Curtain bangs and six other styles to try before you cut

Bangs change your whole face in one cut. They can soften a high forehead, open up your eyes and make a familiar haircut feel new. They also take months to grow out, which is why so many people want to see them first.

Seven bang styles

• Curtain: parted in the middle and swept to the sides. The easiest first step and the easiest to grow out.
• Wispy: light and airy, softer than a full fringe.
• Blunt: one full, straight line. Bold and graphic, best with thick, straight hair.
• Side swept: angled to one side, lovely for softening a long face or a high forehead.
• Micro: short and well above the brows. A strong fashion statement.
• Birkin: soft and slightly piecey, sitting at or just under the brows.
• Arched: shorter in the middle and longer at the sides, framing the eyes.

Try bangs without the scissors

Bangs is one of the try on tools in VIPAD.

What to think about first

• Texture: curly and wavy hair shrinks as it dries, so bangs are cut longer than they look when wet.
• Cowlicks: a strong cowlick at the hairline can make blunt bangs hard to style.
• Mornings: most bangs need a quick blow dry every day to sit right.
• Your forehead: bangs rest on it all day, so wash them more often if your skin gets oily.

Preview first, then cut

Bangs in VIPAD shows a chosen style on your own photo. Try two or three styles, save the ones you like to My Looks and look at them again the next day. If you still love one, take it to your stylist.