A guide to curtain bangs for all face shapes and hair textures

Here is a guide to navigating the curtain bangs look, from getting the right cut to styling them at home.

What are curtain bangs?

Curtain bangs do for your face what a set of artfully draped curtains does for a window. They are a softer, more bespoke interpretation of straight-across bangs meant to flatter one’s bone structure and highlight certain facial features, such as the eyes or cheekbones. “The perfect curtain bangs create softness and balance around the face,” explains Velasquez. “Whether you’re going with a longer version with a centre part to open up your cheekbones or more forward and framing the brow line, their purpose is to bring out all of your positive features.”

Should you get curtain bangs?

While curtain bangs are coveted for good reason, you do have to weigh if they’ll be right for you across the board. “Before taking the plunge, consider if bangs will suit your lifestyle,” says François. For one, there’s the sheer physicality of bangs. “Some people find the feeling of hair on the face uncomfortable or it might be more practical to have hair fully swept back day to day,” he says. In addition to more trips to the salon for bang trims, there’s also the additional maintenance like more cleansing (bangs tend to get greasy because they absorb the oil, sweat, makeup, and SPF from your face) and daily finessing—though many consider the latter to be far and away worth it. “If you can give your bangs 10 minutes, you’re done,” assures Townsend.

Which face shape suits curtain bangs?

Curtain bangs can be seen as one of the most flattering bang cuts out there. Celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist Jess Elbaum says that it can generally work for many different face shapes and hair types, listing heart-shaped faces, square faces, oval faces, and round faces as the ones that usually work best with this cut.

For heart-shaped and oval faces, she explains that a curtain bang can help balance proportions and give you an overall more balanced look. With square faces, curtain bags can soften sharper jawlines, and round faces can help elongate features while adding dimension.

What is the difference between face-framing layers and curtain bangs?

The obvious difference between face-framing layers and curtain bangs is that one is a longer cut than the other. Face-framing layers, as Elbaum describes them, are aptly named with layers of hair that taper down each side. They can be different lengths, but they are the longer cut and hit just at the cheekbone or lower. Curtain bangs create a more symmetrical look, she says, and sometimes can be the only layer that is cut around the face.

How to cut curtain bangs?

Simply put: Leave curtain bangs to the pros. “Always have your bangs cut by a professional hairstylist who will give you a consultation first, taking into account your face shape, features, and lifestyle,” says François. Ahead of meeting with a pro, Townsend recommends doing your research to understand what will work best for you.“When people come to see me for a haircut, they often show me pictures of bangs on a different face shape,” explains Townsend. “I’ve learned a lot of people don’t know their face.” To that end, take the time to understand your face shape and from there, he recommends drawing a rough sketch of your face on a piece of paper and shading the corners and/or the top of the head to see what helps give the illusion of an oval shape, which generally tends to be the desired goal for the most flattering results. “It’s a great way to prepare for a conversation with a hairstylist and give yourself more realistic expectations.”