2020 was a year for the books. We tie-dyed everything, mastered choreographed dances and tried out cutting and coloring our hair at home. With these new-found skills, many felt bold enough to attempt new hair styles—most notably, the elusive fringe. But, believe it or not, bangs aren’t only for oval face shapes and straight hair. Have you found yourself wondering, would I look good with bangs? The answer might be easier than you think! Read on to learn about finding the right style of bangs for your face shape, plus our favorite products for maintaining your new style at home.

• Should I get bangs? A pre-chop checklist
• Not sure what style is best for you? Learn how to get bangs for your face shape
• New to fringe? Discover how to style bangs like a pro

Should I Get Bangs? Things to Consider Before You Make the Cut

Time for the hard truth: bangs are high-maintenance. However, if you’re committed to spending an extra few minutes styling each morning, you’ll become a fringe expert in no time. Before you make the chop, consider these things:

• Do you have an extra 10-15 minutes to style your hair in the mornings?
• How would you look with bangs with minimal styling (allowing your hair to air-dry)?
• Do you have the ability to get regular fringe trims, or can you trim at home?
• Are you stocked up on the right hair products and tools?
• Do you wear glasses? This may affect how long your fringe can be.

If you’re prepped and ready to make the cut, it’s time to determine the style that would look best on you. Set those shears down—we’re learning how to find the right style of bangs for your face shape first!

How to Get Bangs for Your Face Shape

By far, the most challenging thing to consider when getting bangs for the first time is your face shape. But if you find yourself wondering will I look good with bangs, then the answer is always yes! While all face shapes have a style of bangs that flatters them, the style you want may not be what looks best on you. To find your face shape, think about how your face would look if you drew it onto a blank sheet of paper. Is it long? Wide? Pointed at the bottom? Shaped like a heart?

If you’re still having trouble, break your face into sections, considering your forehead, cheekbones and then your jawline. To simplify, think of your jawline as the space directly below your ears all the way down to your chin, and think of your “forehead” as the space above your ears to the very top of your head. Still not sure? Use a measuring tape!

Bangs for Heart-Shaped Face

You probably have a heart-shaped face if your face is slightly longer than it is wide. Heart-shaped faces are fairly simple to identify as they are rounded at the hairline with a narrow chin, similar to the shape of a heart. Some styles that would look great on heart-shaped faces:

• Wispy or soft bangs
• Side-swept bangs
• Blunt bangs
• Angled bangs

The key to bangs for heart-shaped faces is texture—hard edges and very long styles won’t always suit this face shape. Textured, wispy bangs for heart-shaped faces are ideal as they will balance the more delicate features of your face shape by drawing the eye towards the center of the face.

Bangs for Long Face

If your face is longer than it is wide, you likely have a “long” face. Typically, those with long faces have similarly-sized foreheads, cheekbones and jawlines. Those with long faces can typically get away with many styles of fringe, but here are some of our favorite bangs for long faces:

• Heavy, straight bangs
• Long, layered fringe
• Pin-straight (worn straight or to the side)

To find the right style of bangs for a long face, think first about what length of fringe would look best on you. Remember that the line your hair falls at is where the eye will be drawn to. If you’d like to accentuate your cheekbones, consider a side-swept, fuller fringe. If you’d like to make your face appear wider, try a blunter, straight style.

Bangs for Oval Face

Oval faces are much like long faces, though the forehead and cheekbones are larger than the jawline. Oval faces are typically longer and feature a rounded jawline. If you have an oval face shape—lucky you! You’ll be able to get away with virtually every style of fringe. Here are a few of our favorite styles for oval face shape bangs:

• Blunt, pin-straight bangs
• Long, wispy and soft bangs
• Side-swept and textured
• Micro-bangs

To find the best style of bangs for an oval face, consider your forehead length and what features you would like to accentuate. If you have a shorter forehead, rocking micro-bangs will elongate its appearance. If you have a longer forehead, try a fringe that cuts straight across your brows to draw the eye to your cheekbones.

Bangs for Square Face

Square faces are among the easiest to identify, as they are about as long as they are wide. If you have a square-shaped face, you’ll find your forehead, cheekbones and jawline have similar measurements. Square-shaped faces usually have a sharp jawline with an angled appearance, much like a square. Here are a few of our favorite bangs for square faces:

• Asymmetrical fringe
• Softer, side-swept bangs
• Tousled and textured

To find the best style of bangs for a square face, be sure to choose a fringe that softens the angles of the face. The goal is to create a look that prevents your features from becoming too boxy without overwhelming your face. Don’t be nervous—you can still rock straight across, side bangs and bangs parted in the middle—it’s all about the length and angle of your fringe!

