Curtain Bangs 101: How to Style & Care for Your New Fringe (2024)

Over the decades, we’ve seen many kinds of bold and daring fringe trends. Large, side-swept bangs were all the rage during the punk era in the early 2000s, and a full fringe always becomes cool again when bobs are back in fashion.

But this year, it’s curtain bangs that take the cake for the trendiest fringe. What makes them so appealing is that they look pretty much just like shorter layers, so they blend nicely into your locks with the help of a hair curler & straightener. Plus, they frame your face to bring out your best features.

Getting curtain bangs for the first time sounds a bit scary, especially if you haven’t worn a fringe in years. But with a solid cutting and styling technique paired with high-quality Nubi hair tools, making your curtain bangs look fab is sure to come easy.

Curtain Bangs Are the Hottest New Hair Trend

Curtain Bangs 101: How to Style & Care for Your New Fringe (1)

Curtain bangs were first made popular in the 60s and 70s. Women would part their bangs down the middle and sweep them on either side, making the hair frame their face like a window curtain.

These gorgeous, carefree bangs suddenly made a huge resurgence on social media in the last couple of months. Celebs like Hilary Duff and Jennifer Lopez are rocking it, and teenagers are eating it up on TikTok.

It’s a softer, more subtle take on the full fringe that most people think about right away when they hear the word “bangs.” Instead of bangs that cover up half of your face, curtain bangs are long, wispy, and stay on the sides of your face.

They’re cut in a manner that allows them to flawlessly blend into the rest of your hair, so you can style it in such a way that no one will even realize you have bands, to begin with. That’s why they’ve deemed the “gateway” to bangs — they’re more like short layers instead of a full-on fringe.

Why Are People So Hung Up on Curtain Bangs?

The reason why curtain bangs work so well is that instead of drawing attention to the hair itself, they frame your face. They bring out your best features, especially if you have high, defined cheekbones or big, blue eyes. It can even give your temples a bit of a contour.

It’s a hairstyle that’s friendly for new hair lovers because it doesn’t require that drastic of a change. It’s a longer fringe style you can try out if you’re not quite ready to lose your length for some bangs. In short, you don’t have to get a big, dramatic chop just to get bangs — you just need to refresh your look with small layers.

Last but not least, people love curtain bangs because they’re so versatile that they work well on everyone. They look gorgeous on any hair texture and lengthand are flattering on most face shapes. Anyone can pull them off as long as they know how to style them to complement their features.

How to Cut Curtain Bangs By Yourself

Curtain Bangs 101: How to Style & Care for Your New Fringe (2)

Because curtain bangs are so subtle and relaxed, many women opt to cut their bangs themselves. It’s pretty simple to do. You just need a comb, some scissors, and a little bit of confidence. Here’s how you do it:

  1. Start by brushing out your hair to get rid of any tangles (make this easier with Nubi’s Simply Sleek Brush). It’s easier to cut hair when it’s smooth and silky without any knots. It gives you more control of the length at which you’re cutting.
  2. Part your hair down the middle. Then, section off two diagonal sections. Do this by starting an inch or two back from your hairline and combing down to your temple area. Carve out sections on both sides of your hair and pull them forward. This will be the only hair you’re cutting.
  3. Brush that hair down and cut them straight across at around chin-level. Yes, they’ll be quite long, but this isn’t the finished product yet.
  4. Now, part your bangs down the middle again. Cut each side of your bangs at an angle, making sure that the strands nearest the center of your face are shorter, getting longer as they connect with the rest of your hair.
  5. When you’re happy with the angle and length and both sides look symmetrical, start snipping at your ends with the scissors pointing upwards. This will thin out the ends of your bangs to soften them a bit, so they don’t look too blunt.
  6. Style your bangs however you want and flaunt your gorgeous new look on Instagram!

How to Style Your Curtain Bangs

So now you have curtain bangs at the length you desire. Then what?

Now comes the fun part — styling your bangs to make them look exactly how you want. There are many different ways to style and play around with curtain bangs. With your trusty tools like a blow-dryer and a hair curler & straightener, you’ll be able to experiment with plenty of textures and shapes.

Today, let’s talk about four simple styles that make a tremendous impact in the glam department. All you need is a little patience, some skill in working your hair curler & straightener, and a fab look you want to achieve.

Curtain Bangs 101: How to Style & Care for Your New Fringe (3)

The Blown Out Look

To get that salon-beautiful volume and body in your bangs and locks, use your favorite hairdryer. The trick is not to blow out your hair in just one direction.

