Most face-framing curtain bangs come down to a small round brush, rolling each side away from the face while the fringe is still damp. Length decides the upkeep: brow-skimming bangs need a trim every three to four weeks, while cheekbone-length ones grow out easily and tuck behind your ears when they fall flat by afternoon.
1. Center-Parted Classic Curtain Bangs
Oval, long and heart faces with fine to thick hair are the natural home for center-parted classic curtain bangs. They part at the middle and sweep to each side, shortest at the center and longest at the cheekbones. Point cutting in a soft V is how I blend the ends into the hair. When styling, roll each side away from the face with a small round brush. Trim every 4 to 6 weeks.
2. Cheekbone-Length Curtain Bangs
Round and square faces gain the most from cheekbone-length curtain bangs, because the length draws the eye down. The fringe starts at the cheekbones and blends into the first layer at the jaw, which makes it the easiest version to grow out and tuck behind the ears. An angled cut with point cutting is my method. Dry away from the face with a medium round brush. Trim every 6 to 8 weeks.
3. Brow-Skimming Short Curtain Bangs
Oval and oblong faces with medium to thick straight hair can handle brow-skimming short curtain bangs. The fringe sits at the eyebrows in the center and opens to the outer brow, showing more of itself and asking for more styling. Point cutting with a slightly heavier center is how I cut it. Dry down first, then split with a round brush. Trim every 3 to 4 weeks so they stay off the eyes.
4. Soft Wispy Curtain Bangs
Fine hair and clients who want a softer fringe are who I steer toward soft wispy curtain bangs, which are thinned until the forehead shows through. Oval and heart faces wear them well. A narrow section from the hairline with deep point cutting into the ends is my technique. Style them flat with a small brush and keep the pieces separated with a little dry shampoo. These face framing curtain bangs need a trim every 4 weeks.
5. Heavy Curtain Bangs
Thick, straight hair on an oval or long face suits heavy curtain bangs, which take a deeper triangle section from the crown so the fringe has more weight. They hide a high forehead well. I cut them blunt first and then soften the ends with point cutting. A medium round brush in the blow-dry gives them a bend. Trim every 4 to 5 weeks so they stay off the lashes.
6. Side-Swept Face-Framing Bangs
Round, square and heart-shaped faces with medium to thick hair suit side-swept face-framing bangs, which start from an off-center part so one side runs shorter than the other. The short side gets cut at the brow and the long side at the cheekbone. Style both sides away from the part with a flat brush. Daily wear is where these face framing curtain bangs shine. Trim every 5 weeks.
7. Bottleneck Fringe
Oval, heart and long faces with medium to thick hair suit the bottleneck fringe, which runs narrow and short at the center, then widens and lengthens past the eyes like the neck of a bottle. Point cutting is how I blend the outer edges into face-framing layers. Style center out with a small round brush. Trim every 4 to 5 weeks.
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8. Curtain Bangs on a Shag
Wavy and curly hair of medium density on an oval or long face suits curtain bangs on a shag. The fringe blends into choppy crown layers cut with a razor, so fringe and layers work together with no line between them. Air-dry with a sea salt spray and blow-dry only the bangs. On day two these face framing curtain bangs look their best. Trim every 6 to 8 weeks.
9. Curtain Bangs on a Lob
Fine to medium hair on a round or square face suits curtain bangs on a lob. A collarbone-length cut pairs with a fringe that opens at the cheekbones; I give the lob a slight forward angle and light internal layers. Style the bangs with a round brush and wave the length with a 1.25-inch iron. Trim every 8 weeks and the bangs every 4 weeks.
10. Curtain Bangs on a Chin-Length Bob
Oval and heart faces with fine to medium straight hair suit curtain bangs on a chin-length bob, which keeps the whole cut short and framed. I cut the bob with slight graduation at the nape so it sits close, then add the bangs. Style smooth with a paddle brush and bend the bangs with a small round brush. Trim every 6 weeks.
11. Curtain Bangs on Shoulder-Length Layers
Oval, long and square faces at any density suit curtain bangs on shoulder-length layers. The fringe connects to layers starting at the chin, and I point cut the layers so the bangs blend down into them. Style with a medium round brush and flip the ends out slightly. These face framing curtain bangs need a trim every 4 to 5 weeks, with the length every 8 weeks.
12. Curtain Bangs on Long Layers
Medium to thick hair on an oval, oblong or heart face suits curtain bangs on long layers. The length stays past the shoulders while the fringe frames the face; I start the long layers at the collarbone and blend the bangs into the first face-framing layer. Style with a round brush or set loose waves. Trim every 10 weeks and the bangs every 4 to 5 weeks.
13. Curtain Bangs on a Butterfly Cut
Medium to thick hair on an oval or heart face suits curtain bangs on a butterfly cut. Short layers stack at the cheekbones under the fringe, with long layers through the back, and I cut the front by pulling the hair forward to the face. Style with a large round brush and roll the face-framing pieces away. These face framing curtain bangs bring plenty of volume. Trim every 8 weeks.
