8 Bold Bangs Hairstyles To Suit Every Face Shape
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2 hours ago
How to find the perfect face frame at the salon
We’ve all felt the temptation: one major (OK, probably minor) inconvenience and an emotional melt down later, and suddenly you’re stood in front of the mirror weighing the pros and cons of cutting your hair. And, more often than not, the desired outcome is a killer fringe.
All jokes aside, bangs are the perfect way to give your hairstyle some personality – as well as a chic boost. Here we’ve prepped the ultimate guide for choosing the right set of bangs (as well as plenty of hair inspiration to show your stylist).
The Case For Bangs In 2025
The crowning glory of any haircut? A fringe – or bangs, if you find yourself stateside. Whether short or long, blunt or soft, this classic salon look has been injecting personality into hairstyles for thousands of years.
But what exactly counts as bangs? ‘Bangs, also known as a fringe, are strands of hair that cover the forehead, usually falling just above the eyebrow,’ outlines Tina Farey, Editorial Director of RUSH. ‘Bangs can completely transform your look and revitalise your hair, being completely customisable to an individual’s personal style and preference – and they’re often used to highlight or accentuate prominent facial features like the eyes or the cheekbones. And with the endless possibilities of the types of bangs that you can wear, no wonder they’ve remained a staple for so long.’
So long, indeed. No one knows exactly when (or where) bangs first came into fashion, but the Ancient Egyptians were known for their blunt-fringe wigs – which takes us back as far as 3000 BCE. (Although you’ll be sad to hear that Cleopatra’s famous fringe is apparently a myth.) The style then migrated through Ancient Greece and Rome, where ruling emperors seem to have adopted a fringe too. Sculptures indicate Rome’s first emperor Augustus (also known as Octavian) wore a close-cropped, blunt fringe – a look which recently gave rise to the internet-approved Caesar hair cut trend.
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More modern bang styles began taking shape in the 20th century, with blunt fringed cuts becoming a staple of the Roaring Twenties (usually paired with a cropped bob). Later, these morphed into longer, wispier bangs, which thrived throughout the mid-century. ‘The type of bangs we know and love today started to gain popularity in the 60s, with the likes of Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin,’ adds Tina. ‘It seems that big, bouncy, bombshell hair has always paired well with a set of voluminous curtain bangs.’
Then we arrive at the present day, where bangs are thriving both in and out of the salon. ‘Bangs have been having a moment for the past few years and they are a great accessory to any haircut,’ confirms Christel Barron-Hough, founder of STIL. ‘They are always a very popular and versatile choice in the salon as cutting a fringe can add instant style without losing any length. The options are endless as they can be short micro fringes through to long sweeping 70s-inspired bangs.’
And the celebrity set have certainly given the look their approval; Suki Waterhouse, Taylor Swift, Zendaya and Selena Gomez have all tried the look at one point or another. ‘They’ve helped bring fringes back into the spotlight,’ confirms Christel.
But one woman in particular has given the look a real renaissance in the last year: Sabrina Carpenter. ‘One of the most popular sets of bangs at the moment have to be Sabrina Carpenter’s,’ notes Tina. ‘Her wispy curtain bangs harmonise her overall bombshell look, beautifully accentuating her prominent features and framing her oval shaped face.’
Sabrina Carpenter wore Atelier Versace while performing at Capital’s Summertime Ball. © Matt Crossick/Shutterstock for Global
Choosing The Right Length
When picking out your bangs, one of the first things to consider is the length. ‘Determining the length of your bangs depends on three things: face shape, hair type and your personal preference,’ outlines Tina. ‘For example, longer bangs can help to elongate a round face, whilst shorter bangs can soften and add a touch of femininity to a square or diamond face shape.’
‘It really comes down to face shape,’ confirms Christel, ‘and also how much time the client is willing to commit to styling the hair, as some fringe styles will require more maintenance than others.’
Which Bangs Are Best For Your Face Shape?
‘Bangs are also linked to personality as much as face shape, and when the two come together you can create a really harmonious look,’ says Christel. ‘And generally, certain types of bangs do tend to suit specific face shapes more than others.’
Find the perfect set of bangs for your face shape with our guide, below:
Oval
‘Oval is the most versatile face shape, suiting most styles of bangs – lucky you,’ notes Tina. ‘If you have an oval shaped face, then why not experiment with blunt bangs? This type of bangs accentuates the slenderness of the jawline and add a bit of edge to your look.’
Round
‘For round faces, I would choose a side-swept fringe or a grown-out bang,’ suggests Christel.
Square
‘Square face shapes are recognised by their angular silhouette and strong jawline,’ Tina says. ‘To soften the face, enhance movement and texture and add a touch of femininity, wispy bangs are the perfect option.’
Heart
‘Side swept bangs are generally loved by those with heart shaped faces as they soften the appearance of their wider forehead and balance the top of the face with their slenderer chin,’ explains Tina.
