The Best Types of Bangs for Every Face Shape

It’s way too easy to see a friend, or even a celebrity, with bangs that look great and wonder if you should head in for a big chop yourself. They’re a game-changer, but you’ll definitely want to consider all the different types of bangs before committing to any one style. After all, what works for one person may not be the most flattering on your face shape or hair texture. One person may look great in thick fringe hairstyles, while another looks their best with some wispy action.

All that’s to say: Before committing to this trendy hairstyle feature, it’s important to take your hair type and texture into consideration so you can find the style of bangs that will suit you best. Lucky for you, we’re here to help lay out all the different types of bangs and how to find your most flattering fringe.

How To Find Your Face Shape

Before deciding what different types of fringes might look best on you, you’ll want to figure out your face shape. Review the key features of each below.

• Square: People with this face shape have a square, strong jawline and forehead. Also, their face width is about the same as their face height.
• Round: Conversely, a round face has soft, curved lines versus a structured silhouette. The width and length of the face are similar, but the cheeks are fuller and the jawline doesn’t have strong lines.
• Heart-shaped: Those with heart-shaped faces have a slightly wider forehead paired with a chin that’s narrow and pointed—just like a heart.
• Oval: This face shape is similar to a round one, only the face is longer than it is wide. Again, features are soft and round versus angular.
• Diamond shape: A diamond-shaped face has a narrow forehead and chin with wider cheekbones. Because the cheekbones are the widest part of the face, there’s an angular diamond shape created.

How To Choose the Best Bangs for Your Face Shape

There are tons of different types of bangs to choose from: micro-bangs, fringe bangs, curtain bangs, wispy bangs, and the list goes on and on. So how do you find the right style for you? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about bangs—from which type will look most flattering on you to how to style them and more.

The best bangs for a square face

Long, eye-grazing bangs that are heavier on the sides than in the middle often suit a square face shape. When you add a gentle curve to your bangs, this creates a softening effect that naturally complements strong angles. To get the cut you’re looking for, ask your stylist for heavy bangs snipped just below your brows. Consider asking for your bangs to be thinned out a bit in the middle to give an overall feathery appearance with just a peek of forehead showing through.

The best bangs for a round face

Slightly arched bangs look lovely with round face shapes. At the salon, ask for a blunt, curved shape to flatter your face. This beautifully highlights and balances out your features for a truly striking cut.

The best bangs for a heart-shaped face

Side-swept bangs complement this face shape beautifully by drawing attention to your eyes and balancing out your facial structure. Just ask your stylist for bangs that hit the arch of your forehead at their shortest and the corners of your eyes at their longest.

The best bangs for an oval face shape

To accentuate oval facial features, ask your stylist for airy, straight hair with bangs that extend just beyond your eyebrows, with a bit more length on the sides. The best part? With this cut, you can wear your bangs across your forehead or swept to the side.

The best bangs for a diamond-shaped face

Diamond-shaped faces look great in side-swept bangs, which add a nice softening effect that complements strong cheekbones. Another option is wispy, layered bangs, which have a similar softening effect while showing off those gorgeous angles.

The best bangs for a small forehead

The size of your forehead isn’t exactly a face shape in its own right, but some people like to factor it into their bang-related decisions. If you’re concerned that your forehead looks too small and you’d like to make it look more pronounced, ask your stylist to trim a steep, sloping asymmetrical fringe that lightly grazes your cheekbones. Pair it with a deep side part and you’ll have an ultra-flattering hairstyle.

The best bangs for a long forehead

If you have a larger forehead and your goal is to create more balance, go for thick, gradually angled bangs that start at the center of your forehead and finish off in a taper around your cheekbones.

Other Factors To Consider When Getting Bangs

Choosing the right types of bangs isn't just about face shape. You’ll want to factor in other things, like your hair texture and preferred routine.

