw attention to, your face shape as well as the various types of bangs. So it might be good to answer…

Who Should Get Bangs and More Importantly Who Shouldn’t

Okay so we get it. Hair bangs can dramatically change your appearance.

They can create the illusion of an oval face shape, which some feel is the universal ideal, no matter what shape your face is in.

Still maybe you are interested in getting in on these fringe benefits but just aren’t sure if bangs are for you?

And you want to make an informed decision before going under the scissors knowing that after they’re cut it’s too late to change your mind.

In that case here are a few guidelines that might help you decide.

You can safely put your strands on the chopping block if they are straight and pretty much lie flat.

But you want to skip the scissor session if you have a cowlick in the wrong place or you have crazy curly hair. With the curls, when bangs are clipped in, your hair loses the weight that helps keep them in line.

Feel free to snip away if you don’t tend to have oily hair which might cause a zit outbreak on your forehead. Even though keeping your bangs cleaned up by tending to them faithfully can help avoid that problem.

If you have a smaller forehead or can’t be bothered with the clean hair routine you’ll want to skip the scissor session. Smaller more delicate features can be overpowered by bangs.

Lop on if you can keep things tidy. That means frequent trims done either by you or your stylist. It doesn’t take long for bangs to grow beyond cute you know. This is a bigger issue with eyebrow grazing blunt bangs or if your stylist thinks they should be paid for the privilege of keeping your bangs looking fresh. If so be sure to check out the how to trim bangs tips below.

Skip the scissors if your hair is at best a frizz ball on good days. Or is wildly curly by nature. Battling a fringe with out of control hair like this can be anything but fun.

Also you’d be wise to get out of the line for bangs if your face shape isn’t up to it. Sadly, if you have a very round face that likely means they aren’t going to be a good choice for you. So take a pass rather than be sorry. Here are some ideas for flattering bangs for various face shapes.

Then those being honest will admit that sometimes bangs can be a lot like owning a pet. They need proper care and feeding to be kept smart-looking and stylish.

• You’ll have to train them to behave well.
• You’ll have to deal with the frustration of bad bangs days when they don’t.
• You’ll have to have the right styling products and know which brush works best with your hair.
• You’ll have to gain expertise in using those tools and products.

Just don’t let the ghosts of bangs past haunt the style of today. Most of us look good wearing them. They are an easy way to change things up. And you won’t end up looking like an eight year old or Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber.

Of course to care for them, first you have to know your options.

Main Street Bangs

So we can agree there are many ways to wear bangs or a fun fringe. You can have bangs that are choppy, blunt, side sweeping, or asymmetrical. You can get even edgier and bolder than those if you wish. Besides by all accounts bangs can juice up just about any hairstyle and even give a bland cut just a hint of edginess.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yet while styles are constantly changing, there are several classic types of bangs that most think of when they hear the word. Blunt and side-swept being the two most common.

Still let’s see if we can’t expand your bang horizon just a bit. Because they are a great way to hide a multitude of beauty blemishes including massive foreheads or extra long face shapes. Which is why they continue to come back or remain into style.

Side Swept

Heard In The Salon: You’ll never go wrong with a flirty, swooping side swept bang. This perennial fav fringe is always a good choice.

These are great for slimming fuller faces. You want it cut so it kisses your eyebrow as the locks caress your forehead.

Pretty much one length, these work best on straight or chemically straightened hair of any thickness. And side parts only need apply.

These work because the bang creates bulk, dimension and can make thinner hair appear to be thicker than it is.

Blunt

Heard in the Salon: The hottest thing going in bangs right now. This is the look six out of 10 women are asking for when looking to bang it out. Making them a fashionable fringe.

So what do you think of when you hear the term “blunt cut” bangs? For some a straight across bang brings to mind Cleopatra. Sultry. Seductive. And oh those eyes. The widest of fringes can just skim your eye lashes and have a clear edge. A straight edge coming to rest so they just touch your upper lash.

Enthusiasts of this most classic of bang will tell you they are sleek. They can create the illusion of thickness for those with fine thin hair. They make your eyes look more intense. blunt
This type of fringe is best if you have been blessed with somewhat weighty, straight hair. Although if the mane is too thick they can overwhelm your facial features. And wavy hair will obviously need to be blown dry to that they lie flat.

If your hair is fine you’ll want to involve more hair in the bang to add a bit of heft that can help keep them in laying and in shape.

A cowlick on the wrong place in your hairline dooms your blunt bangs experience before it starts. Unfortunately it will keep things from lying flat – the key to this type.