Bangs for Round Face

If you have a round face, the length of your cheekbones and face will be similar. Your forehead and jawline will be a similar size and you will have a rounded jawline, much like a circle. The forehead can be wide or narrow—but your face is likely as long as it is wide. Some great bangs for round faces:

• Gentle fringe cut at a curve
• Side-swept or angled bangs
• Arched bangs

The trick to finding the right bangs for a round face is adding structure and balancing your features. Round faces tend to have softer angles, so a sharp edge is well-received—though straight-across bangs aren’t ideal for this face shape (as it can make your face appear fuller). For round faces, bangs swept to the side or bangs cut at an angle will be especially well-received, as it will help elongate your features.

How to Style Bangs

Once you’ve determined your ideal shape and style (ask your stylist if you need help!), it’s time to master the art of fringe-taming. Everyone’s hair is different, and you’ll likely experience some trial and error finding the right products for your style at first. However, we’ve included a few of our tried and true favorites below!

For adding volume and texture, try VIRTUE Lifting Powder.

Many stylists swear by dry shampoo for bangs due to its ability to absorb oil and add a bit of texture. VIRTUE lifting powder does all this and more. Featuring silica to absorb oil while adding texture and volume, this easy to use powder is the perfect formula to give bangs volume and texture that lasts all day. Simply pump onto dry hair and tousle!

To lock your style in place, try Kenra Professional Volume Spray 25

Not everyone will want (or enjoy) hairspray on their bangs, but sometimes, it can be a necessity. Designed exclusively for resisting wind speeds up to 25 MPH, this unique formula offers humidity resistance with a firm finish. Give your style a quick spritz before you head out the door and be on your merry way!

To tame frizz and flyaways, try ColorProof HumidityRx® Anti-Frizz Weatherproof Spray

There’s something about a set of bangs that just attracts frizz, especially if your locks tend to be on the thinner side. To keep your fringe free of the flyaways and frizz that put a cramp in your style, finish your look with a quick mist of this ultra-dry spray with zero hold.

To perfect a straight, sleek style, try CHI Original Digital Ceramic Hairstyling Iron 1”

Whether you’re rocking curly bangs or a side-swept look, your fringe can definitely benefit from a flat iron. In addition to smoothing hair and molding your strands into the perfect shape, CHI’s ceramic technology adds natural shine while taming any frizziness. Simply curl, twist, straighten or wave to your heart’s content!

To create a natural shiny finish, try Moroccanoil Boar Bristle Round Brush – 25 mm and usmooth Revolution Hair Dryer

When it comes to bangs, less is more. Sometimes, all you need to get your style where it needs to be is a great brush and hair dryer. We love the Moroccanoil Boar Bristle Round Brush because it easily combs through all hair types while creating a healthy, shiny, manageable style. Plus, they’re great for massaging the scalp and bringing hair’s natural oils down the hair strand!

The biggest tip you’ll hear from the pros? Dry your bangs as soon as you get out of the shower. The longer you wait, the more opportunity your bangs have to dry (and they’ll dry fast—trust us)! When your bangs dry, your natural hair pattern has the chance to set in, which might not be your preferred style. We love the usmooth Revolution Hair Dryer because it comes with a concentrator nozzle and diffuser—making it great for both curly and straight bangs alike. Plus, it features a powerful ion generator that smooths and volumizes strands!

To trim at home, try Diane Sunflower 6 1/2'” Shear

Last, but certainly not least, are shears. We mean it when we say shears—we don’t want to see you using your kitchen or craft scissors to create bangs at home! Why not? Hair-cutting shears feature sharp, specially designed edges designed exclusively for hair. Kitchen and craft scissors tend to have blunter, straight edges, which can cause split ends and damage when used to cut delicate hair strands. The Diane Sunflower Shears were designed for touching up your look at home with a uniquely beveled blade and micro-serrated edges that also feature a unique finger rest to ensure your hands stay comfortable throughout.

Before you go, we asked Dr. Joel Schlessinger, LovelySkin CEO and board-certified dermatologist, for his input on bangs:

“As a dermatologist, I have to say that bangs are often a cause of acne, especially if hair isn’t washed frequently. This happens often in people who are using bangs to ‘hide’ acne. If the only reason for bangs is to hide acne, consider an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist to address your concerns. Or, if you’re opting for bangs to hide wrinkles, consider a little bit of BOTOX®, which can easily refresh and renew your look!”

Want to learn more about our favorite products for hair? Check out the Best Products for Color-Treated Hair on our blog.