30 Bangin’ Hairstyles to Inspire Your New Look

There comes a point in everyone’s hair journey when you itch for change. Switching up your color is one popular way to revitalize your look, but there is another—albeit more controversial—way to boost your hair confidence: cut some bangs!

You read that right; we’re advocating for this big chop! While some people view bangs as a surefire path to regretting all of your decisions, there are actually dozens of ways that bangs can maximize your style. It’s actually a recommended look for folks with square or oblong face shapes.

Here are 30 hairstyles centered around bangs that may motivate you to visit the salon sooner rather than later. And if you already have bangs that you love, we’ve included some trendy styling tips that pair perfectly with fresh fringe.

Curtain Bangs

Curtain bangs are a chip off of the retro-glam trend happening right now. 

They’re super easy and flattering for any face shape, but obviously easier to pull off if you’re Bella Hadid.

Wispy Fringe

Wispy fringe is one of the most accessible hairstyles to add dimension to your look. Sparse pieces allow you to easily pin back your bangs on a day you’d rather forget about them. And even when they’re down, they won’t overwhelm your face.

Overgrown Shag

Sometimes you just don’t have time to go to the salon trim your bangs, whether due to pandemics or introversion, and that isn’t necessarily a negative thing! Sneak a peak at Gigi Hadid’s overgrown ‘70s-inspired shag, and you might think twice about obsessively trimming your fringe.

Blunt Baby Bangs

Baby bangs are the perfect fringe-alternative if you want to keep your hair out of your face but still be on-trend. Emma Watson’s ultra-baby bangs are definitely on the shorter side of the style, yet they taught us how the unconventional can also be chic.

Unconventional Cut

Billy Ray Cyrus famously sang about wanting his mullet back, and now it’s his time to shine. The modern mullet is more punk than country, defined by spiky edges and baby bangs rather than all-over feathering. This style, in pure defiance of conventions, isn’t for the faint of heart. So if you do decide to take inspiration from this look, wear it with confidence!

Classic Bangs

We can’t have a list of the best fringe hairstyles without giving credit to the OG bangs. This classic style will never die because the right amount of hair product can transform them into any variety of fringe: piece-y, wispy, blunt, hidden — whatever, really!

Feathered Bob

Wispy bangs are the most versatile fringe in terms of complementing any hairstyle, but we’re partial to celebs who emphasize its soft nature with a feathered bob.

Textured Fringe

Hair products are an important step to achieving the same elegance of celebrity looks, but not all of us have time for that. Good thing that allowing your natural wave pattern to shine is a style by itself!

Faux Bangs

Faux bangs are the perfect low-commitment alternative to undergoing the big chop. Hey, we get it; it takes a while to grow those babies out! Not to mention the dreaded awkward phase…

Side Bangs

Whether you’re growing out blunt bangs or just want to add a little dimension to your hair, side bangs are an equally classy look. Especially if you’re self-conscious about your forehead, side-swept fringe draws more attention to the center of your face instead.

Natural Curls

Repeat after me: curly bangs are just as valid as straight bangs! Chopping your curls to frame your face avoids the dreaded pyramid shape and looks super cute.

Curly Shag

Unlike classic bangs, the curly shag calls for uneven pieces that frame your face. Natural curls are an effortless way to achieve this alluring, tousled style.

Side-Parted Bob

Parting a bob with bangs to the side adds drama to a monotonous style. This modern take on the classic look is proof that there’s nothing wrong with tweaking timeless looks to fit your personal aesthetic.

Sparse Baby Bangs

Not all baby bangs are skim the hairline; in fact, most celebs are wear the style right above the eyebrow. By thinning out the ends and allowing for sparse areas, the fringe looks natural instead of overwhelming.

Topknot Fringe

Instead of focusing on the bangs here, we’re taking a look at the hairstyle. A strategically messy topknot gives you red-carpet glam without all of the flashing cameras.

Uneven Bangs

We admit, the uneven-fringe look is a risk. Cut one strand too short and suddenly you’re four years old after attacking your hair with safety scissors. Good thing Rashida Jones is here to show us how it’s done! A perfect balance between youthful and mature, layered bangs are more achievable than you think.

Pinned Bangs

Growing tired of your bangs from time to time is completely natural. But if you don’t want to grow them out (or are in the process), pinning them into a humble bump or braiding them to the side can give you some time away. 

Retro Inspired

Another way to hide your bangs is by strategically slicking them into Hollywood-inspired structured curls. Teasing is allowed (encouraged, in fact) to bhelp blend the fringe with the rest of your hair. 

Grown-out Swoop

The luscious outgrown swoop can take on an array of different looks. From Hillary Duff’s curtain bangs to the massive emo-inspired swoop, these bangs can be whatever you want them to be.

Thick Blow-out

Successful hairstyles are typically all about balance. A thick blow-out for long hair can add the volume needed if your wispy bangs aren’t showstopping enough.

Spiky Pixie Cut

The great thing about pixie cuts is that they automatically include stylish fringe; they’re all part of the “look.” Here, JLaw’s short-and-spiky look is held together by equally spiky fringe.

Wavy and Wispy

Similarly, the boldness of blunt bangs can be balanced out by a wavy lob that flatters your face shape and takes some edge off of the thickness.

Sleek Center Pony

Celebrities and fans alike praise the simple glam that accompanies the sleek center-parted ponytail. Without bangs, the hairstyle appears inherently sporty; thus, bangs are the key to unlocking this red-carpet glam.

Choppy Shoulder-Length

For a style with a little more edge than a simple bob can provide, choppy layers and uneven bangs give off a “Don’t mess with me” impression mixed with a confident “I’m rocking these bangs” aura. 

Straightened Layers

Straightened layers are a go-to professional look that’s perfectly achievable if you don’t have much time to get ready for your morning commute (or Zoom meeting). Side-parted bangs that aren’t intrusive add sweetness to any style. If you’re wanting some more powerful fringe, try out a blunt bob or fringe that covers the entire forehead instead!

Smooth Pixie

The trendy “wet look” has been hinted at for decades, but recently popularized by Kim Kardashian’s 2019 Met Gala look. With Kim’s iconic style in mind, the sleek pixie cut is an incredibly low-maintenance style that prioritizes glam merely by slicking those built-in bangs across the forehead. It’ll look like you spent hours on a look that only took a dab of hair gel!

Framing Pieces

What was that about face-framing pieces? That’s right, we count that as fringe because it basically serves the same purpose of complementing your face shape and balancing out a heavy hairstyle with wispy edges.

Milkmaid Braid

We might be singing the praises of bangs in this article, but sometimes the lob and bob styles are a little overdone. A unique and always adorable way to level up your fringe is a wrap-around or milkmaid-inspired braid. Strategically loosen a few face framing pieces for added dimension.

Ultra-Thick Fringe

So normal blunt bangs aren’t bold enough for you? Simply adding in more hair to cut into fringe is one of the easiest styles ever. Plus, draw attention to your beautiful eyes by cutting them right past the eyebrow!

Bardot Bangs

Bardot bangs—appropriately named after French actress Brigitte Bardot—are the charming precursor to the pronounced curtain bangs trend. These bangs, which are defined by a textured center part and face-framing fringe, are the feathery older sister of the strong curtain style.