• Your hair type & texture: Different hair types often call for different kinds of fringe. For example, you’ll want different bangs for straight long hair compared to hairstyles for wavy hair with bangs.
• Upkeep & routine: Bangs almost always require a heightened level of maintenance, so make sure you’re ready to commit. Some types of bangs require even more maintenance than others. For example, long curtain bangs grow out easily while a thick, straight fringe requires bi-weekly upkeep.
• Lifestyle: It may seem unrelated, but your lifestyle does play a role in whether you want to commit to bangs. For example, if you’re active or spend a lot of time outdoors, bangs might get sweaty or require more maintenance.
• Weather & humidity: Climate can also play a role in how easy bangs are to maintain. Hot, humid climates are particularly notorious for creating frizz, which can become exacerbated on short bangs.

Hairstyling Pro Tips for Bangs

Once you’ve found your fringe match, it’s important to know that bangs do require a little bit of extra work to style. Follow these tips for easy styling.

Blow-dry your bangs immediately

It’s generally a good idea to wait until your hair has dried at least halfway before blow-drying, but that’s not always the case with bangs. Since bangs are such a small section of hair, they will dry a lot (and we mean a lot) quicker than the rest of your hair.

If you prefer your hair bangs straight, the trick is to dry them first before anything else. Curl them around a boar bristle brush while drying, and use a blow-dryer with a nozzle attachment angled downward, toward your bangs. Using this styling technique can help your bangs flow straight down with the perfect amount of body. Just remember to spritz on a heat protectant, like L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Leave In, before styling.

If you have curly or wavy hair with bangs and want to embrace your natural texture, you’ll definitely want to use a curl-defining styler and then either let your bangs air-dry or use a blow dryer with a diffuser attachment.

Try a flat iron

If straight bangs are what you’re going for, be sure to invest in a mini flat iron. A mini flat iron will be better than a normal-sized flat iron for getting right up to the root of your fringe so you can achieve the super-sleek look. Plus, it’ll ensure you don’t burn your forehead in the process.

Use a light hand with styling products

We understand it can be pretty tempting to load up on hair styling products. But with bangs, know that less is more. Coating your bangs with loads of product could make them end up looking greasy, crunchy, or flat. Plus, excessive hair products transferring onto your skin can potentially lead to clogged pores.

Avoid this by just pumping a little bit of styling product into your palm and working it through your entire head of hair, only using what’s left over on your bangs. If you’re going for curly bangs, use a bit of L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT Volume Inject Mousse to scrunch them into place. Keep straight bangs in place with a bit of hairspray, like L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hair Spray - Unscented.

Be mindful of bangs during your skincare routine

You know how vital it is to use facial moisturizer on your complexion twice a day. But what are you supposed to do when you have bangs covering your forehead? When you start your skincare routine, just make sure that you have your bangs pinned back. Don’t let them down until your moisturizer (and SPF, if it’s morning) have fully absorbed and you’ve completed your skincare routine. This will help prevent them from getting greasy and ensure that you're not ignoring your forehead in your skincare process.

Take care to maintain your bangs

We’ve mentioned a few times that bangs require maintenance. That doesn’t just include styling. You’ll also want to head into the salon every two to four weeks, depending on your hair’s texture and the type of bangs you have. This helps keep your style looking fresh and, in the case of shorter bangs, prevents them from getting into your eyes.

Along with salon maintenance, you may find that you need to wash and style your bangs more frequently than you do the rest of your hair. Dry shampoo is definitely your best friend here. To help prolong your time between washes, avoid touching your bangs too much and clip them back when washing your face.

Use the right styling products

In the same way you choose certain products for the rest of your hair, you’ll want to make sure you’re using styling products that work with you—not against you. For example, if you have fine hair, then a volumizing spray or mousse can help create more oomph without weighing your bangs down. And if you have thick or curly hair, then a smoothing serum or curl cream can help with frizz and definition.

Next Up: How to Curl Your Hair With a Flat Iron

Photo Courtesy of L’Oréal Paris