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The Perfect Bangs for Your Face Shape

by Deborah Dunham (Subscribe to Deborah Dunham's posts)
Posted Jan 26th 2011 at 12:00PM  
10 Comments
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Bangs hairstyle

Read these tips to score the perfect bangs for your face shape. Photo: Getty Images

There are certain women who just look amazing with bangs. Their forehead fringe flatters their face perfectly, making their eyes pop while giving them a youthful, vibrant and sexy look.

Then there's the rest of us.

Maybe you've tried bangs in the past, only to end up looking like your third-grade picture or hating the way the tiny sprigs stuck to your forehead. Or maybe you're in the frustrating process of growing them out because they never quite looked like that celebrity photo you brought to the salon.

Suffice to say, most of us have experienced bangs at one point in our lives with less than desirable results, and yet they continue to surface on runways, red carpets and tabloid covers.

Which makes the allure of trying them again hard to resist.

"Bangs are a classic," says celebrity stylist and salon owner Mark Garrison. "They have been around since recorded history and aren't going to disappear in this century. We just have to continue reinventing them so they stay fresh and modern."

Like this season's heavy bang that taps the lashes. It's the hottest look right now, according to Garrison. Though beautiful, they're not very practical because you can barely see out from underneath. Not to mention, a little high-maintenance since they need to be trimmed every week to keep the perfect length.

There are a number of other bang styles to choose from, though.

But how do you know which one is right for you? Garrison says to start by looking at the shape of your face:

Long face: Bangs diminish the length of a long face. Typically a long face has a high forehead and when bangs cover it, the face is shortened with an illusion of more width to the face. Longer bangs are best. They can be blunt for a stronger, trendier look or edges can be softened and unforced.

Oval face: An oval face can wear a bang that's angled and shorter. A razored bang is the most feminine because it has flow and texture. Oval is considered the perfect face to wear all styles of bangs, which is why heavy bangs that curve down on the sides are perfect. You can also wear them supershort and right to the hairline for the edgiest of styles!

Round face: Bangs that are a little shorter in the middle give length to a round face making it appear more oval. Bangs can be airy and wispy so they show more forehead, which will also add length. An asymmetric bang is great too because it diverts the eye.

Heart face: A blunt bang, cut straight across just below the eyebrows will cover the forehead and soften a pointed chin. Because the forehead can be a bit wide on this face shape, a sideswept fringe is ideal. Heart-shape faces also look great with choppy bangs that are long enough to push to one side for versatility.

Square face: This is the perfect face for a long, wispy, angled bang because it cuts the square dimension so the eye travels on a diagonal rather than horizontal. The shape of the face is flattered this way because it gives length to the face. A blunt bang would square off the face even more.

When it comes to maintenance, if you have cowlicks, straight heavy bangs may not be for you. Instead, angled or sideswept bangs work best. Another thing to keep in mind, curly hair can be a disaster to have successful smooth bangs. However, a long curly bang can be sexy!

Here are a few other pointers to keep your fringe looking its finest:

Long bangs: Blow them dry with a big round boar-bristle brush. On damp hair, brush hair from side to side to smooth out any cowlicks. Make sure to get right at the roots to control any wave. When dry, run a flatiron over them if you want a straighter look. Then use hairspray if hair is fine and limp or serum if hair is dry and coarse.

Short bangs: Use your fingers to push hair into shape and air-dry or blow-dry in downward direction so they don't stick straight up. Use wax for finish and texture definition.

Fringe: Use a flat brush and dry with a side-to-side motion. Piece out the strands with a good pomade.

Sideswept: Blow forward at first with a round brush lifting at the hairline to give volume so bangs aren't stuck to the forehead. A big curling iron can also give a nice bend to the side. Finish with hairspray for hold.

If you think you're ready to make the cut, here are a few questions to ask your hairstylist first: What type of bang will flatter my face? Do I have a cowlick that's going to be a problem? How will I style them? What do I do as they grow out? Can you do a few wispy ones first so I can get used to it and see whether I like it? A good hairdresser will pull hair from behind and form it into a makeshift bang to show what it might look like.

And when it comes to cutting your own bangs at home, Garrison has one piece of advice: Don't do it. "Your hairdresser should give you free bang trims. And if not, then find one that will," he says.

However, if you must snip your own strands, allow an inch from where you want to end up because you'll most likely overcut them. Go little by little and hold them out and cut into the edge with points of the scissors so you chip away until desired length. You can also twist half-inch sections and then cut to get a soft line.

Want more inspiration? Take a look at one of our favorite fringe looks!

And check out the best and worst celebrity bangs.

