The Best Type of Bangs for Your Face Shape
Bangs are one of those haircuts that can instantly change your look, especially when you take the different types of bangs into consideration. It's no coincidence that debating about whether or not to get them has become symbolic (even a parody) of a big life change. Who among us hasn't texted “Should I get bangs” to everyone in their contacts after a breakup?
Though they can satisfy that itch for a change, the best bangs can also totally transform your face shape and play up your best facial features. Soft, wispy bangs, for example, help contrast sharper jawlines, while dramatic side bangs can add more visual dimension to rounder faces.
Of course, don't feel pressured to live by these rules. Just like the best haircuts and best hairstyles, bang styles are a personal choice unique to your own aesthetic. “If you style it and own it, you can wear any type of bangs no matter what face shape you have,” says Jon Reyman, hairstylist and founder of Spoke & Weal salons. But if you're looking for some helpful guidelines, scroll on to find the best types of bangs for your face shape.
Instagram/@matildadjerf1/15Best for Round Face Shapes: Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs are still going strong for 2023. They're super versatile and wearable on most face shapes, but it helps to frame rounder ones, giving them a slimmer appearance. However, they do require a bit of maintenance. Celebrity hairstylist Edson Ibarra uses a blow-dryer and round brush to keep bangs bouncy and sleek. “I love spraying and blow-drying Color Wow Dream Coat with a round brush,” he says. “It's perfect to seal to the hair. It has antihumidity properties that will help fight frizz and keep hair shiny and smooth.”
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Best for Round Face Shapes: Sideswept Bangs
If we had to give out awards, side bangs would definitely win most popular, but they're especially flattering on round faces, which are soft around the edges and often wider in the cheeks. “Sideswept fringe is a go-to for a round face,” says Reyman. “The angle of the bangs creates more length in your face and thus a more oval shape.”
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Best for Round Face Shapes: Blunt Micro Bangs
Typically, blunt bangs (or straight-across bangs) get a bad rap if your face is round. Here's a hack: You can still get in on the look with micro bangs, which are short and leave ample space between the fringe and your brows. This visually elongates your face more than classic blunt bangs would, and they work better if your face has softer features (looking at you, oval and heart-shaped).
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Best for Square Face Shapes: Long, Layered Bangs
“If you have a square jawline, a long, layered fringe can help to soften and balance your features,” says Reyman. (They can also help thin hair look fuller.) If you're not into the straight-across, choppy bangs look, he notes you can also opt for ’70s-inspired curtain bangs, which are a little more effortless to style.
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Best for Square or Oblong Face Shapes: A-Shaped Bangs
Bangs are all about illusion. This is key for square or oblong face shapes, which tend to be wider at the cheeks and more angular, especially around the jawline. “A soft A-shape works best for women with square faces,” says Suave Professionals celebrity stylist Marcus Francis. “The tapered ends create angles, which help to soften your jawline and bring attention to your eyes.”
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Best for Square Faces: Birkin Bangs
Named after actor Jane Birkin, whose signature look was feathered fringe, Birkin bangs help to soften the sharpness of a square face.
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Getty Image7/15Best for Heart-Shaped Faces: Baby Bangs
If you want to pull all the attention to your eyes, go for a fun pair of baby bangs. For a softer look than traditional blunt micro bangs, have them hit in the midline of your forehead, and ask your stylist to keep them feathery.
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Best for Heart-Shaped Faces: Crescent Bangs
Emily’s–er, Lily's—iconic bangs had us eyeing our scissors. The cut is flattering on most but especially so for heart-shaped faces, which are wide at the top and draw to a point at the chin. Reyman recommends a soft, crescent-shaped fringe (i.e., longer at the outer edges and slightly shorter in the middle). The long, feathery ’70s-inspired look is on trend, says Marissa Marino, stylist at Nine Zero One Salon, who once cut a similar hairstyle on Selena Gomez.
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Best for Heart-Shaped Faces: Wispy Bangs
Wispy bangs adds an air of ease to a cut. If you have a straight to wavy hair texture, you can get away with rough-drying and running out the door. On a heart-shaped face, like Anna Sophia Robb's, these bangs look incredible with a grown-out pixie and short haircuts.
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Best for Oval-Shaped Faces: Bottleneck Bangs
Oval face shapes were basically made for bangs, but the bottleneck version in particular can look especially good. They're typically shorter in the middle and gradually gain length down the sides to frame the eyes perfectly. Think Bardot bangs but with a modern twist.
Getty Images11/15Best for Oval-Shaped Faces: Medium Bangs
Since oval face shapes have more freedom, you may as well take advantage and go for more daring styles. Medium bangs are a touch longer than micro bangs but should shouldn't hit your brows. “It's a nod to retro but looks futuristic and clean,” says Reyman. The style works great especially for curly hair types and curly bangs, since they play up the texture and piecey-ness.
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Best for Oval-Shaped Faces: Softened Blunt Bangs
If ever there were a celeb who you couldn't imagine without bangs, it would be Dakota Johnson. If, like her, you have an oval face, you can pretty much go for any style you like, but a pair of blunt bangs will be extra flattering. “Soft, blunt bangs cut straight across visually flatter oval faces,” says Francis, also noting that they can draw attention away from an elongated mouth and chin.
WireImage13/15Best for Long Face Shapes: Grown-Out Bangs
Not only are they easier to manage, but longer, grown-out bangs are the most flattering on long face shapes. You have the space to work with, plus cropped bangs will only make your forehead look longer. Go for a cool pair of parted bangs like Rihanna's. “Keeping the fringe line low right around your eyebrows is best,” says Reyman. In other words, no need to trim your bangs more than every couple of months.
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Best for Long Face Shapes: Angled Side Bangs
With a long face, which typically has a higher forehead, you have a lot of area to work with—so you can be strategic about which parts of your face you want to draw attention to. Think of it as framing your face. “Creating a diagonal angle on your face will help keep people's eyes focused on your center features, like your eyes and lips, instead of your forehead or the lower part of your face,” says Francis.
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Best for Long Face Shapes: Grown-Out Curtain Bangs
Super-short bangs can look disproportionate on a longer face, but bangs in their “awkward” growing-out phase can actually be just right. Face-framing curtain bangs cut just at the jawline will help take the focus off an extended face shape.
