6 Gorgeous Haircuts With Bangs to Inspire Your Next Chop

No matter whether your curls are tight and coiled or loose and wavy, you can easily work bangs into your haircut, says Reyna Zaragoza, a stylist at Mixed Co. Salon in Chicago. “They make any style look totally different and very trendy,” she points out. The key: Make sure your stylist cuts your bangs when your hair is dry and curly and doesn’t make the ends super blunt, since this can leave the bangs looking chunky and shorter than expected, Zaragoza says.

Also known as micro bangs, these shorties (as seen on Charlize Theron) are sure to make a statement, says Glamsquad’s artistic director Giovanni Vaccaro. “They’re best for straight or slightly wavy hair, and should be cut with a razor to keep them light,” he says. While this is definitely a bolder bang that’s admittedly not for everyone, there’s still some styling versatility. Work a tiny amount of lightweight gel through damp bangs, blow-dry on a low setting, then push them off to the side, says Vaccaro. Also nice: “Baby bangs open up your face, really calling attention to your eyes,” notes Zaragoza, so if you want to play up your eyes, this might be a good option.

Everything 70s is having a major moment, and hair is no exception. Hilary Duff’s layered haircut with bangs features longer, face-framing pieces that look gorgeous when parted down the middle. “These are one of the trendiest and most popular bangs right now, and are also a great starting point for people who want bangs but are a little hesitant to make the cut,” points out Zaragoza. To style them, pinch the roots (where the bangs part) and hit them with a quick spritz of hairspray. “This gives you that nice shape that drapes the sides of the face so beautifully,” says Vaccaro. Bonus: These are super low maintenance, since you can let them grow out and they’ll still look good, notes Zaragoza.

Bob haircuts with bangs are tricky, since they can often come across as too juvenile, notes Garnier’s celebrity hairstylist Ashley Streicher. The key? Keep them blunt and short for a chic, French-girl vibe, she says. Or, keep them long and eyebrow-grazing, like Constance Zimmer, and pair with a haircut that has lots of texture and movement.

This type of bang is best for fine or medium hair (it can look too heavy on super thick textures). Pair them with any kind of haircut; they’ll look equally pretty whether you wear your hair up (like Ciara) or down, notes Vaccaro. To create the illusion of a slimmer or more elongated face, you can also ask your stylist to keep the bangs straight across the center of your forehead, but gradually get longer as you move out to either side, adds Zaragoza.

If you want to add softness to your face, opt for these sideswept bangs. Depending on your hair texture, you can either go soft and wispy, which looks particularly pretty when paired with a cropped pixie cut, as seen on Michelle Williams (Vaccaro recommends using a pomade to achieve the piece-y, separated texture). Or, go slightly fuller and thicker, a great option if you want a shoulder-length haircut with bangs or prefer to have more of your forehead covered. The bottom line: This type of bang is universally flattering and can be tailored and tweaked to work with any haircut or face shape.