How to Stop Bangs from Splitting, According to Experts (2024)

Often the biggest gripe with having bangs isn't the fact that they require a once-a-month salon appointment, but the daily — nay, hourly — annoyance of fluffing, zhuzhing, and restyling them to stay in place. While curtain bangs may be quite popular, not all fringe styles are cut to be parted in the center. Some are blunt and cut straight across without any angles to help frame the face. So it's quite the style detriment when those hairs rebel and frequently separate.

Thankfully, professional hairstylists have all the solutions for taming errant, split bangs. We turned to Mark Townsend and Aaron Grenia who gave us their expert intel on training bangs away from dividing down the middle.

Keep scrolling for six ways to keep bangs from splitting.

Use Dry Shampoo

For those with split bang issues, Townsend offers a simple solution: a few spritzes of dry shampoo. "I always say that hairspray sticks hairs together and dry shampoo separates them," he tells us. "That's why hair looks so much fuller after putting a ton of dry shampoo in there — because it literally keeps the hair from sticking together." Spraying dry shampoo into your bangs, even when they're not oily, prevents the hairs from clumping up into two sections and parting down the middle.

Skip the Conditioner

Hair often separates to balance out any additional weight, whether it's oil, product, or both. So when reaching for the conditioner, apply it to hair mids and ends but skip roots and bangs.

Reduce Excess Oil

Even if your hair isn't greasy, your skin might be. Excess oil or sweat on the forehead can be absorbed by the bangs, causing them to split. Wash your face frequently, especially after working out, and use oil-free skincare products to keep bangs in prime condition.

Consider a Fringe Perm

Perming bangs may prevent them from splitting down the middle. However, it works best on coarser or stronger hair types, as they tend to handle perms better, notes Grenia.

Try a Keratin Treatment

For people who have finer or thinner hair, Grenia suggests a keratin smoothing treatment. "We can do 'spot' treatments to just the hairline if [the middle part] is the only real issue," he explains. "This helps to control unwanted cowlicks as well."

Reframe Your Style

While it may not be the exact look of how your bangs are supposed to lay, misbehaving bangs can lead to other style ideas. When all else fails, embrace your parted bangs with a see-through bang style. See-through bangs are similar to wispy bangs in that they allow a little bit of your forehead to peek through your fringe.

To achieve this softer look, avoid blow-drying your bangs with a brush to maintain the pieceyness. See-through bangs allow for a messier, romantic look to your hairstyle, which means less effort for you, and a versatile way to wear your new bangs.