The Definitive Guide to Deciding on Bangs

Everything You Need to Know Before Making the Cut

“Why does it take 7 business years to decide to get bangs or not?” I recently tweeted. Hannah quote tweeted this saying, “And then, when you get bangs, it takes 3 seconds to decide you didn’t actually want bangs… you just needed iced coffee and a snack.” Girls who get it get it because the fact of the matter is, there are a vast array of aspects that frame getting a defining cut like this. 

For well over a decade, bangs were a defining element of my signature look, evolving through various stages of inspiration. As a child in the late 90s, I sported bangs that echoed the charm of Madeline, capturing an innocent and whimsical essence. I was obsessed with my fellow European-born, red-headed orphan and I even had a Genevieve stuffed dog that would sit by my side as I played Madeline’s European Adventures for hours.

Then came my California cool era in early high school—when I was finally allowed to watch The Hills and read her book series beginning with L.A. Candy, but later got in trouble because the series had a book called Sweet Little Lies—and took inspiration from Lauren Conrad as my main style icon. That was when my signature bangs shifted to more of an effortlessly chic look.

A few years later, I was caught up in the New Girl craze and my hair demonstrated this fact. I completely shifted from my sun-kissed look to a darker ‘do captivating the essence of Zooey Deschanel.

My bangs went off on a Taylor Swift tangent for a bit before finding their final (and in my opinion, best) form.

My bangs eventually became a voluminous, effortlessly chic homage to Brigitte Bardot, symbolizing a newfound confidence and sophistication. Each phase of my bangs reflected the icons I admired and narrated the story of my evolving identity and self-expression.

The last time I got bangs was in 2021. While they looked incredible on me, highlighting my bone structure and framing my face just so, my bangs were also a hassle that my health couldn’t keep up with. They were such an inconvenience for that era of my life that I had insisted my husband disallow me from getting bangs.

As the keeper of the beauty budget, I figured that this would make it so I didn't have to deal with being swept up in whatever the latest bang craze was and getting annoyed at myself. My husband is the steward of our household budget—which we deem “our money”—and he makes way for our household priorities to come to fiscal fruition. I didn’t count on doing what many have done before me and romanticizing my old bangs, certainly not after I got my dear husband to forbid me from getting them. He is my person for everything—whether it’s whining about being annoyed by my bangs or annoying him by whining about wanting bangs again—the good, bad, and downright irritating. So this poorly thought-out solution caused me to fight with my past self through my husband. Oy vey!

A Trim As Old As Time

After sharing this internal debate with my audience, I realized that I’m not alone in struggling with this decision. So much so, in fact, that I’ve actually been asked to opine in-depth on every single deliberation that I make in relation to bangs. Now, if you have bangs, know that this is by no means a piece against you. (In fact, your look is likely one of the ones that has gotten me to contemplate getting bangs again in the first place because you truly look that lovely).

Weather

Yes, bangs are hot right now. But the weather is too! It’s about to become the season where your bangs stick to your forehead in an unsexy way and get limp from heat, and frizzy from humidity. There are, of course, products that can help prevent this (at least to some degree), but that draws our decision-making (and wallets) to the cost category. 

Cost

Does your budget currently allow you to make room for bang maintenance? Whether it’s those needed for upkeep or the initial trim? What about the products to keep your locks in luscious condition so that they meet your ideal look? It very well may, and that’s awesome. But keep in mind that the type of bangs also informs on how frequent a trim they need. The Aveda Institute, a leading high-performance, plant-based hair and skin care brand with it’s own beauty school, recommends women get their bangs trimmed every 2-3 weeks. In general it's dependent upon your hair texture.The frequency of necessary bang trims varies by hair texture, with straight and fine hair often needing trims every 2-4 weeks to maintain a precise look, while wavy, curly, and coarse hair may require trims every 3-6 weeks to manage shape and volume. Micro bangs can require a trim every 3-4 weeks whereas curtain bangs can go up to about 6 weeks for a trim. Another cost precaution to perhaps prepare for is if your salon charges the same price for a haircut as they do for a bang trim, as some salons have made this move. Factoring in this cost will be crucial if you decide to get bangs, if you’re not adept at cutting them yourself.

Style Seat

Talent

Do you know how to trim your own bangs? If you do, are you good at it? Should you find out that you're not, do you have the money to get them fixed (and the social calendar to not have them grow out unfortunately in public)? Many women haven’t developed these talents, and that’s perfectly fine as long as you account for the very real importance of DIY skill when you’re not able (or willing) to make the financial sacrifice for beauty maintenance. If you cannot pay for the service you need done, you need to develop and possess the talent to curate the aesthetic you wish to achieve. To paraphrase Elle Woods, “The rules of hair care are simple and finite. Any [Evie] girl would have known.”

