The Best Types of Bangs for Every Hair Type and Face Shape

It’s easy to see bangs on your favorite celebrity and be convinced that you need them, but truthfully, bangs are high maintenance. Before committing to this trendy hairstyle feature, it’s important to take your hair type and texture into consideration so you can find the style of bangs that will suit you best.

You might not realize this, but there are tons of different types of bangs to choose from — micro-bangs, fringe bangs, curtain bangs, wispy bangs, and the list goes on and on. So how do you find the right style for you? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about bangs — from which type will look most flattering on you to how to style them and more.

The Best Types of Bangs for Every Hair Type 

Bangs aren’t one size fits all. In fact, there are quite a few different types to choose from when you’re at the salon. One way to make your decision is based on your hair type and hair texture. 

The Best Bangs for Straight Hair

Blunt Bangs

Blunt bangs are heavy and hit straight across the face, right above the eyebrows. If you have naturally straight hair, they’re pretty easy to maintain and style. 

The Best Bangs for Wavy Hair

Shaggy Bangs

If your hair already has a bit of natural texture, you could be a great fit for shaggy bangs. The ultimate cool-girl fringe, shaggy bangs have been seen on "It" girls for decades — and they’re still in style today. 

The Best Bangs for Curly Hair

Long Curly Bangs

Curly bangs were a huge hit in the ‘80s and they’re still super popular today. If you have curly hair, opt for a longer bang style so the weight of your hair can add some extra length, which will help you  avoid unwanted baby bangs.

The Best Bangs for Thick Hair

Side-Swept Bangs

Side-swept bangs provide subtle face-framing, and they work well with thick hair because they remove bulk at the hairline.

Piecey Bangs

Piecey bangs remove weight and density, which is why they work well for thick hair. They’re also a great way to test out bangs if you’ve never had them before because they look more subtle than blunt bangs. 

The Best Bangs for Thin Hair

Wispy Fringe Bangs

Wispy fringe is majorly on trend at the moment. Unlike blunt bangs, wispy bangs look feathery and add a soft, face-framing element to your style.

Micro Bangs

Skip heavy bangs if you have thin hair. A light, wispy fringe will be perfect for your tresses. If you’re looking to get in on a major trend, you can also rock micro bangs, for a super short, statement look.

The Best Bangs for Short Hair

Middle Part Bangs

Middle part fringe is similar to face framing layers. They help soften the face, which is why middle part bangs pair so well with short haircuts, which tend to be more structured. 

The Best Bangs for Long Hair

Curtain Bangs

Curtain bangs are good at framing the face because they have a longer shape that helps slim the face while removing bulk from the hair.  

The Best Bangs for Your Face Shape

When it comes to rocking bangs, let your face shape be your guide in addition to your hair type and texture. 

The Best Bangs for a Square Face

Long, eye-grazing bangs that are heavier on the sides than in the middle will suit a square face shape. When you add a gentle curve to your bangs, this can soften the natural angles of your face. To get the cut you’re looking for, ask your stylist for heavy bangs snipped just below your brows. Make sure to ask for your bangs to be thinned out a bit in the middle to give an overall feathery appearance with just a peek of forehead showing through.

The Best Bangs for a Round Face

Slightly arched bangs look lovely with round face shapes. At the salon, ask for a blunt, curved shape to flatter your face, otherwise, you risk making your face look even rounder with no balancing features.

The Best Bangs for a Heart-Shaped Face

Side-swept bangs have the ability to balance out a slightly top-heavy face shape, allowing attention to be brought to your eyes instead of the width of your forehead. Just ask your stylist for bangs that hit the arch of your forehead at their shortest and the corners of your eyes at their longest.

The Best Bangs for an Oval Face

To accentuate your facial features, ask your stylist for airy, pin straight bangs that extend just beyond your eyebrows, with a bit more length on the sides. The best part? With this cut, you can wear your bangs across your forehead or swept to the side. 

The Best Bangs for a Small Forehead

The size of your forehead isn’t exactly a face shape in its own right, but it should still play a part in any bang-related decisions. If you’re concerned that your forehead looks too small and you’d like to make it look more pronounced, ask your stylist to trim a steep, sloping asymmetrical fringe that lightly grazes your cheekbones. Pair it with a deep side part and you’ll have an ultra-flattering hairstyle.

The Best Bangs for a Long Forehead

If you have a larger forehead, go for thick, gradually angled bangs that start at the center of your forehead and finish off in a taper around your cheekbones. The thickness will conceal your slightly larger forehead, and the slight angle will help balance your face.

4 Hairstyling Tips for Bangs

Once you’ve found your fringe match, it’s important to know that bangs do require a little bit of extra work to style. Follow the below tips for easy styling.

1. Blow-Dry Your Bangs Immediately

In general, it’s a good idea to wait until your hair has dried at least halfway before blow-drying, but that’s not always the case with bangs. Since bangs are such a small section of hair, they will dry a lot (and we mean a lot) quicker than the rest of your hair.

The trick to avoiding flat bangs is to curl them around a boar bristle brush while drying them. Use a blow-dryer with a nozzle attachment and angle it down, toward your bangs. Using this styling technique can help your bangs flow straight down with the perfect amount of body. Just remember to spritz on a heat protectant, like L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Leave In, before styling.

2. Try a Flat-Iron

If straight bangs are what you’re going for, be sure to invest in a mini flat iron. A mini flat iron will be better than a normal sized flat iron for getting right up to the root of your fringe so you can achieve the super-sleek look. Plus, it’ll ensure you don’t burn your forehead in the process.

3. Use a Light Hand With Styling Products

We understand it can be pretty tempting to load up on hair styling products, but when it comes to your bangs, keep this motto in mind: less is more. If you coat your bangs with loads of product, they could end up looking greasy by midday. Plus, hair product transferring onto the skin can lead to clogged pores. 

To avoid this, just pump a little bit of styling product into your palm and work it through your entire head of hair, only using what’s left over on your bangs. If you’re going for curly bangs, use a bit of L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT Volume Inject Mousse to scrunch them into place. For straight bangs, a bit of hairspray, like L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hair Spray - Unscented, will keep them in place. 

4. Be Mindful Of Your Bangs During Your Skin Care Routine

You know how vital it is to use facial moisturizer on your complexion twice a day, but what are you supposed to do when you have bangs covering your forehead? When you start your skin care routine, just make sure that you have your bangs pinned back. Don’t let them down until your moisturizer has fully absorbed (and SPF if it’s morning) and you’ve completed your skin care routine — this will help prevent them from getting greasy and ensure that you're not ignoring your forehead in your skincare process. 

Next: How to Curl Your Hair With a Flat Iron

Photo Credit: iStock