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Olga Markuse
Stylist
Updated on July 17, 2021

Have you always dreamt about having bangs but never dared just because you haven’t got a knack for styling hair? Did you have a fringe before and it never looked good enough?

We have thought about you and created this guide on styling all types of bangs. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about making your bangs look good in under 10 minutes.

1. How to Style Straight Bangs

Whether thick or feathered, wearing bangs straight has been the most common way to style hairstyles with bangs. Here is how to make your bangs lay as you want it to.

Long Highlighted Hair with Straight Bangs

Instagram / @daniloherbert

Start drying your fringe with a paddle brush: direct it from one side to the other, following your motion with a hairdryer. Carry on until your bangs are about 70% dry; then use a round brush and blow dry your hair straight forwards. Make sure you don’t lift your fringe up and don’t curl it, otherwise it will look too poofy. Any wispy side pieces around your face can be added to that drying pattern too. End your blow dry with a cool air blast to lock in the shape of your hair and add that extra shine.

Is it still not smooth enough for you? Just quickly run through your bangs with a straightening iron to achieve that neat finish. Some serum or a texturizing cream would help to get a feathered look.

2. How to Style Side-Swept Bangs

With the well-selected length and finish, side-swept bangs can complement any face shape. Whether your fringe is eye-skimming or reaching your cheekbones, you can style your side bangs to perfection following these steps.

Ash Brown Hair with Highlights and Long Side-Swept Bangs

Instagram / @gugliottisalon

Direct all your hair to the opposite side from where you want it to sit eventually, take a wide barrel brush and blow dry it backward – this will give your fringe a relaxed bend with loads of movement and volume.

Alternatively, you can also use a hairdryer brush (a hairdryer with a built-in brush) – this will make the process easier for a new starter. In the end, use some hairspray to keep the fringe off your face, but don’t be too enthusiastic – your bangs need to have some natural movement.

3. How to Style Curtain Bangs

With curtain bangs, the main goal is to give your hair plenty of fullness and body and flick the ends to the sides.

Start with applying some mousse or volumizing spray on damp hair – this will help to achieve the right amount of volume. Direct your bangs forwards and blow dry them using a round brush, then change the direction and do the same motion but backward. Make sure you lift the roots with some tension at 90 degrees from the scalp. As a finishing touch, blow with cool air to lock the shape in.

Dry shampoo is an utter game-changer when it comes to curtain bangs styling, so don’t hesitate to use this product right after you finish the blow dry. Finally, spray some finishing spray to keep your tresses away from your face.

Are you trying to cut on the heat? Try styling your bangs without heat: air dry your hair until it’s slightly damp, then use a bigger diameter Velcro roller (place it either forward or backward). Keep it in while doing your makeup and use the same products as mentioned above.

4. How to Style Curly Bangs

Curly bangs are BIG now, and we totally adore this trend. For naturally curly girls or those with a perm, there is nothing easier in the world than styling their curly fringe.

Curly Bangs Before and After

Instagram / @jayne_edosalon

Separate your fringe from the rest of the hair, take a small amount of a curl-enhancing serum and massage it into your hair – this will help to tame the frizz and emphasize the natural texture. All you need to do next is wait until your bangs dry naturally. Voila – you are ready to rock the curly fringe trend.

5. How to Style Short Bangs

We simply can’t get enough of that baby bangs boom, but what is the best way to style them?

Modern Hairstyle with Short Bangs

Instagram / @salsalhair

While feathered micro fringe can be air-dried, blunt-cut bangs should be blow-dried to stay straight. Get a boar bristle round brush of the smallest diameter you can ever find to blow dry your fringe. Also, you might find a micro flat iron useful for styling your bangs.

A small amount of smoothing serum will help to get a sleek and polished finish. Would you like your bangs to look more effortless? Rub some texturizing paste between your fingers and run through your fringe – it will fall just the way you need it.

How to Train Your Bangs

Cowlicks and odd hair growth patterns can be pretty challenging to manage, but it’s certainly doable if you know the right technique. Use a fine teeth brush and brush your hair flat to one side, followed by a hairdryer on medium heat. Repeat this several times, then, repeat the same motion in the opposite direction. This will help to tame the cowlick and make your fringe lay the way you like it.

How to Make Bangs Look Good

To wrap up this article, we have combined some universal tricks, helpful with any type of bangs:

  • Make sure you start styling your bangs right after you step out of the shower – shorter hair dries out incredibly quickly and the drier it is, the harder it gets to manage your bangs.
  • Use a heat-protecting spray.
  • Use medium heat: it is easier to give your bangs the right shape when your hairdryer isn’t too hot or doesn’t blow too strongly.
  • Don’t overdo it – rather keep your bangs natural and effortless than stiff and lifeless.
  • Use only a small amount of product (do you still remember those paper-like fringes we all used to wear in our teenage?)
  • Last but not least, never ever try to cut your own bangs (unless you are ready for the baby bangs trend – the one your hairstylist will give you after fixing your DIY job).

Take your time to practice styling your bangs. It might seem time-consuming at the beginning, but once you nail it, styling your fringe won’t take longer than 5 minutes.

Long Highlighted Hair with Straight Bangs Ash Brown Hair with Highlights and Long Side-Swept Bangs Long Blonde Hair with Curtain Bangs Curly Bangs Before and After Modern Hairstyle with Short Bangs