14. Curtain Bangs on a Wolf Cut
Thick, wavy hair on an oval or heart face suits curtain bangs on a wolf cut. The fringe pairs with shaggy crown volume and wispy tapered ends, and I razor cut the crown and bangs together. Styling means texture spray scrunched in, a diffuser, then a rough-dry on the bangs. Heavy oils stay on the shelf. Less effort than a blowout. Trim every 6 to 8 weeks.
15. Fine-Hair-Friendly Curtain Bangs
Oval and long faces with fine hair suit fine-hair-friendly curtain bangs, cut from a narrow section so the rest of the hair keeps its density. Less hair comes from the crown, and point cutting keeps the ends light. Style with a volumizing mousse and a small round brush. Around the face, these face framing curtain bangs give the look of more hair. Trim every 4 to 5 weeks.
16. Thick-Hair-Friendly Curtain Bangs
Oval, heart and long faces with thick hair suit thick-hair-friendly curtain bangs, which need weight removed or they puff out. Slide cutting the underside and point cutting the ends is how I handle it. Style with a smoothing cream and a medium round brush, then pin them with a flat clip while they cool. Thick bangs lose shape quickly, so trim every 4 weeks.
17. Curly-Hair Curtain Bangs
2C to 3C curls suit curly-hair curtain bangs. I cut them dry, curl by curl, so I can see where each curl sits, and leave them longer than straight bangs to allow for shrinkage, usually to the cheekbone when wet. Style with curl cream and gel, then diffuse. No straightening is needed with these face framing curtain bangs. Trim every 6 to 8 weeks.
18. Wavy-Hair Curtain Bangs
2A to 2C waves of any density suit wavy-hair curtain bangs, which follow the natural wave and split easily at the center. I cut them slightly longer than straight bangs with point cut ends. Style by scrunching in a light mousse and air-drying, or blow-dry just the bangs with a round brush. Living with these face framing curtain bangs is about as easy as it gets. Trim every 6 weeks.
19. Sleek Curtain Bangs for Straight Hair
Oval and heart faces with straight hair suit sleek curtain bangs for straight hair. Every line shows on straight hair, so I point cut softly to avoid a blunt edge; the bangs open at the cheekbones and blend into a long, sleek length. Style with a paddle brush, then bend the bangs with a small round brush and finish with a shine serum. Trim every 4 to 5 weeks.
20. Silk-Press Curtain Bangs
3C to 4C hair of medium to thick density suits silk-press curtain bangs. They are cut after the hair is pressed straight so the length is accurate, held at the cheekbone and blended into long layers. At night, wrap the hair and pin the bangs flat. Until the next press, these face framing curtain bangs hold their shape. Trim every 8 to 12 weeks.
21. Curtain Bangs That Suit Round Faces
Straight and wavy hair of any density on a round face suits curtain bangs cut longer, ending below the cheekbones, so they draw a vertical line. I keep them light to avoid adding width at the temples and pair them with layers that start below the chin. Style the bangs away from the face. A trim every 5 to 6 weeks keeps these face framing curtain bangs in shape.
22. Curtain Bangs That Suit Oval Faces
An oval face can wear any length of curtain bang, so hair type decides the cut. Thick hair takes short bangs at the brow, while fine hair suits longer cheekbone-length bangs. A center part keeps the face balanced. Style with a round brush. Depending on length, face framing curtain bangs on oval faces need a trim every 4 to 6 weeks.
23. Curtain Bangs That Suit Square Faces
Medium to thick hair, straight or wavy, on a square face suits soft, wispy curtain bangs that end at the cheekbones and blend into layers past the jaw. They round off the corners of the forehead and jaw, so heavy, blunt bangs are out. Style with loose waves that move away from the face. A trim every 5 weeks keeps these face framing curtain bangs in shape.
24. Curtain Bangs That Suit Heart-Shaped Faces
Fine to thick hair on a heart-shaped face suits curtain bangs that reduce the width of the forehead. I cut them to open at the cheekbones and add fullness below the chin. Style the bangs out to the sides and curl the ends of the hair outward at the jaw. A narrow chin looks balanced with these face framing curtain bangs. Trim every 4 to 5 weeks.
25. Curtain Bangs That Suit Oblong Faces
Wavy and straight hair of medium to thick density on an oblong face suits curtain bangs that shorten the face visually. I cut them slightly shorter, around the brow, and pair them with layers at the cheekbones for width, keeping the length at or near the collarbone. Style with waves at the sides and dry the bangs with a small round brush. Trim every 4 to 5 weeks.
Most face-framing curtain bangs come down to a small round brush, rolling each side away from the face for a minute or two. IMO, that is the lowest-maintenance fringe there is. The oval face haircuts guide covers the other shapes.