Oblong
‘If you have a long face shape, like an oblong, go for side bangs, recommends Christel. ‘Either short or long, to help create softness and balance.’
Diamond
‘Similar to those with a square face shape, diamond shaped faces have a narrow forehead, prominent high cheekbones and slim chins,’ highlights Tina. ‘Soft, feathered wispy bangs add an essence of femininity to this strong face shape.’
Triangle
‘Triangle face shape have a narrow forehead and wide jawline which is flattered by short, choppy bangs,’ Tina says. ‘They add a touch of edginess.’
Not Sure?
If you’re still not sure on your face shape, there’s one style that seems to tick all the boxes. ‘Curtain bangs are one of the most versatile styles,’ reassures Christel, ‘and work well with almost every face shape.’
@.ashley.kay Come with me to get bangs! 💇🏻♀️ @Mia Santiago What I asked for: – trim split ends – long layers – curtain bangs – remove bulk/texturize ends #hairtok #haircut #curtainbangs #bangs #mediumlengthhair #shorthair #layers #longlayers #goodluckbabe #chappellroan #blowout ♬ original sound – ashley kay
How To Tailor Your Bangs To Your Hair Type
And then there’s also your hair type to take into consideration. ‘Bangs can work for different hair types, but it depends on which style of bangs you opt for,’ notes Christel. ‘If you have curly hair, a longer version is better. Whereas if you have hair with a thin texture then a wispy fringe is usually better.’
‘When it comes to choosing the right bangs, chat with your stylist who will be able to advise you on the right bangs for your face shape, hair type and texture – creating a look that is completely bespoke to you,’ adds Tina.
Maintenance Tips
‘To keep your bangs looking fresh, I’d recommend getting regular trims,’ says Tina. ‘Depending on the condition of your hair, I’d recommend getting a trim every six to eight weeks. This will keep your bangs is pristine condition and prevent any split ends from travelling further up the hair shaft.’
How To Style Bangs
Styling will, again, depend on personal preference – but a popular look Tina has noticed in the salon recently is a classic bouncy blowout. ‘I always think that bangs look great with plenty of volume injected into them,’ she says. ‘The secret lies in how you dry the hair. Blow-dry the fringe back and forth away from the root, then back and forth to get it sitting perfectly central using a large round brush to shape the fringe. Follow-up with a curler on the ends for extra definition.’
Although make sure to use any heat styling tools sparingly (or at least with some heat protectant), says Christel. ‘Be mindful of not using too much heat on your bangs, as this can really dry the hair out.’
9 Bangs Hairstyle Ideas To Try Next
Ready to try the look for yourself? We’ve rounded up some of our favourite bangs hairstyle inspiration below:
1. Pixie Bangs
A cropped pixie and choppy bangs? Sounds like a match made in heaven. ‘Zendaya’s look from her 2025 ON shoot really shows off this look,’ says Christel. ‘She wears grown-out micro bangs with texture in the middle – they work really well with long hair for a cool, effortless vibe.’
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2. Full Fringe
A throwback look when paired with long, straight hair – just look to Bella Hadid for inspiration. ‘Her airy full fringe is giving serious 60s vibes,’ adds Christel. ‘It looks great with her long bob.’
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3. Micro Fringe
Speaking of barely there, this short take on bangs create a stunning, sleek look. ‘These baby micro bangs look super chic and editorial with Jourdan Dunn’s pixie haircut.’
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4. 70s Curtain Bangs
And for long hair? Channel a retro vibe with a big, bouncy blow-out. ‘Curtain bangs, like Camilla Cabello’s, are perfect with long, layered hair that has movement,’ notes Christel, ‘they give an effortless 70s feel.’
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5. Side Sweep
The noughties side part came back with a vengeance last year, and it continues to hold a spot on our Pinterest board. Christel’s muse for this look is Rihanna: ‘Her side sweeping bangs look great with the hair up as they perfectly frame the face.’
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6. Long Side Bangs
Growing out your bangs? (Or just trying them out?) Then this is the perfect look. ‘Long side bangs with movement look really good on midi length hair,’ notes Christel. ‘Especially when it has a wavy, undone texture like Jenna Ortega’s.’
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7. Soft Bangs
You can always do a full fringe without it looking too blunt, says Christel. ‘Take Dakota Johnson’s signature full bangs, which have a softness that works really well on longer hair lengths,’ she adds. ‘The key is to keep the sides long and focus on the middle section of the bangs.’
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8. Glam Bangs
While better known for her fluffy curtain bangs, Sabrina Carpenter has been recently tweaking her signature look – doubling down on the old Hollywood glamour. ‘Sabrina’s middle parting, side-swept fringe sits perfectly with her super glam waves,’ notes Christel. ‘This look is great when the bangs are longer, as it gives an illusion of a shorter fringe.’
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