Blame it on a distinct lack of hair-salon action in recent months, or our collective obsession with Jenna Coleman’s ’70s hair in the BBC drama The Serpent, but cool-girl “wafty bangs” are trending—and we are here for it. A retro silhouette, wafty bands are defined by their longer length—shorter toward the center of the forehead—that graduates downward at the sides of the face, as seen on Coleman’s character Marie-Andrée Leclerc, as well as the likes of Farrah Fawcett, Goldie Hawn. and Brigitte Bardot in days gone by. Think of them as the airier, more voluminous ’70s version of curtain bangs.
Consider it the fringe trend to try if you’re not ready to commit to full-on bangs, or if you’ve always believed bangs don’t suit your face shape. The waft is softer and fluffier, and can be styled in myriad ways depending on your personal style or the occasion. It’s an unfussy look that lends itself to the ever popular French-girl aesthetic and requires little effort to pull off. Of course, while Fawcett’s bangs are voluminous and bouncy, you can also take the softer, more pared-back approach.
Instagram content
Hairstylist Guido Palau, British Vogue’s contributing beauty editor, says anyone can pull off bangs—it’s all about wearing them and not letting them wear you. For wafty bangs, he recommends a few methods of styling to get the unfinished effect that is key to making them work. “I would take a hair dryer and use a round brush underneath it, then split the bangs so you get that ’70s thing,” he says. “When the bang is shorter in the middle and gets longer like that, it’s immediate ’70s sexy cool girl.”
Another method he recommends trying day to day is spritzing hair with water, applying some Bumble & Bumble thickening lotion, and putting it in a net to let it dry. “It dries flat this way, so you get natural texture,” he explains. For a little extra oomph, and if you’re channelling Fawcett, consider introducing the “flick” at the end of your bangs, using your fingers to twist and some extra hairspray to add hold.
Want to give them a try? Here are the products you need in your kit.
This story originally appeared on British Vogue.
