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Can’t escape the feeling like you need to do something … anything with your hair?
Struck by an overwhelming urge to cut a fringe again?
Are you aware of a super cool bangs trend that some say changes everything?
Two words. Curtain bangs.
You may know them as Bardot bangs – so yeah they’ve been around awhile. Since the 1970s actually. It’s just that they’re trending again.
Think maybe it’s time for you to become obsessed with these 70s style bangs like everyone else?
To help you decide here’s what we’ll cover …
Quick Section Navigation
- What Are Curtain Bangs?
- Who Rocks Them Best?
- What About Maintenance?
- What’s the Best Way to Style Them?
- How To Put the Swoop In Yours (video)
- What To Ask For The First Time
- Do You Dare? How to Cut Curtain Bangs Yourself! (video)
- End Game: Growing Them Out
- SUMMARY: Pros And Cons Of Curtain Bangs
Feel free to jump to what catches your eye or just take things as they come! 🙂
What Are Curtain Bangs?
For those of you who don’t know a curtain fringe is a kind of chunky yet wispy at the same time.
Such a fringe is rocked with a center part and kinda flares outward on each side of your face. Which is why some may know these as “wings”?
So they drape across either side of your face like curtains
They’re snipped shortest in the center and then angled to gradually get longer towards the ends which should flirt with the corners of your eyes.
The result is the cutest face framing bangs with a separation carved out in the middle.
(The second video below that shows how to cut them makes that point abundantly clear.)
Usually centered, a slightly off center part is perfectly fine too.
Don’t let the fact some are snarky enough to call them “gateway bangs” or “bangs with training wheels” suitable only until you can get the real deal.
Pay them no mind. With curtain bangs you don’t have to get a full chop to enjoy a “real deal” fringe.
All in all it’s a great way to freshen up your look without sacrificing a ton of length.
Who Rocks Them Best?
Obviously any of the following should be evaluated on a person to person basis as everyone’s situation is unique. But generally these points apply.
Face shape: Most feel they are flattering to most any face shapes. Depending, they can be cut longer or shorter to best set off your features.
Forehead: Girls with longer and wider foreheads are perfect candidates. Because this type of bang perfectly creates the illusion of a shorter, more petite forehead.
Still what’s good news for some is bad news for others. If you already have a smaller forehead this may not be your best look. Because you may benefit most from a cut or style that expands your face a bit. This type of bang generally will not do that.
Cowlicks: These should be taken into consideration whenever bangs on the agenda.
Hair type: Typically they work best for those with straight hair or strands with only a hint of waviness. As with most things bang coarse and curly will be most challenging.
Still, do curtain bangs work with curly hair? Absolutely.
Hair Length: All lengths qualify. Best candidates would be lobs – which bangs don’t look good with a long bob? or longer cuts in general.
See? No worries! There’s usually a styling trick for every situation that comes up with this most versatile of fringes. To rock them you simply need to style them accordingly.
But if you’re still on the fence we wrote a blog post covering the why you should get in on the Brigitte Bardot curtain bangs trend. (You should read that one now!)
Hint!
They’re popular.
Low maintenance.
And this style of bang is here to stay.
What About Maintenance?
Good question. You seem to know all bangs require special handling.
Obviously you’ll want to develop a styling routine. Luckily there’s a couple of videos below that can point you in the right direction – with or without a mini flat iron.
Yet if that isn’t enough we’ve got a curtain bangs tutorial or four that covers three different techniques including a couple not covered here.
Now a larger round brush is needed so you can tug on them to keep up the tension while hitting them with a blast from your hair dryer.
Oh and knowing the ins and outs of blow drying them is a big key. So if you need a better idea check out our in-depth take on how to blow dry curtain bangs.
There you’ll find three awesome videos that offer valuable step by step tips for styling bangs demonstrating how to easily style your Bardot bangs with a hair dryer.
You can often get by with a quick sink washing most mornings when you aren’t going to lather up. Some find a light spritz with warm water and a minute or two spent styling with a dryer is all it takes to revive them.
Others report good luck with dry shampoo. Both for styling and given you may find yourself swatting them to the side out of your eyes from time to time to keep any grease under control.
So dry shampoo will help them hold their shape without looking too greasy by the end of the day.
Other than that, by their nature they are more forgiving. Which is to say you won’t be making constant trips to the salon for a 10 minute trim to keep them perfectly ship shape.
So when it comes to maintenance, what maintenance?
