The year was 2019 and my hair was looking positively underwhelming. A change in colour was simply not on the cards, so naturally, I opted for the next most life-changing hair move – curtain bangs. I know what you're thinking; never cut a fringe simply because you're bored. You're certainly not wrong there. But unlike the straight-across fringe of my early teenage years (that still burns in my memory), this was different. Shaggy, wind-swept and the perfect balance of put together and slightly undone – curtain bangs made me feel anew.
After all this hype you're probably wondering, what are curtain bangs and why have they made the classic fringe trendy again? For the unacquainted, this hair trend has been lurking for some time, shooting to real stardom courtesy of Daisy Edgar-Jones's Normal People character, Marianne. Similarly to The Rachel, Marianne's hairstyle became so iconic, it made Google's "Year in Search" trending data list for 2020.
Why are curtain bangs so popular?
How this modern version of the classic fringe differs is in its shaggy, unkept and effortless styling; which allows it to be framed perfectly to your face shape. This is the reason why they are so flattering – proving to be completely customisable in their nature. Whether you're after a traditional take on the trend or a more piece-y iteration.
Another major drawcard is the cuts versatility; working well with a range of styles and textures from messy waves, sleek blowouts and high ponytails. Because curtain bangs tend to be longer and hence, more malleable, you have the freedom of pinning them back on those low-effort days (speaking from personal experience). Even so, the bangs themselves are easy to manage; often only requiring a quick blow-dry and a douse of texture powder to finish them off.
How do I keep curtain bangs looking fresh?
The trick however, to keeping them looking fresh and chic is committing to regular trims. Thanks to an unwelcome pandemic, several of the industry's leading stylists transformed their Instagram accounts into educational platforms. While many still don't recommend cutting in bangs for the first time on your own, there is now a plethora of tutorials online that show you how to give them a trim when you can't get to a salon.
One uniting rule across all hairdressers is to begin by only cutting a small amount off, even if you're certain you want to go shorter. For shaggy bangs, hairstylist to the stars, Jen Atkin recommends parting your fringe in thirds and beginning with the middle section – snipping vertically in small increments. Whereas for traditional curtain bangs, the process is a little more tedious to ensure you get the 'angled' finish. You can watch her full trailer, below.
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Where should I seek inspiration?
If you're seriously considering cutting curtain bangs, it's best to go to your hairdresser with ample inspiration to ensure you're both on the same page. Instagram is a foolproof place to start collecting examples, whether from the feeds of your favourite beauty trailblazers or high-profile stylists. Try and save a few different shots from a variety of angles – searching for images that best match your hair type and texture. To start you off, I've rounded up 15 of the best curtain bang inspiration pics for every type of fringe style.
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