Still not ready to commit? Click through the photo gallery below for tips on how to style clip-in bangs.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=799266&pid=799265&uts=1296157608
http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf
Hair Basics: Clip-in Bang Extensions
Learn these pro tips for wearing clip-in bang extensions, and your fringe'll be hair today, gone tomorrow!
Sebastian Mlynarski for AOL

Hair Basics: Clip-in Bang Extensions

Have you been thinking about cutting bangs, but don't want to take the plunge? Clip-in bang extensions can give you a whole new look, and they're super-easy to use. With these tips from celebrity hair stylist Danielle Caputo, you'll have natural looking bangs in no time. Whether they're real or not will be your little secret.

Hair Basics: Clip-in Bang Extensions

When you're using human hair, smooth out the bangs before inserting them. First, spritz the piece with a shine spray, and then go over it with a flat iron on high heat. If you're using synthetic extensions, skip this step as the heat may damage the hair piece.

Hair Basics: Clip-in Bang Extensions

All bang extensions come with clips underneath them, which you'll need to pop open before fastening in the hair piece. So simply bend them to open them up, then you're ready to insert the piece in your hair.

Hair Basics: Clip-in Bang Extensions

Part your hair in the center before snapping in the extension. Fasten the extension by inserting it right at the hairline, grabbing some hair with the clip, and then popping the clips closed with your fingers.

Hair Basics: Clip-in Bang Extensions

Use your fingers to piece-out the bangs to meld them with your natural hair. Then style your hair to wear it down, pull it back, or put on a head band.

Hair Basics: Clip-in Bang Extensions

And there, you have bangs. Now wasn't that simple?

Hair Basics: Clip-in Bang Extensions

Read All Comments
Filed under: Cuts & Style, Hair
Tags: bangs, bangs by face shape, celebrity hairstylist, expert hair tips, face shape, hair basics, HairBasics, Mark Garrison
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READER COMMENTS

(10)Add A Comment

John F.C. Taylor, 1-28-2011, 8:05AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
John F.C. Taylor

Bangs should not be longer than reaching the eyebrows. Nothing drives me up a wall more than seeing someone constantly blinking or brushing aside their bangs because the hair is getting in their eyes.

Reply »

Marit Londeaux, 1-28-2011, 10:56AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Marit Londeaux

I agree with John. Did anyone see Sandra Bullock as a presenter at the Golden Globes? Her very long bangs looked ridiculous on her because you couldn't see her eyes. She reminded me of Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders. I wear my own bangs just below the eyebrow, but not long enough to be in my eyes. When I trim them I use the same technique described by the author. I hold out and then cut into the edge with the points of the scissors. I don't like very blunt bangs so by cutting them this way I'm able to give them a more "choppy" effect.

»

Laura, 1-31-2011, 12:52PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Laura

Martrit - Sandra Bullock's Golden Globe bangs were (hideous) clip-ins if I've ever seen them. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have committed to that look permanently (one can only hope...)

»

mopie, 1-28-2011, 8:26AM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
mopie

Yeah, I like it when you can see their eyes when they're doing you know what down there.

Reply »

chee-chee, 1-30-2011, 9:26PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
chee-chee

From these comments I see that women like looking like men and the men like women who can look like a man.Damn shame

Reply »

Mary, 1-30-2011, 10:50PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Mary

I like short bangs. I try to keep mine about as short as Audrey Hepburn when she played Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's. However, in the summer, I hate sweating, so sometimes I cut them as short as Mamie Eisenhower wore hers and curl them just like it. I can't stand to have hair in my eyes that interferes with how clean my eyeglasses are. Also, what's the point of putting on eye makeup it you are just going to hide it with Cher bangs from the 1970s?

Reply »

earlymusicus, 1-30-2011, 11:04PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
earlymusicus

Now please tell me how that woman can even see where she's going?! I sure don't want to be driving on the same road as she with those bangs. That's totally ridiculous, but then these fashion designers have no common sense or practicality - it's all about shock value.

Reply »

earlymusicus, 1-30-2011, 11:06PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
earlymusicus

Now please tell me how that woman can see anything?! That's totally ridiculous! I sure wouldn't want to be driving on the same road with her with those bangs. These fashion designers have no common sense or practicality - they're ever only about shock value.

Reply »

sha, 1-31-2011, 12:17AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
sha

I really think it depends on your other features such as ones nose, etc. as to whether bangs look good. For instance if someone has small eyes and a big nose and has bangs, all you can see is the nose. Whereas if their forehead shows there is less emphasis on the nose.

Reply »

juli, 1-31-2011, 2:54AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
juli

Are they serious ? The girl on the first pic looks like a sheep dog. She can't see out from under her bangs. Someone better get her a leader dog.

Reply »

 
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