You’ll want to aim the blow dryer down to encourage they head downward and flat.

Long & Layered

Heard in the Salon: These are how the curly haired might be able to get in on the fun as long and layered are your best choice.

As the name implies the shortest strands hits at just above eye level. The longest will naturally blend in with your cut. Yet you don’t want choppy layers. The can come off harsh looking rather than cute. And since fine hair lacks the requisite body these wouldn’t work so well if you’re a fine haired type.

Thickening cream is one prescription for added volume and blend-ability. And you’d want to blow dry this type straight down assisted by a round brush to encourage them to sweep across your face. .

Short and Wispy

Heard in the Salon: Short but not too short. They should come at least to the middle of your forehead or your risk unintentionally falling into sticking out bad territory.

Short and wispy bangs work great for girls with wavy or straight hair that’s not too thin. These can take on a stringy look if your hair is too fine however.

A spunky fringe like this can be helped along by having a bit of pomade run through it. That will add a bit of separation and definition to the bang.

Other Bang Options

Other than going main stream, if you want to be bolder, go for piecey or multilayered razor cut bangs. In this case the longest strands will extend a bit above your eyebrows.

Then there are tapered bangs. These usually fall an inch beyond the bridge of your nose and have a swooping angle down the side of your face that has lots of movement. You may find the look to be chic but the need to push the bangs aside annoying.

Longer bangs that touch just below your eyebrows are great for shortening the appearance of your face. But they will require more frequent trims.

Now that you know some of the choices…

What to Ask For

When having “the talk” with your stylist about bangs here are a few things you might want to cover during your consultation.

• How do you normally part your hair? If it’s on the side how deep is it? Does it run straight down the side or more at an angle into the crown?
• How much hair do you want to involve with your bang? Or put another way how far back on your head should they start?
• What are the best options for your hair type? I mean you know thick hair is going to need to be cut differently than fine and thin. Plus you don’t want to spend all morning styling them.
• Do you want any longer strands or pieces to frame you face if you feel like doing that?
• Blunt, wispy or what? That will affect how the hair is cut to get the wanted affect.

Still sooner or later you’ll want to have some styling options at your fingertips. So here are …

5 Inspired Ways to Fine Tune Bangs

Terrific’s Take:

While it’s true that bangs make any haircut a bit more stylish, they can still get boring at times. So to alleviate that, here are five fantabulous ways to style your bangs to change things up for those days when you just can’t stand them anymore.

• Style them straight.
• French braid it away from your face.
• Put a cute twist into them to pull them off your face.
• Shape them out using a medium barrel ceramic brush and your blow dryer.
• Poof them by back-combing and holding them with hair spray.

Changing up your look as suggested is one thing. Still some can’t resist the urge to cut their own bangs which can be risky business. Knowing that here’s some video guidance.

Proceed with Caution – Cutting Bangs Yourself

Terrific’s Take:

This is more or less a two part video. The first shows you how to cut the bangs and the second part how to style them.

How To Razor Cut Seductive Side Swept Bangs

You want to section your hair just in front of your ears. Creating a triangular section and pinning the rest of your hair back and then tying it with a scrunchy.

Wet the hair to be cut. You want all the bang hair pretty wet. (Just be careful when you cut as hair will shrink as it dries. Bungled bangs are hard to fix. The best advice would be to cut very small bits off and go slow. In other words do not get scissors-happy!)

Using a razor comb think of the cut as an arch. The shortest part of the bang hair will be in the middle. Take care not to cut strands shorter than your nose. It’s better to cut less and cut again than to the regret the cut made in haste.

Leave a face framing section of hair on each side. Make sure they are both the same length. Picking a spot on your face, like the bottom of your jawline, makes that easier to line up.

Comb your freshly shorn bangs and using uneven edged scissors, snip the ends to give a bit more of a natural look.

Styling Your Bangs>

Spray volumizing mousse and work it into your bangs. Then blow dry the fringe – remember you saturated the hair before you razored it. This will add in body and fullness.

Using a 3 inch round brush roll the bangs, give them a shot of light hair spray and continue with the blow dryer.

Using your fingers position and shape the hair as you’d like it and spritz with hair spray to hold them in place.

Release the rest of your hair from the scrunchy. Now you can spray some hair spray on your fingers and work that through the balance of your hair.

More How To Style Bangs Quick Tips

Most suggest washing JUST your bangs prior to styling.

Some, as in the video, apply a mousse for added volume.

