Do curtain bangs suit a big forehead?

Yes. Curtain bangs cover the center of the forehead and open at the sides, so they shorten a tall forehead without the weight of a full blunt fringe. Ask for them to start a little further back on the head so there is enough hair to cover the extra height.

Do curtain bangs work on fine or thin hair?

They can, as long as the stylist does not take too much hair or thin the ends heavily. A slightly narrower, lighter section keeps the rest of the hair from looking sparse, and a little volumizing spray or dry shampoo gives the fringe body.

How often do curtain bangs need a trim?

Usually every couple of weeks. Vogue's curtain bangs guide notes they need regular trims and shape-ups at about that interval, and many salons offer quick bang trims between full haircuts.

Can I cut curtain bangs myself?

You can, but it is easy to go too short, and short curtain bangs are the hardest to style. If you try it at home, start long, cut with the hair dry and take off small amounts at a time.

Do Curtain Bangs Suit My Face Shape?

Yes, curtain bangs probably suit you. They part in the middle and sweep out to each side, so they frame the face instead of covering it, and that makes them one of the most forgiving fringes there is. The real question is not whether to get them but how long they should be and where the shortest piece should land for your face shape.

This guide is for anyone thinking about curtain bangs who wants to walk into the salon knowing what to ask for. It covers each face shape (oval, round, square, heart, oblong and diamond), how to brief your stylist, how hair texture and cowlicks change things, and how to style and grow them out.

What are curtain bangs?

Curtain bangs are a fringe that is parted in the center and falls to either side of the face like a pair of open curtains, usually shortest in the middle and longer toward the temples. Stylist Dominick Pucciarello describes them in exactly those terms in mindbodygreen’s styling guide: parted in the middle, framing each side of the face.

Because the center is open, you see the forehead, brows and eyes through the gap. That is the main difference from a blunt fringe, which covers the forehead in one solid line. Curtain bangs also blend into face-framing layers, so they grow out more gracefully than most other bangs.

Do curtain bangs suit every face shape?

Curtain bangs suit nearly every face shape, because the length and the point where they open can be adjusted for each one. Celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend told Vogue that “when they’re done right, they’re flattering on everyone,” in Vogue’s guide to curtain bangs, and stylist Jess Elbaum names heart, square, oval and round faces as especially good matches in the same piece.

The adjustment that matters most is where the shortest piece falls. Most faces look best when it sits somewhere between the brow and the cheekbone. Round faces usually want it a little longer, long faces want a fuller, slightly shorter center, and square faces want softness rather than a straight edge. If you are not sure of your shape, the face shape guide shows how to measure it.

Do curtain bangs suit an oval face?

Curtain bangs suit an oval face very well, and almost any length works because an oval face has no width or length to balance. The bangs open at the center and sweep toward the cheekbones, which is the widest point of an oval face, so they draw attention to it. The oval face shape page lists curtain bangs as one of the best cuts for that reason.

Choose the length by your forehead. A tall forehead suits fuller, slightly longer bangs that cover more of it. A short forehead suits a lighter, shorter fringe so the face does not look crowded. The only thing to avoid is a very heavy, straight-across version that hides your proportions.

Do curtain bangs suit a round face?

Curtain bangs suit a round face when they are long and open, with the shortest piece at the cheekbone or a little below. Long bangs create two diagonal lines down the sides of the face, which adds length and angle. Pucciarello recommends thin, wispy, textured bangs for round faces for the same reason.

Avoid short, rounded, heavy bangs that end at the brows. They create a horizontal line across the widest part of the face and can make it look wider. The round face shape page has the full advice, including side parts and volume at the crown.

Do curtain bangs suit a square face?

Curtain bangs suit a square face because their soft, curved edges contrast with a straight jaw and hairline. Wispy pieces that sweep out to the cheekbones add movement around a strong bone structure without hiding it. Pucciarello suggests shorter curtain bangs for square faces in the mindbodygreen guide, so the fringe frames the upper face and pulls attention up from the jaw.

Ask for soft, textured ends rather than a blunt line. The square face shape page also suggests layers that fall below the jaw, which pair naturally with curtain bangs.

Do curtain bangs suit a heart-shaped face?

Curtain bangs are one of the best fringes for a heart-shaped face, because they cover the center of a wider forehead and open toward the cheekbones. Pucciarello recommends longer bangs for heart faces, with the shortest piece at or below the cheekbones. That length narrows the forehead visually and adds a little width where the face starts to taper.

Very short, blunt bangs can emphasize forehead width, so keep the fringe long and soft. See the heart face shape page for cuts that add fullness around the jaw.

Do curtain bangs suit a long or oblong face?

Curtain bangs suit an oblong face well, because they cover part of the forehead and make the face look shorter. Choose a slightly fuller center, with the shortest piece around the brows or just below, and let the sides sweep out toward the ears to add width. Pair them with volume at the sides rather than height on top.

The oblong face shape page lists bangs as the first cut to try for a long face. Avoid very long, thin curtain bangs on straight, sleek hair, which add more vertical lines.

