So, You Want Bangs?

Elizabeth Siegel



Zooey Deschanel
Zooey Deschanel

If you've ever had really awesome (or really bad) bangs, you already know that subtle differences in length and thickness can determine if your fringe is sexy or just cute, flattering or regrettable, cool or dated (we'd like to forget you, '80s). That's why you have a good hairstylist-and us. Because maybe you live for Michelle Obama's blunt bangs, Kourtney Kardashian's wispy ones, or Kate Middleton's side-swept version. But getting the right fringe for your face shape and haircut (yup, you have to think about that, too) makes your look. Lucky for you, two of the coolest bangs this summer also happen to be really easy to pull off. Here's how to get them:

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Long, side-swept bangs: These are your safest bet, for sure. They flatter every face shape, you can push them aside when it starts to get hotter out, and they're easy to (eventually) grow out. "A blunt medium-length cut with sideswept bangs looks really cool," says hairstylist Sarah Potempa. "If you've got long hair, adding a side bang makes your cut seem newer and, when you pull the rest of your hair back into a ponytail, you've still got something going on," adds hairstylist Garren of the Garren New York Salon. Ask your stylist for long bangs that start between your brow and lashes. If you're prone to frizz, comb a styling cream through wet bangs (or gel, if you have curly hair) and then blow-dry, directing the airflow straight down from the roots.

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Piecey bangs: You can go light and wispy, like Kourtney Kardashian, or a little heavier, like Alexa Chung. But here's the trick: You want your bangs to frame your eyes, which is softer and more flattering than straight-across fringe. "The coolest bangs start between your brows, and then get longer on the sides so they blend into the rest of your cut," says hairstylist George Northwood. The thickness of your bangs should be determined by the rest of your cut: "The softer and more layered your cut, the lighter your bangs can be," says Northwood. "A blunt cut with wispy bangs doesn't work-it looks out of balance." For the coolest rocker bangs, blow-dry them straight with a round boar-bristle brush and then muss them up a little by spritzing dry shampoo at the roots and massaging through with your fingers. It'll also keep them from separating or turning oily throughout the day.

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