What’s the Best Way to Style Them?
Being more of a laid back, lived in look, the appeal of this bang is the need for little to no styling.
Turns out they are almost as effortless as they look to be. Who knew?
Yet the trick is to get it to sit right while spanning your forehead.
Fine hair may need help with hold – think light weight mousse.
Thicker hair may need more product help.
Plus your blow dryer can also lend a hand.
Then too when styling curtain bangs there’s always those pesky cowlicks.
And nothing ruins a perfectly good fringe faster than a stubborn one in the wrong place.
No worries. Any cowlick can be overcome.
In fact we’ve laid out how to style curtain bangs with a cowlick. I’d share the styling hack but that would ruin the surprise. So click that link and find out for yourself how to fix that problem.
But all is not unicorns and rainbows. Some discover that their’s NEVER sit exactly how they want them to.
So here’s …
How To Put the Swoop In Yours
Yeah, if all that has caused you to give into the siren call of curtain bangs then you need this how-to-style-them video.
It’s perfect because it eliminates the need to figure it out on your own.
So don’t be shocked if you end up being super happy with how your fringe looks when styled this way.
The round brush and blow dryer tricks shared may just be what are missing from your styling routine to insure you end up with the almost perfect swoop. Or the techniques you need to easily pull off this iconic Parisian chic look.
Oh and for those curious she’s wielding a 2 inch brush to make the magic happen.
Okay so much for styling. Here’s …
What To Ask For The First Time
Beware of this trap on your way to cute, swooshy curtains.
You can ask for them but that’s doesn’t mean you’re going to get them.
That’s right.
Even tearing out a photo from a magazine doesn’t guarantee you won’t end up with a rather blunt bang.
Sure having images for show and tell can go a long way to ensuring you get what you what you ask for. Way better than just trying to explain it verbally.
Yet it may not hurt to double check and let slip that blunt bangs are NOT what you’re looking for.
Regardless this still isn’t a DIY bang. At least not the first time.
You want it to blend with your cut, enhance your face shape and work with your natural hair texture. That may be more than a new bangs cutter can hope to achieve.
The angle from short to long can be tricky to get right too. But it’s easier if the point of separation is properly selected to begin with.
All this takes someone with experience.
After the first time though you’ve got a road map to follow making round two a safer DIY option.
So for those brave enough to take things into their own hands here’s the video for you.
Do You Dare? How to Cut Curtain Bangs Yourself!
As you’ll see it’s gives you a precise, easy to follow, step by step approach you can follow.
She even shares a pretty much genius trick to insure both sides are the same length.
Bonus. She shows how she styles them with a flat iron. Should that be your tool of preference you won’t want to miss that.
Just remember, it’s always possible to cut more, but impossible to put back hair you’ve already cut off.
So. Take. It. Slow.
Want more ideas? Ever heard of cutting your Bardots with a twist? If not here’s another easy modern Brigitte Bardot bangs tutorial guide of ours that’s safe and works.
End Game: Growing Them Out
This is almost the best part.
Usually these bangs grow out without any of that awkward period nonsense. You know, that phase where you’re feeling like everyone is looking at you and that side show taking place on your forehead.
You could almost say they’re in grow out mode from the jump as they are cut to blend with the rest of your hair from day one.
So unlike other bangs there really isn’t a hard and fast or obvious grow out phase.
That’s because they aren’t a straight across style that you have wait out and cope with. So no struggle.
Pros And Cons Of Curtain Bangs
Think you want to give center parted, Bardot bangs a whirl? Here’s some pros and cons to be aware of.
PRO #1: A Bardot fringe throws off an oh so chic vibe no matter how you style it
PRO #2: When you first get them you’ll feel and look like a new you
PRO #3: Curtain bangs are less of a commitment cause they’re easier to grow out
PRO #4: A flirty, forked fringe can make you look younger by hiding any fine lines on your forehead
PRO #5: Typically flattering to any face shape – elongating even round or square faces stylishly
PRO #6: Being low maintenance makes them lazy girl approved – since they’re a more lived in look you’ve got more leeway when it comes to the timing of trims
CON #1: Potential for clogged forehead pores and an unwanted zit breakout
CON #2: Given they work best with straight or slightly wavy hair, girls with curls need to approach with caution
CON #3: Not windy weather friendly although hairspray can help
CON #4: Usually requires a middle part which can be a good thing or not depending on your cut
CON #5: Like any bang it can get sweaty under there
Ready for your wings?
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