What Are Curtain Bangs?
Curtain bangs are a fringe parted in the centre and swept outward to each side, opening in the middle like a pair of curtains. They're shortest at the centre and get longer toward the sides, blending into the rest of the hair. Brigitte Bardot made them famous in the 1960s, they returned in the 1970s, and they've been one of the most requested fringes since around 2020.
How to Wear Them for Your Face Shape
Round: keep them longer, ending past the cheekbones, so they form a V that lengthens the face. Square: soft, longer and wispy, to soften the jaw. Oval: almost any length works. Heart: excellent; they narrow the wide forehead. Keep them around cheekbone length. Oblong: a slightly fuller, lower curtain shortens a long face.
Diamond: they add width at the forehead to balance wide cheekbones. Triangle: pair them with volume at the crown. The free face scan in Ollie Stylist measures your face shape, and Ollie Pro shows curtain bangs on your own photo before you cut.
Read more: Bangs for Round Faces: Which Fringe Works
Curtain Bangs With Short, Medium and Long Hair
Short hair: curtain bangs soften a bob or pixie. Medium: with a lob or shag, they're the classic modern combination. Long: they add shape to long hair without cutting length. Men wear a version too, as curtains with medium-length hair parted in the middle; see middle part hairstyles for men.
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How to Style Curtain Bangs
Blow-dry them while damp: use a round brush or your fingers to lift the root and sweep each side outward and back. A velcro roller for a few minutes gives the same bend without heat. Style them as soon as you wash; once they dry flat, they're hard to shape. A little dry shampoo keeps them from separating.
Read more: Wolf Cut: Who It Suits, by Face Shape and Hair Type
Growing Them Out
Curtain bangs are among the easiest fringes to grow out, because they're already swept to the sides and blend into face-framing layers as they lengthen. Tuck them behind the ears or pin them back during the in-between stage. Ask for a small trim every few weeks if you want to keep them at the same length.