We all have those Instagram accounts we check daily, turn post notifications on for, and refer to in conversation like they're our actual friends. If you've ever scrolled onto one of these photos and wondered, How does she do it? you're in luck. Welcome to our series Insta Stalking, in which we talk to the women behind the accounts we're obsessing over about their beauty secrets. Next up, five women reveal how they get get their bangs looking so good.
Since joining Twitter in 2011, I have tweeted "Should I get bangs?" approximately 300 times. It's a thought that passes through my head at least once a week, usually when I'm in emotional distress or craving a major change. While getting bangs has become somewhat synonymous with going through a dramatic event like a breakup, it's easy to understand the allure of the hairstyle, emotional state aside.
Bangs are an easy way to make a high-impact change without chopping off the majority of your hair. They bring all the attention right to your eyes and can even change the shape of your face. Plus, they've become a cultural signifier of effortless cool when left long and wispy like Jane Birkin's, or of edgy glamour when worn cropped like Bettie Page's.
Despite the memes, when it comes down to it, getting bangs is not a decision to be made in the spur of the moment. There are frequent trims to keep up with, and despite their easy-breezy look, most bangs need a little extra styling. Like any good relationship, it's a style that takes hard work and commitment. We talked to five women who have bangs down to a science on how they get their hair to look so good. Read on for their best bangs tips and tricks.
Emily Labowe, 26, model, actor, and founder of Poppy Undies
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My bangs are a ’60s-style curtain fringe. I like that they get longer on the sides and shape my face; it's a very Jane Birkin vibe. I got them two years ago, and once I got them, I couldn’t imagine my face or style without them. My hair type is naturally somewhere between wavy and straight and on the thick side, so my biggest struggle with my bangs is waking up with really flat bangs or having them dry stick straight.
Embarrassingly, I don’t know how to use a blow-dryer, so after my daily shower I brush my hair and bangs and wring out any excess water. I brush my bangs directly down from the root and then split them in the center and swoop them off to each side to dry. Then I twirl the longer pieces outward, and then tuck them behind my ears to set so that it creates a nice wave around my face when dry. I’m very particular about this part of my hair routine, and I leave them like this until my hair has fully dried. I don’t usually use products on my bangs since those hairs tend to get most oily sitting on my forehead, but I'll use dry shampoo (Klorane Oat Milk or Batiste Original) when they’re getting extra piecey, or to add extra volume if they’re flat. I apply it at the root for volume and underneath to help with grease.
If I have more time to style my bangs, I'll use my curling wand and start on the sides wrapping the ends around the barrel to create a slight flip in them. For the center pieces, sometimes it's sort of a gamble! I’ll hold the end pieces around the barrel facing down for one or two seconds, to give them a bit more volume.
Trimming fringe is also one of the toughest things about having bangs. It’s a lot of maintenance to trim once a month, which is ideal, but since I tend to wear them on the longer side, I can get away with two-plus months. In a pinch, I’ll take small scissors and just cut the center pieces above my eyebrows so they don’t poke into my eyes.
Jessica Torres, 29, plus-size blogger and YouTuber
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I had bangs most of my childhood until I was 13. Once I became a teenager I wanted to grow them out, but I decided to go back to the style this past April. My hair is pretty straight and thick, so the hardest thing is making sure my hair has volume. I get my bangs trimmed every three months or so—I really want to learn to do it myself, but for now I’ll leave it to the professionals.
My bangs are usually the last part of my hair that I do. Once I’m ready to do them, I spray heat protector on them and let them dry. Then I use my straightener and curve my bangs in. I immediately add hairspray while they're still hot. It will keep my bangs in place all day and help prevent them from getting flat because of my sweat or the weather. If you make the mistake of getting bangs in the summer like I did, I recommend using a hairspray that is humidity-resistant!
Sophia Roe, 30, chef and wellness enthusiast
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I got bangs because of Donna Summer. She's my greatest style inspiration when it comes to my hair. When I first wanted to get bangs 10 years ago, no one would actually cut them for me. I went to two different salons, and they were like, “That's not going to work with your hair texture.” So I cut them myself. I’ve always cut my own hair. I've never had a professional haircut, and I cut my bangs probably every three weeks ago, because they're super-micro bangs.
I wash my hair only about two or three times a month, and I use a really good clarifying shampoo. I get out of the shower while my hair is still wet and work through DevaCurl Heaven in Hair Divine Deep Conditioner—it’s the best—and then put my hair in two braids. I always style my bangs separately from the rest of my hair. I use the DevaCurl Styling Cream, and I finger-coil my bangs; every little strand I finger-coil, and then I diffuse them. I don't blow-dry the rest of my hair, only my bangs.
I keep things super simple. I think with curly hair, people are like, “What’s the secret?” but your hair already has all the secrets, so I think it’s best to let your hair do what it already does. I tell girls who want to get bangs to remember that curly hair has its own personality, and it might take your hair a year or two to really get the memory down when it comes to having bangs, especially if your hair isn't used to it. I’ve had them for 10 years, so they know what to do—my hair just wants to lay. But when I first got them, my hair was a mess for, like, eight months. So just be patient! The finger coiling helps, make sure you use a diffuser, and as far as the rest of your hair: protective style. Put your hair in braids, sleep with your hair wrapped up, and don’t use products with silicone in them—that contributes to frizz.
Cristal Serrano, 25, model
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I've have had bangs for only a few months now, but I grew up having them all through high school. I love them. I think they add a romantic feel to everything I wear. I'll get them trimmed when I'm feeling dramatic and want a change but am only bold enough to cut my bangs. I have super-straight hair, which can be a struggle with bangs. Sometimes they sit on my forehead like blinds, which is really annoying.
My hair routine is pretty simple. I wash my hair every other day and let it air-dry. I like to blow-dry my bangs for a little bend and sometimes use a straightener for even more bend. My favorite look is slept-in hair. It gives my hair a natural wave, and there's something about your hair on the day after washing it that makes for such a good hair day. I'll throw in some texture spray and maybe a little bit of dry shampoo from Oribe and call it a day.
Jordan Rebello, 29, model
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I have a love-hate relationship with my bangs, but they've been a part of me on and off for 10 years now. They're super versatile, and I love how they enhance my youthful look. I have a lot of hair, and with that comes frizz. My biggest hair struggle is keeping moisture in and keeping the shape.
My hair routine is simple. I don't shampoo my hair; I just use a good heavy conditioner and leave it in for five minutes like a mask. While it soaks in, I use my fingertips to comb through my hair, and then wash it out and detangle. It helps with not breaking my curls apart too much. Then I scrunch my curls to give them a little bounce and let them air-dry. I trim my bangs only every few months. I love a natural, overgrown shag.
Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her @bellacacciatore_.
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