But what exactly are curtain bangs? Celebrity hairstylist Michelle Cleveland says that the hallmark of curtain bangs is when the fringe is cut shorter on the inside, and gets longer as the bangs get further away from your face. "Think of a curtain draping a window," she says. These bangs frame your face on both sides.
While regular bangs go straight across, curtain bangs are typically shorter in the center and longer on the sides, so you can wear them parted.
“They are a simple way to elegantly frame your face when the rest of the hair is pulled up and elevate loose hairstyles with a cool shape built in,” explains Vernon François. Here, a guide to navigating the curtain bangs look, from getting the right cut to styling them at home.
If you want a hairstyle that combines versatility and a natural look, layered hair with curtain bangs is the best choice. The layers add movement and texture to your hair while the curtain bangs frame your face. This style works well with your natural hair color, enhancing its natural beauty.
Square or heart-shaped faces look best with wispier, feathered fringe to add softness. Oblong face shapes are a perfect match for blunt-cut bangs. Round faces can get added dimension from side-swept or curtain bangs. Oval-shaped faces can pull off just about any type of bang.
Curtain bangs are all the rage right now, and for good reason. They frame the eyes and face in a natural way, giving the wearer both a youthful look and a modern spin.
This means not only asking your stylist for curtain bangs but explaining exactly what you want in the process. It's helpful if you can bring a picture of your desired look, too, as they're less likely to go off-track with styling when they have a clear-cut image to reference.
Being a style that's hard to carry, Pulitano says “a curtain fringe won't suit all face types.” “I would avoid it for round shaped faces and square jawlines. I would also avoid it if you have a strong cowlick, as your fringe will jump up in the centre and split in the wrong place all the time.”
The butterfly cut features shorter face-framing layers that cascade like wings with longer layers through the length of your hair. Since the goal is to remove weight, not length, ask your stylist for face-framing layers with wispy ends that begin at the chin and longer layers throughout the rest of your hair.
Curtain bangs are longer on the sides and shorter in the middle and function as a sort of frame around your eyes—similar to how curtains work around windows.
Butterfly bangs are soft, swept to each side, and slightly resemble the shape of a butterfly's wing. They are often accompanied by the butterfly hair cut, comprised of curved 90s layers that enhance body and bounce.
As far as upkeep goes, you don't need to worry about busting out the blow-dryer before you leave the house. "[Curtain bangs] are super low-maintenance because [they] flow into your hair naturally and you can style them however you want," says Cleveland.
Like any other type of bang, curtain bangs require some effort, definitely not as much as others, but you still need to style them so they can look their best.
Like curtain bangs, feathered bangs are on the longer side, but they don't have a center part. Instead, your stylist will cut textured bangs just below your eyebrows. Feathered bangs are perfect if you like to change your bangs up since they're looser and can lay any way you'd like.
If You Have a Round Face: Round faces are identifiable by full, wide cheeks. For these face shapes, straight bangs are a big no-no, as they accentuate your face's fullness.
Do bangs flatter every face shape? “The most flattering bangs create an oval face shape,” says Townsend. So, if you naturally have an ovular face, you have a larger variety of bang styles to choose from. If your face is square or oblong, “You'll want to try A-shaped bangs or longer layers,” he says.
Wolf cut hairstyles are a mix of two popular current haircut trends, aka the shag haircut and the mullet. Both these trending hairstyles feature a mix of layers and bangs. While the mullet is a short haircut, the shag haircut can be short, long, or mid length. When put together, it results in unique wolf haircut looks.
Curtain bangs lengthen outward toward the edges and are parted in the center, creating the effect of parting a curtain to reveal your forehead. Face-framing bangs are a longer version that brushes the cheekbones and often ends at or below the jaw line.
Bangs (North American English), or a fringe (British English), are strands or locks of hair that fall over the scalp's front hairline to cover the forehead, usually just above the eyebrows, though can range to various lengths.
Shoulder-length hair (or longer) with layers
Forget what you thought about long hair past the age of 40—thick hair actually looks more youthful and polished when it falls shoulder-length or longer. Shorter hair has a tendency to expand at the ends, leaving you with an unflattering triangle effect.
Best for Round Face Shapes: Curtain Bangs
They're super versatile and wearable on most face shapes, but it helps to frame rounder ones, giving them a slimmer appearance.