With side swept bangs they want to be blown dry using a medium round brush to give them super shape. The barrel size of the brush to use depends on how long your bangs are naturally.

Another styling trick? Try drying them on the opposite side you wear them and flip them. Use the brush to turn your hair a bit under at a slight angle. Finish with hair spray.

Some find a straightening balm like one of the Redkin 12 Align balms gives lasting straightness to balky bangs. A light weight product helps to control the texture while leaving your bangs looking natural.

Let’s Talk Chop: Trimming Bangs Yourself

It’s an unavoidable fact of life with cute bangs. They need to be trimmed and often to keep them looking their cutest. Plus it can be annoying when they are constantly in your eyes.

Obviously your first choice would be to have your stylist do it. And most will do it for free. But I know what an inconvenience running over to the salon can be which is why some prefer to snip it themselves.

While cutting bangs is really one of those “don’t try this at home” kind of things, for many trimming them may not be so hard. So don’t be nervous. You really can do it yourself and without messing them up if you disaster proof the process by getting informed on what to do. Here’s how.

Trim Dry
Be VERY careful trimming bangs that are wet. Wet hair shrinks as it dries. The risk with cutting them wet is cutting them too short. And who wants butchered bangs?

Have the Right Tool
Scissors you have laying around are too hard to work with. This is a small job requiring smaller very sharp shears. Cuticle scissors are perfect. You can pick them up at a drugstore, Target or your beauty supply store. Revlon offers one with fine blades suitable for the task. Tweezerman is another brand to look for.

Do It In Sections
Section out the hair that makes up your bangs. Then section that into two parts, a bottom and top part – pin back the top part. Trim the bottom first. Then the top.

Resist the Urge to Pull
You won’t want to pull them down because the tension will make them look longer and you may over trim. You just want the hair to lay as it would as you trim.

Take It Slow
This is the most important thing. You can always cut more, but gluing hair back on looks tacky. You just want to dust the ends. Take your time. Do frequent evaluations to see how you’re doing. Going slow and seeing where you are is the safest way to do this.

Those are some secrets worth remembering for trimming bangs at home. If you want more ideas, this video shows another way to trim your bangs yourself.

Just realize that if this goes wrong it will be a nightmare. Cut them too short and they’ll stick out. No way anyone can help but notice. You’ll freak out and have to wait forever for them to grow out. Truly a case of quitting while you’re ahead, no?

Growing Pains: Growing Out Bangs

As they say, all good things must come to end and that will eventually include your love affair with bangs. When the time comes to say “Goodbye, bangs!” you may need some ideas for growing them out. Here are a few.

• Certainly don’t expect overnight results. The road to longer hair can be maddeningly long and slow. You’ll have to endure a, shall we say, “awkward stage” when growing them out. But resist the urge to give in and clip. You simply want to resolve to suck it up and stick it out. There’s no other way.
• See if you can’t get blunt bangs cut at an angle and reshaped to soften the look. This will give a more connected look with the rest of of your tresses as you wait for them to grow out.
• While if you have sideswept bangs you will want to have the strands around your face slightly angled to better blend the two sections of hair.
• Along the same lines maybe go to a deep side part. This will give you longer strands to blend and camouflage your growing bangs. This trick will also work to take your bangs out of the spot light.
• Two words: Wide headbands. Such an accessory will both keep the hair out of your eyes and put the clamps on unruly bangs. To soften the look let a few wispy shorter pieces slip out from under and grace your forehead in a coy way.
• Sometimes you can slick lengthening bangs to the side with a pomade. This adds shine and control without necessarily looking greasy.
• Layering can help keep the weight of your former bangs out of your eyes. Otherwise it can be hard to blink. You can also add additional layers around your face to help things all blend in and look “on purpose”.
• Two more words: Bobby pins. Use as many as it takes to pin your hair in place. Or use hair clips that can be hidden under the rest of your hair.

Obviously like many things involved with our tresses, bangs are not for everyone.

This isn’t a cut and run style.

They can be high maintenance with a beauty routine all their own since a properly tended bang often requires a competent blow dry, liberal amounts of hair spray and regular trims – for starters.

All of which may be why deciding to take the leap can be such an agonizing decision. For that reason I can’t say if you’ll become the ultimate bangs-wearer of all time, but we all consider a frisky fringe at one time or another. And pros will tell you that nearly nine out of 10 of us who try them love them.

Looking to add add instant glamour to your ‘do? Bangs are but one way. Our boards on Pinterest offer others. Do be sure to follow us, please?