I can’t be the only one who dreads going to the hairdresser.
It takes a lot of trust to put your hair in the hands of another. If there’s a more nerve-wracking part of the typical beauty routine, I have yet to find it.
That’s why, before I make a big adjustment, I like to spend plenty of time doing research and experimenting with different looks. Before I got bangs, I actually spent most of a week rocking these faux fringe hairstyles to make sure I liked the look!
Bangs, after all, are one of the biggest hair challenges known to womankind. Done right, they can look amazing and be a huge lifestyle boost — but one misstep, and you end up looking like Jim Carey in Dumb & Dumber. (I’ve been there.)
So before you decide to go for it and make the big chop, it’s a good idea to test out the look, find a bunch of reference photos for your stylist, and, of course, consult our handy-dandy chart to see which style of bangs will look best with your face shape!
Which face shape are you? Have you ever tried bangs before? Let us know in the comments below.
Round
Give a round face some angles with wavy, tousled side bangs.
The texture of the bangs will add planes and shadow to the face, and the off-center part will help keep the face from looking perfectly symmetrical.
Oblong
An oblong face, which generally looks rectangular, but with a softer jawline, can really pull off the super-stylish blunt cut bang.
This face is strong enough that it won't be overwhelmed by the heavy, horizontal line of the bangs.
Square
With an angular, heavy jawline and wide-set temples, a square face works beautifully with soft, wispy bangs.
The feathery quality of the fringe helps to soften up the broad planes of the face. Bonus points if you wear the rest of your hair up with a few curling tendrils on either side!
Oval
If you have an oval-shaped face that's round and elongated, you might look best with short, curved bangs.
The Bettie Page–approved retro style is making a comeback, and perfectly flatters the contours of an oval face.
Diamond
The diamond-shaped face is all hard angles, from a sharp chin and strong jaw to gorgeous knife-sharp cheekbones.
While you can work every angle, you may want to consider parted, face-framing bangs to fill out the hard edges and add some curve to all those planes.
Heart
Try textured, feathery bangs to accent a heart-shaped face. This face has a pointed chin and high cheekbones, and may have a high forehead.
Cropped bangs with plenty of movement can shorten the forehead and give the face a beautiful, gamine quality.
Triangle
For the heavy-jawed triangular face, go for lightweight bangs with a bit of wave to them.
These bangs should be "convertible," meaning that they can either go straight down or be swept to the side, to give the versatile triangular face plenty of hairstyle options.
Inverted Triangle
For a face with an inverted triangular shape, nothing beats bangs that skim the brows.
Long, piecey bangs will draw attention to the eyes, and help disguise a wide forehead with prominent temples.
Which face shape best describes you? Weigh in below, and don't forget to SHARE this fail-safe beauty guide with friends and family!