Time

How much time do you currently spend doing your hair? Are you willing to wash your hair more frequently if needed? What’s your relationship with dry shampoo? Do you feel like you’re willing to get up earlier if needed to style before you go about your day? And I don’t mean, do you think that, in an ideal world, if you got the perfect night’s rest, and your morning flowed with ease, you could see yourself doing this. I mean do you have the bandwidthfor it? What’s your calendar like? Have you been struggling with being late recently? If any of these apply to you, you just might not be in a season to designate emphasis on styling your hair in relation to what else is on your plate. That’s perfectly fine, but you should be real with yourself before you take the plunge.

Damage and Difficulties

Is your hair in recovery mode, or is it in a healthy and happy state? Frequent heat styling can damage bangs, and lead to lackluster hair if it’s already in recovery mode. Other considerations for this are if you suffer from scalp issues or dandruff which might exacerbate how difficult your hair is to manage. It’d likely be hard to be confident if your dandruff was falling from your bangs onto your pretty face. If you have sensitive skin or allergies, bangs resting on your forehead might irritate your skin, leading to breakouts or rashes which wouldn’t be ideal, so consider the damage they might do if this is an issue for you. Further, if you regularly undergo treatments like coloring, perming, or straightening, consider how bangs will integrate with these processes and if your bangs might require additional care. Another aspect to think about is how evenly your hair is distributed across your scalp. Uneven hair density might affect the look of your bangs making certain types more suitable for you than others. Your current hair realities inform your future hair possibilities, so consider them carefully and consult your stylist or experienced friends.

Hobbies

Diverse hobbies can sometimes restrict your ability to experiment with different hairstyles. This extends to bangs as well. They could be an intrusion in your eyeline if you’re doing high-intensity workouts. If you’re out there playing sports, bangs will frequently have to be pulled up from your face and you’ll have to consider how to style it on the field. Alternatively, if you’re in a field gardening, they can stick to your forehead with sweat or get blown around by the wind. Sure, headbands and cute hair clips, or even styling and sunhats can remedy this making it a non-issue, but even as a non-issue it’s still a small consideration. Whereas, if your hobbies extend more to cooking or baking they can be a small hassle in the kitchen whether it’s being exposed to oil splatters and having a higher likelihood of getting greasy and requiring more frequent washing, sticking to your face in a hot kitchen, or requiring constant readjustment depending on the specific style of bangs. Conversely, if your creativity extends to painting, then–as I learned the hard way during my painting girlie era–paint may get in your hair if you’re engrossed in up-close in-depth work. Thankfully, a simple updo can prevent a lot of this, but it’s still a consideration if you’re not used to adjusting your hair to your activities.

The Blunt Truth

Bangs are very much a look but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re a good look for you, especially if you’ve failed to count the cost. Depending on your own personal hair health, they may take longer than average for them to grow out, leaving you to contend with an inconvenience that isn’t particularly flattering. If they’re a bit too short, you may have to pack on the bobby pins to keep them out of your face, which will have you tinged with annoyance. If they’re overly long–but not blending in when they’re growing out–you may have to discover new hairstyles to account for the outgrowth.

A Cheat Code to Chopping

Before you commit to a chop, or if you simply opt for temporary tresses, you can get bang extensions. These are sometimes known as clip-in bangs or faux bangs. Lucy Hale is one of many who’ve famously used this option. There are trade-offs to this though. Much like getting a new vehicle and having to deal with car payments versus getting an older model and having to pay for repairs, there are similar advantages and disadvantages here as well. Getting pre-made bangs can help you not have to consistently pay for trims and remove you from having to deal with them on the days that you don’t want to. However, getting real bangs will allow you to not have to worry about balancing blending them in, worrying about comfort, or requiring regular application. Faux bangs typically cost between $20-$ 200 depending on whether they’re pre- or custom-made by your personal hairdresser and trimmed to suit your face for the perfect match. Understanding the pros and cons of this option is helpful to your ability to choose the option that works best for your lifestyle and personal aesthetic.

Fringe Benefits

There’s a reason why bangs have been a part of the personal style of queens throughout the ages, extending from Cleopatra to Taylor Swift. Bangs can accentuate and frame the face, drawing attention to your eyes, cheekbones, and other facial features. They can also soften angular or square facial features, creating a more feminine and balanced look. Bangs also offer the opportunity to add volume and texture to thin or fine hair, making it appear fuller and more voluminous. Alternatively, if you don’t love the size, shape, or appearance of your forehead, bangs can camouflage this potential insecurity. Outside of minimizing potential negative reasons, they can also positively enhance your aesthetic. However, it's important to consider the maintenance they require, the impact on daily activities, and the commitment to regular trims. Ultimately, whether to opt for bangs or not is a personal decision that should align with your lifestyle and preferences.