How to Wear Chin Bangs, the Low Maintenance Twist on Curtain Bangs

If your social media feed looks anything like ours, then you can’t get away from curtain bangs. Whether it’s Gen Z’s affinity for the middle part or the certain easygoing nature that curtain bangs exude, they’re easily one of the season’s hottest hair trends. Ironically, while curtain bangs have an effortless look — they can be exactly the opposite — requiring constant styling, different hair tools and the right arsenal of products to achieve the right iconic shape and volume, based on your hair type. 

If the maintenance is what holds you back from committing to the look, we totally understand — we felt the same way, until we heard about chin bangs. Chin bangs are a longer, low-maintenance version of curtain bangs that reminds us of face-framing layers. Read all about chin bangs, including how to style them and why this low-key look may be better for you than curtain bangs, below.  

What Are Chin Bangs?

Much like the name suggests, chin bangs are chin-length bangs that resemble a grown-out version of curtain bangs. The longer length makes them easier to style, while offering the same face-framing effect, volume and chic nature of curtain bangs that we love. It also gives you the option to tuck your chin bangs into a high ponytail or bun on days when you don’t want to style them. 

What’s the Difference Between Chin Bangs and Face-Framing Layers?

While chin bangs may look like face-framing layers, they have a few, key differences that separate the two. Chin bangs are thicker and heavier than face-framing layers due to their higher placement on the scalp. While both chin bangs and face-framing layers frame your features, the latter blends in with the rest of your hair, removes bulk and creates texture and volume. Think of chin bangs as a more obvious take on face-framing layers.

How Do I Ask My Stylist for Chin Bangs?

To ask your stylist for chin bangs, ask for grown out curtain bangs that hit around the chin area. Asking for face-framing layers will result in a more subtle end-result, which is still super flattering, just know that it won’t have the same dense cut that chin bangs have. Showing your stylist a picture or a video of what you want the end goal to look like is a great way to get your point across. 

Do Chin Bangs Look Good on Everyone?

Thanks to their dense cut, chin bangs can flatter all face shapes. They’re especially flattering for long, rectangles and oblong shapes because they help to shorten the face, frame features and create balance. Those with defined jawlines should ask for chin bangs with feathered ends to soften their face shape whereas a blunt cut can help to give round face shapes a more chiseled appearance.

How Do I Style Chin Bangs?

Chin bangs are worthwhile for their low-effort maintenance and versatility. Here are a few tips to help you style this face-framing cut.

1. Use a Volume-Enhancing Shampoo

The path to achieving bouncy and voluminous strands starts with your shampoo and conditioner. Enter the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Shampoo, Paraben-Free and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Conditioner, Paraben-Free. Thanks to a hyaluronic acid complex, this hydrating system quenches dry, dehydrated hair and adds noticeable bounce, body and shine so you don’t have to worry about a flat, lifeless style. 

Add it to your wash-day routine to give your chin bangs a noticeable boost of volume for easy, gorgeous styling.

Editor’s tip: To refresh your hair in between washes, use the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Moisture Plump Serum, Paraben-Free. Use this reshaping serum daily to enrich hair with moisture and revive your style.

2. Air Dry Your Chin Bangs

There are two ways you can go about styling your chin bangs — air drying them or using hot tools. To go the low-maintenance route, prime your chin bangs with a styling treatment like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free 21-in-1 Color Caring Spray, Leave In to reduce frizz, add volume, enhance shine and more. 

Once your chin bangs are about 70 percent dry, tuck them behind your ears and let them finish drying. This will help to give your chin bangs the flattering swoop style that frames your face — it’s that easy.

3. Or, Style Your Chin Bangs With a Blow Dryer and a Round Brush

If you’re styling your chin bangs with hot tools, always remember to prime your strands with a heat protectant like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer, Heat Protectant or the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Serum Leave-In.

Take your blow dryer and a round brush, gather your chin bangs under the curve of the round brush and blow dry them upwards as you rotate the brush. Continue this step until your bangs are dry and then, wrap the hair around a velcro roller to set the style.

Let the hair sit in the velcro roller for at least ten minutes so it can cool before removing it. This is a great time to finish styling the rest of your hair or complete your makeup routine.

Editor’s tip: In place of a blow dryer, a large barrel curling iron can do wonderful things for your chin bangs. Hold the curling iron horizontally and curl your chin bangs away from the face. When you’re finished, wrap the hair in a velcro roller to allow the curl to cool and set. After ten minutes, you can remove the velcro roller and fluff your chin bangs into place. This process is a bit quicker than a blow dryer and with a little practice, it can yield the same results.

4. Keep Your Chin Bangs Fresh With Dry Shampoo

Because they sit on your forehead, bangs absorb the skin’s natural oils and get oily much quicker than the rest of your hair. To keep them fresh, keep tinted dry shampoo on hand like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Tinted Dry Shampoo for Blonde Hair for blondes and redheads or the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Tinted Dry Shampoo for Brown Hair for those with dark hair. The bonus: it can also add a boost of volume to your style.

Next: The Best Low-Maintenance Haircuts for Every Hair Type

Written by: Reece Andavolgyi, Photo credit: Kyra, IG @/ lou_and_colour, Design credit: Sarah Duvivier