Cutting bangs is a big decision and if you have curly hair there are unique considerations that you need to take into account. Once you have cut bangs, it takes a long time to grow them out, so consider these 14 points before you make a final decision. What is your face shape? If you have a an oblong face then bangs can look great. Bangs can also look good on diamond, heart shaped, and oval faces. However, if you have a round or square shaped face, bangs can make your face look rounder and wider. Will bangs make your face look more oval? It is in our genes to see oval faces as the most attractive. The facial dimensions that we innately find most appealing are approximately 7:5 (height:width). As I mentioned above, bangs will make oblong faces look more oval, which is great. However, bangs can make square and round faces look wider, which isn’t as appealing. What is your curl type? There is a big difference between wavy bangs and super curly bangs. Wavy and swavy (straight wavy 2A) bangs can be challenging because they can sometimes look stringy. I usually cut wavy bangs thicker to make them look stronger. Super curly bangs are generally easier to style, however they have a greater spring factor. Because of this, it is critical that super curly bangs be cut when they are dry and in their natural curly formation. How thick do you want your bangs to be? Thicker bangs look better on longer face shapes. Whispier bangs usually look better on rounder and squarer faces. How long should your bangs be? I usually like to cut bangs just below the eyebrows and above the eyelashes. However, if you have a round or square face, cutting shorter bangs can look better because they make your face look more oval. Do you want your bangs cut straight across or rounded down at the edges? I almost always advocate bangs that curve down slightly at the edges because I think this shape frames your eyes nicely. However, if you want a more retro look, bangs that go straight across all the way to the side hairlines can be fun. Will your bangs fall in your eyes? It can be sexy to hide your eyes behind wispy bangs, but nobody likes to have hair in their eyes. It’s up to you if you want to put up with hair in front of your eyes or not. Most of my clients don’t like hair in their eyes and usually sweep it to the side when the bangs are too long. But some of my clients insist on having their eyes peekaboo from behind their bangs. How often will you need a bang trim? Wavy bangs grow downward faster than super curly bangs, so wavy bangs will need to be trimmed more often. Do you want your bangs textured or blunt cut? I prefer to blunt cut super curly bangs because texturizing these curls makes them look frizzy. With wavy hair, especially 2A and 2B, I will usually texturize the ends to soften them. I often blunt cut 3A, 3B and 3C bangs. What is the direction that your hair is growing along your hairline? It is vital to examine the direction your hair is growing along your hairline to determine how your bangs will fall. If your hair is growing straight down toward your face then your bangs will fall straight down. However, this isn’t usually the case. If your hair is growing back up away from your face and toward your crown, then your bangs will pop up before they go down, so more hair will have to be cut into the bangs to give them weight and the bangs will need to be cut longer. If your hair grows toward the side of hair face then your bangs will probably split. What are your favorite facial features? If you have a big pretty smile, then bangs can bring attention to your mouth. Large symmetrical eyes can also be enhanced by bangs. What are your least favorite facial features? If you have a big nose, bangs may bring unwanted attention to it. I know because I have a big nose. But I am a guy and I don’t wear bangs. Is your face symmetrical? The symmetry of your face will usually be more obvious with bangs. If you have an asymmetrical face, such as one of your eyes is higher than the other, which is quite common, then straight across bangs will make the asymmetry of your face more evident. How thick is your hair? If you have fine hair, then you will need to use a larger amount of your hair to create bangs. If you have thick hair, you can get away with creating bangs with a smaller amount of your hair. These decisions will affect the design of the rest of your haircut depending on how much hair is left behind after cutting bangs. There is a lot to consider when contemplating cutting bangs. If you think that bangs are for you, then go for it! You will have an entirely new hairstyle in a matter of seconds.