Using a round brush, lift your curtain bangs up and rotate them inwards as you point the hairdryer towards them. Brush up and let your hairdryer follow along as you move towards the back of your head. This smoothes out your bangs and gives them an additional lift when you place them back by your face.

When you’re happy with the bounce and shape of your curtain bangs, use your hands to position them the way you want around your face.

Shake them out with the rest of your hair to get them to blend together. You can also blow-dry your bangs again on the roots going from left to right if the bangs look too big and raised.

A good blow-dryer to use for this quick and easy technique is the Nubi Blow Me Away Dryer, which you can find in the Nubi Deluxe Styling Set. This dryer emits heat that is even so that your volume and texture will look consistent throughout your hair.

The set also comes with a hair serum infused with aloe and marula oil that you can use as a shine-boosting finishing oil once you’re done styling. You also get a bonus protein-rich styling spray to give your hair extra hold to extend its longevity.

Straight and Sleek

Straight hair never goes out of style! For a more sophisticated, put-together look, go for pin-straight hair and sleek bangs. This shows off the symmetry of your bangs and the rest of your locks since straight hair will reveal its true length and layers.

Making your hair as straight as possible can be a challenge, especially if you have a naturally frizzy and poofy mane. But with the right flat iron, you can have the super sleek-looking hair you want pronto.

Try the Nubi Straight Up 1.25” Ceramic Straightener. This one’s in purple for a fun pop of color to get you excited to do your hair each day.

This straightener’s snag-free ceramic plates smooth out your hair without stripping it of shine and softness. It’s designed to emit negative ions and infrared heat to tame your hair, ensuring that the curtain bangs framing your face don’t look frizzy as the day goes by.

Since it’s rounded in shape, you can use this iron as both a hair curler & straightener. Check out the styles below to see how you can use it to create voluminous textures with your hair.

Tousled with Waves

You can also use your hair curler & straightener to create tousled waves for a bit of body in your hair’s movement. Messy, shaggy hair is all the rage for a sultry woke-up-like-this hairdo, which goes perfectly with laidback curtain bangs.

Instead of going straight down with your flat iron, flick your wrist to twist your curtain bangs up a little bit as you pull down. Don’t do it too slow, or else you’ll end up with too-tight curls instead of loose, beachy waves.

Take some extra locks of hair in your hair curler & straightener when you do this so that you can blend your curtain bangs into the hair right next to them. Finish off the look with a nice styling spray to give it yet another boost of volume.

Cute, Curly Pieces

Another trick you can do with your hair curler & straightener is to create perfect spirals and ringlets that frame your face like tendrils. Many people think curling your fringe is a big no-no, but if you do it right and blend it into the rest of your curls properly, it will look super chic.

Twist your flat iron tightly as you glide it into your hair and curtain bangs, twisting more and more the further you go. Always curl away from your face for a blown-out effect. This gives your curls more volume and bigness.

Curtain Bangs Are Super Easy to Maintain!

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Unlike other types of bangs, curtain bangs aren’t a pain to maintain. Since it’s already textured and cut to blend into your hair seamlessly, you don’t need to get weekly trims as you would for straight, full bangs. Instead, you can just leave them be to grow out with the rest of your hair.

Growing them out won’t give you that “awkward phase” others go through when their bangs are not quite short, but not long enough to be tucked in the back of your ears. In a couple of months, they’ll just be shorter layers in your hair that frame your face strategically.

But if you want to make sure you keep the texture on the upper part of your hair, you can go get trims on your curtain bangs every six weeks or so. This merely maintains how high they sit on your face, bringing out your cheekbones and eyes.

If you use a hair curler & straightener every single day to style your curtain bangs, you might benefit from a rich conditioner. You must strengthen and moisturize your hair after styling it so frequently so that it doesn’t fall victim to the heinous hair crime known as heat damage.

One such conditioner is the . This rich formula is infused with proteins to fortify the feel of your strands and olive oil to condition and add shine to their appearance.

It gives you the perfect balance between protein and moisture to deliver hydrated, bouncy hair — perfect for your curtain bangs! It’s the best antidote to heat damage from your hair curler & straightener. Plus, the conditioner also fights against the look of static and frizz, leaving your hair to look tame and smooth all day long.

Conclusion

It’s easy to fall into the trap of trendy hairstyles. One minute, you’re holding a pair of scissors to your hair to get that cool new pixie cut everyone’s on about, and the next you’re completely regretting it.

