Curtain bangs for all hair types are having a proper moment, and the reasons go well beyond a passing trend. From red carpets to everyday wear, the style has become one of the most discussed fringes in years, with stylists consistently pointing to its versatility and forgiving grow-out as the main draws.
Why Curtain Bangs Work Across Face Shapes and Textures
Curtain bangs are a long, face-framing fringe that typically hug around the brows, cut shorter in the middle and longer on the sides, with the longest parts hitting the top of the cheekbones, explains Rubi Aguilar, a New York City hairstylist. The shape can enhance facial symmetry and complement other features depending on how they are cut, according to Los Angeles hairstylist Brian Christopher.
One of the biggest selling points is that the look suits everyone regardless of face shape, says Bronwen Robinson, a hairstylist at Suite Caroline in New York City. A skilled hairdresser will adjust the length and shape to your facial features, taking into account your hair texture and growth patterns, Aguilar adds. She is direct about the stylist’s role: ‘The worst is a stylist who will talk you out of a style instead of educating you and finding a creative way to cut the style you’re excited about.’
For those with textured or curly hair, finding a stylist experienced in dry cutting is worth prioritising. Curls tend to shrink as they dry, Christopher explains, so cutting dry allows the stylist to see exactly where the fringe will fall. Los Angeles hairstylist Karen Arechiga adds that the technique lets the stylist give each curl individual attention for the most consistent result.
The grow-out is another reason stylists keep recommending curtain bangs over blunter fringes. Rather than producing the awkward, too-short phase common with other cuts, they simply part further from the middle as they lengthen, blending naturally into the rest of the hair. British hairstylist Carl Bembridge, a spokesperson for Colour Wow, notes that the style is also moving towards softer, less meticulously styled looks, making it more effortless than ever.
Curtain Bangs for All Hair Types: Styling and the Bardot Connection
The style’s lineage is part of its appeal. The report traces a clear arc from Brigitte Bardot’s thick, piece-y fringe through Farrah Fawcett’s flipped-out look and on to Sabrina Carpenter, who has become closely associated with the voluminous, face-framing version. That connection has roots. Hairstylist Tom Smith compares Carpenter’s cut directly to Bardot’s iconic look from the 1950s and ’60s, according to Who What Wear.
Carpenter’s own approach to the style has shifted depending on the occasion. At the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, her curled style sat as a happy medium between a wispy fringe and full eye-grazing curtain bangs, a version that Elle UK notes is easy to recreate by simply blow-drying bangs downward. That accessible quality is exactly why the style travels well beyond celebrity red carpets.
For a sleeker finish with more volume at the root, Christopher advises blow-drying with a round brush, rolling each side downward toward the centre of the face. Arechiga recommends a 1.5-inch brush for bangs that fall just below the brows or for a more dramatic curl, and a 2-inch brush for longer curtain bangs or a relaxed, beachy result. New York City hairstylist Lacy Redway, a spokesperson for Unilever hair-care brands, suggests finishing with a Velcro roller rather than heat to revive volume between washes.
Those who prefer to air-dry can still get a clean result. Robinson is clear on this: ‘Curtain bangs are cut to look breezy and effortless. If too much heat or effort is applied while styling, it will break that illusion of “I woke up like this.”‘ A lightweight texturising spray works well for straight hair; for curly textures, a small amount of curl cream before air-drying helps define the shape.
Keeping the Shape: Trims and Day-to-Day Maintenance
The consensus among stylists is that a trim every six to eight weeks is the best way to keep curtain bangs looking intentional rather than overgrown. Bembridge points out that you do not need to wait for a full haircut appointment. Most stylists, Aguilar notes, offer free bang trims for existing clients.
Between washes, dry shampoo at the roots helps restore lift, while a targeted hair mascara product can cut through grease and revive the shape without a full restyle. Los Angeles hairstylist Eduardo Méndez favours a volumising primer at the root to control exactly where the bangs fall when blow-drying. For a finishing touch, Christopher recommends raking a small amount of hair oil through the fringe to keep it smooth and frizz-free. With the right cut and a straightforward routine, curtain bangs remain one of the lower-effort fringes available, from the first appointment onwards.
