beauty
Fringe for all face shapes
By Chelsea Candelario
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Published May 27, 2024
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Sure,bangsaren't for everyone (my brother’s baptism photos are proofof that). But when they’re cut just right, people will be talking about them for ages. Case in point: Sabrina Carpenter’scurtain bangs. My coworkers and I can’t stop gushing about her chic fringe. This got me thinking, who else is walking around with iconic bangs? From Taylor Swift to Zendaya, here’s a list ofsevencelebrities with bangs to inspire your next haircut. I also tapped three trusty hairstylists to advise us on how to get some of our favorite A-listers’ bangs. Let’s get started.
Meet the Experts
- Jennifer Korab is a celebrity hairstylist and owner of Renaissance Salon in New Jersey. She has over a decade of experience working in commercial, runway and editorial spaces.
- Danielle Priano is a celebrity hairstylist and an ambassador for SexyHair. She has decades of experience in the industry, working on brand campaigns and launching her very own accessories collection, PSxDanielle. Her previous clients include Vanessa Hudgens, Hailey Bieber, Mariah Carey and Hailee Steinfeld.
- Hana Chong is a senior hairstylist at NYC The Team, a hair salon in Manhattan representing some of the city’s most eminent colorists, stylists and technicians. Chong has worked on many photo shoots, fashion shows and television programs including Marchesa, Proenza Schouler, Oscar de la Renta, Good Morning America, Martha Stewart and QVC.
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1. Sabrina Carpenter's Curtain Bangs
- Face Shapes: oval, heart or square
- Hair Types: fine to medium
Curtain Bangs surged in popularity around 2020 and continue to be a hit among celebs, including Sabrina Carpenter. According to Chong, curtain bangs are made to frame the face and blend seamlessly with the rest of the hair. Whether you have an oval, heart or square face shape, curtain bangs invoke movement and texture. “[They’re] cut shortest in the center of your forehead (skimming the eyebrows), and then angled so they’re longer on the sides of your face (by the cheekbones),” she explains. If you need help styling curtain bangs, Chong suggests applying a cream before using a round brush and blow dryer to create a more rounded and fluffy shape like Carpenter here.
Pascal Le Segretain/Staff/Getty Images
2. Zendaya's Baby Bangs
- Face Shape: round, oval or heart
- Hair Type: medium to thick
Sure, most of us don’t have Zendaya’s bone structure, but I’m confident that with the right stylist, you can pull off edgier baby bangs (also known as ‘French Girl Fringe’). Korabsays thesebangs “are cut generally on the shorter side and sit on the forehead.” But if you want slightly more triangular bangs (like Zendaya), the centeris [kept]slightly longer and [gets] shorter towards the ends to draw attention to the jawline. The best part is there’s little to no need for styling. Aside from frequent trims to keep its length, all you need is a swipe of your flat iron to keep the hairs in place.
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3. Taylor Swift's Full Bangs
- Face Shape: oval or heart
- Hair Type: medium to thick
Aside from her sold out shows and expansive discography, Taylor Swift’s hairstyles are also quite noteworthy. In the earlier years of her career, it was her cascading curls, but nowadays the singer is known for her full fringe. To recreate her look, Priano suggests getting your bangs cut horizontally across the forehead. She adds, “Maintenance includes frequent trims to keep the length and shape intact, and styling involves a flat iron for a smooth finish and shine spray to keep them in place.”
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4. Reneé Rapp's Wispy Bangs
- Face Shape: square or heart
- Hair Type: straight to curly
If you have an oval, round or heart face shape, this wispy fringe sported by Reneé Rapp is another option to check out. “These bangs go well with the rest of her haircut, which is choppy and undone. They sit longer towards the exterior of her face, which softens the look and lets the rest of the pieces flow seamlessly into her hair” shares Chong. To style, you’ll need a flat iron and texturizing spray to define and shape your new wispy pieces.
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5. Yara Shahidi's Curly Bangs
- Face Shape: oval or round
- Hair Type: curly to coily
If you ever need a curly hair reference, look no further than Yara Shahidi. She’s tried plenty ofcurly hairstylesthroughout the years,includingcurly bangs.Priano explains, “These bangs are cut to frame the face while embracing the natural curl pattern of the hair. They mostly complement those with oval or round faces, while working best with curly or coily hair textures.” One more thing:Toadd some definition to your new fringe throughout the week, simply applysome curling creamto make the curls pop.
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6. Anne Hathaway's Birkin Bangs
- Face Shape: round, long or square
- Hair Type: fine to medium
ICYMI: Birkin bangs made a huge comeback in 2023, with celebs like Jenna Ortega and Anne Hathaway sporting them. As a stylist previously told me, “Birkin bangs have sharp corners that frame the face and are great for people who like the idea of a full fringe, but don’t want it to fully close in on their faces in a solid heavy shape. This style of bang—while short and straight enough to make a statement—has softer, choppier characteristics to it that give them an added femininity.” It's a great option for those with finer, straight locks as the bangs add more volume and texture to your overall look.
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7. Katie Holmes' Side Bangs
- Face Shape: all face shapes
- Hair Type: fine to thick
Speaking of comebacks, the early aughts calledto say thatside bangshave made their triumphant return.Thisheavy side fringe,as seen onKatie Holmes above,iseasily customizableto your face shape,andrequire less commitmentthanfull fringe.Because they're longer to start,they grow out faster (during which you cansimply tuckthem to one side).
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Chelsea Candelario
Associate Editor, Ultimate Fangirl, Aspiring Beauty Guru
Chelsea Candelario is an Associate Editor at PureWow. She has been covering beauty, culture, fashion and entertainment for over a decade. You'll find her searching the internet...
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