Bangs for Your Face Shape: Which Bangs Suit Me?
Seven quick questions about your face shape, hair texture and routine. Find out if curtain, side-swept, wispy, blunt or curly bangs suit you best, and what to ask your stylist for.
Bangs are the fastest way to change your look, and the fastest way to regret a haircut. Whether they work comes down to three things: your face shape, your hair texture and how much time you will spend on them each morning.
Answer seven quick questions below. You get the bangs that suit you best, what to ask your stylist for, and how to style them at home.
Best bangs for each face shape
| Face shape | Try | Be careful with |
|---|---|---|
| Round | Long curtain bangs, side-swept bangs | Short, heavy blunt bangs |
| Oval | Almost any bangs | Very thick bangs that hide your brows |
| Square | Wispy bangs, curtain bangs | Straight, heavy lines at the jaw and brow |
| Heart | Side-swept bangs, wispy bangs | Short, wide blunt bangs |
| Long | Full blunt bangs, curtain bangs | Very short micro bangs |
| Diamond | Curtain bangs, soft side bangs | Bangs that pull all the width to the center |
Which face shape suits curtain bangs?
Curtain bangs suit almost every face shape. They part in the middle and fall to the sides, so they add a little width at the forehead and soften the cheekbones at the same time. On a round face, keep them long so they end below the cheekbones. On a long face, they break up the length. On a diamond face, they balance wide cheekbones with width up top.
They are also the safest bangs to try first, because they blend into your layers as they grow and never go through an awkward stage.
Texture matters as much as face shape
Fine, straight hair suits wispy bangs, because a light fringe looks full without using much hair. Thick, straight hair can carry a heavy blunt fringe. Wavy hair does best with curtain or side bangs that move with the wave. Curly and coily hair needs curly bangs cut dry, curl by curl, because curls shrink as they dry.
Three things to check before you cut
Your cowlick. Push your wet hair forward and let it dry. If the front flips up or to one side, side-swept or curtain bangs work with it. A straight blunt fringe will fight it every day.
Your morning routine. Most bangs need a quick blow-dry. If you never use a dryer, choose side bangs, curly bangs or long face-framing layers.
Your trim schedule. Blunt bangs need a trim every three to four weeks. Curtain and side bangs can go two to three months.
Not ready to commit?
Try clip-in bangs, or pin the front of your hair forward to preview the shape. You can also ask for curtain bangs cut long. If you love them, go shorter next time. If not, they grow out in a few weeks. Not sure of your shape? The face shape calculator works it out from four measurements.
Keep going: find your exact shape with the face shape calculator, then see 20 curtain bangs styles to show your stylist.