Do curtain bangs suit a diamond face?

Curtain bangs suit a diamond face because they add width at a narrow forehead and balance prominent cheekbones. Let the bangs open just above the cheekbones rather than right on them, so the fringe fills out the upper face instead of adding more width at the widest point. A chin-length cut or soft layers from the chin down complete the balance.

The diamond face shape page has more on cuts that add width at the forehead and jaw.

What length of curtain bangs suits each face shape?

The right length runs from around the brows for oblong and square faces to at or below the cheekbones for round and heart faces, with oval and diamond faces in between. Use this table as a quick brief for your stylist.

Face shape	Where the shortest piece falls	What to ask for
Oval	Brow to cheekbone, based on forehead height	Any length; avoid very heavy and blunt
Round	At or just below the cheekbone	Long, wispy, open in the middle
Square	Around the brow to upper cheekbone	Short to medium, soft textured ends
Heart	At or below the cheekbone	Long and soft, sweeping outward
Oblong	Around the brow or just below	Fuller center, width at the sides
Diamond	Just above the cheekbone	Medium length, fuller at the forehead

How do I ask my stylist for curtain bangs?

Ask for curtain bangs by naming where you want the shortest piece to fall and bringing two or three photos of bangs on someone with similar hair texture. “Shortest at my cheekbones, longer at the sides, blended into my layers” is a clear brief. “Just below my brows in the center” gives a shorter, more noticeable fringe.

A few things make the conversation easier:

Start longer than you think. Bangs shrink as they dry and spring up after cutting. A longer first cut can always be shortened.
Say how you style your hair. If you air-dry most days, tell the stylist, so they cut a shape that works without a round brush.
Ask how wide the section is. A narrow section is lighter and easier to grow out; a wide one gives a fuller, more dramatic fringe.
Mention cowlicks and partings. Point out where your hair naturally parts so the bangs open there.
Ask for a dry check. Many stylists cut or refine bangs dry so they can see how they will fall day to day.

Do curtain bangs work with curly hair, fine hair or cowlicks?

Curtain bangs work with every hair texture, but each texture needs a slightly different cut and routine. Townsend told Vogue that every face shape and every hair texture can have them, and Elbaum notes in the same piece that very coarse, curly hair can need more upkeep, while straight or wavy hair is easier with a quick blowout.

Curly and coily hair: Ask for the bangs to be cut curl by curl and dry, and expect them to shrink. Vernon François suggests setting them with finger coils or two-strand twists on damp hair in Vogue’s guide.
Fine or thin hair: Keep the section narrow and avoid heavy thinning so the ends do not look wispy and sparse.
Thick hair: Ask for some internal weight removal so the fringe sits flat instead of puffing out.
Cowlicks: A strong cowlick at the front hairline can push bangs up or split them in the wrong place. Tell the stylist where it is so they can leave extra length there, and blow-dry the roots in the opposite direction while damp. Vogue’s guide mentions flat, creaseless clips to set them while they cool.

How do I style curtain bangs?

Style curtain bangs by drying the roots down and forward first, then sweeping the ends up and away from the face. Celebrity hairstylist Joseph Maine describes this in mindbodygreen as roots facing down toward the face with the ends sweeping upward. Do it while the hair is damp; once bangs dry flat, they are hard to reshape.

Dampen the bangs if they have dried on their own.
Blow-dry the roots side to side and down to remove any cowlick lift.
Use a small or medium round brush to roll each side up and away from the center.
Let them cool in place, or pin them with a clip or velcro roller for a few minutes.
Finish with a light hairspray or a drop of styling cream.

Bangs sit against your forehead all day and get oily faster than the rest of your hair, so a quick rinse or a touch of dry shampoo between washes keeps them light.

How do I grow out curtain bangs?

Curtain bangs are among the easiest bangs to grow out, because they turn into face-framing layers as they lengthen. Once they pass the cheekbones, ask your stylist to blend them into face-framing layers rather than cutting them back. Until then, a side part, a twist pinned back or tucking them behind your ears covers the awkward stage.

Where does Beautify fit?

If you are not sure which face shape you have, Beautify for iPhone tells you from one selfie. Your Characteristics names your face shape (oval, round, square, heart or oblong) and gives haircut tips for it, and the Glow Up Guide includes a hairstyle step. A diamond face usually reads as the closest of those five, so check the diamond notes above if your cheekbones are your widest point. The AI beauty assistant can answer follow-up questions, such as how to style bangs with your hair type. Beautify does not do virtual try-on, so it cannot show you wearing bangs. For that, a stylist consultation is the best option, and a free mirror test (pull your hair back and compare forehead, cheekbone and jaw width) works too.

What matters most?

Curtain bangs suit almost every face shape because they open in the middle and can be cut to any length.
The key detail is where the shortest piece falls: cheekbones for most faces, a little lower for round faces, fuller around the brows for long faces.
Bring photos, start longer than you think and tell your stylist about cowlicks and how you style your hair.
Dry the roots down and the ends up, and blend them into face-framing layers when you grow them out.