But that’s hardly ever an issue with curtain bangs. Even if you cut them DIY-style at home, they’re hard to get wrong. They also have the balance of subtlety and style, so they’re not insanely daring. It’s flattering on everyone too, no matter your face shape or hair texture.

If you’re thinking of getting curtain bangs, be sure you know exactly how you want to style them. Will you wear them smooth and straight or textured with ringlets? The choice is yours — all you need is a handy hair curler & straightener, and you can style your curtain bangs however you please.

Follow our tips above for how to style and maintain your bangs. In no time, you’ll have mastered the “it” hair trend of the season like the back of your hand.

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Curtain Bangs 101: How to Style & Care for Your New Fringe (2024)

FAQs

Curtain Bangs 101: How to Style & Care for Your New Fringe? ›

Curtain bangs are best styled when blown out with a one-inch round brush for added volume. According to Lordet, you can flip them out away from the face to define the bang or flip them inward to blend the bangs into the hair and give the appearance of a face-framing layer.

How do you style freshly cut curtain bangs? ›

Styling Curtain Bangs

To get the best results, start with damp bangs; either style them after washing your hair or spritz them with water to dampen them. With your bangs parted down the middle, wrap one section around the brush and blow dry it away from your face. Repeat with the other section.

How to take care of your curtain bangs? ›

Maintaining Curtain Bangs
  1. Give your bangs extra love with hydrating conditioner designed for smoothness and shine. ...
  2. Use care when blowdrying curtain bangs. ...
  3. Get creative with fun style options for working out with bangs! ...
  4. Set a standing appointment for a trim every 4-6 weeks.
Jun 17, 2021

Where should curtain bangs start and end? ›

Round faces: Longer curtain bangs, ending around the cheekbones, help elongate and add definition. Square faces: Slightly shorter, wispier curtain bangs that softly frame the jawline can balance out angular features.

Do you have to style curtain bangs every day? ›

And, no, you don't have to redo the look every day... "Curtain bangs don't need daily upkeep other than blow drying or dry shampooing if they get oily," says Everson.

What to use to style curtain bangs? ›

To add some texture to your curtain bangs, use a texturizing, volume spray or dry shampoo. Spray it onto your bangs and use your fingers to tousle them. Personally, I love Oribe's Thick Dry Finishing spray. It's a product everyone should have in their haircare arsenal for every hairstyle.

Do curtain bangs require a lot of maintenance? ›

This makes them much lower-maintenance than most fringe styles (you can even sweep them behind your ears as they grow). However, you'll still need to head to your salon for a trim every four to six weeks if you want to maintain the shape of your curtain bangs.

How to make curtain bangs stay all day? ›

Wet your bangs.

Styling them while they're wet will help them stay voluminous and hold their shape. Consider putting some holding or texturizing spray in your hair. This can help your hair stay in place and give you even more volume. This technique works best on wavy or straight hair types.

What is a waterfall fringe? ›

“Waterfall bangs are in between a curtain bang and a straight across bang,” explains Jenna Spino, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon. “The bang has various lengths, the longest hitting around the cheekbone, blending right into the sides of your hair.”

How do you style curtain bangs before bed? ›

Simply roll your curtain bangs up as if there were a roller in them and bobby pin them in place. (Feel free to put an actual roller in your hair if that's more comfortable.) After a few hours, or when you wake up in the morning, take it out for a beautiful heatless style.

Do curtain bangs make you look older or younger? ›

Haircuts to look younger: Layers + curtain bangs

And curtain bangs cover the majority of the forehead to instantly mask wrinkles, while they also swing open like a curtain over the temples conceals any thinning along the hairline.

What is the difference between fringe and curtain bangs? ›

Unlike classic fringe bangs, which lay straight across your forehead and hit at the brow, this style of bang is gently parted in the center, with the pieces being shortest in the middle and gradually getting longer toward the sides as they frame your face, explains stylist John Mouzakis, co-owner of Chicago's 3rd Coast ...

How to style grown out curtain bangs? ›

"The best and most simple tip is to tuck [your grown-out bangs] behind your ears while wet and they will dry blended in with the next-shortest layer," he explains. "If your hair is textured, do the same thing but just after heat styling the section, while the hair is still slightly mailable."

How do you style unruly curtain bangs? ›

If your curtain bangs tend to be unruly, consider using a smoothing serum or cream before blow drying. This will help tame any flyaways, reduce frizz, and create a sleeker look. Make sure to choose a lightweight formula that won't weigh down your hair.

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