Ever heard that saying “bangs before Botox?” From trendy curtain bangs to wispy, layered fringe, there’s no doubt that haircuts with bangs will always be in style, and many different options out there have the potential to deliver anti-aging effects. On the flip side, there are some types of bangs cuts, experts say, that might add years to your look rather than detract, and the way to avoid this is finding a style that best suits your face shape. We checked in with professional hair stylists and hair experts to learn more about which bangs cuts to avoid, and what to show your stylist instead. Read on for tips and suggestions from Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, Dani Everson, professional hair stylist at Clementine’s Salon and Jean Will, hair expert and co-founder of NiaWigs Inc.
1. Blunt, Eyebrow-Grazing Bangs
This type of bang has been seen on stars like Jessica Biel, Rashida Jones, Kat Von D, Krysten Ritter, Taylor Swift and more, so it’s often tempting to bring a pic of them to your salon. If you’re over 50+ however, Will says you might not realize that there are certain styles (like this one) that could create a more droopy effect rather than emphasizing your beautiful features like other options can. “Bangs haircuts that you should avoid are the bangs that go over your eyebrows and the bangs that are too thick,” Will explains. The preferred bangs to try, she suggests, are eye-opening “curtain bangs” that can draw emphasis to your cheekbones, eyes and flatter virtually any face shape. “Do not ever try full bangs that cover your whole forehead and long bangs that almost cover your eyes,” Will says, as curtain bangs are a “much better” option for targeting your best features rather than concealing them with bangs that are too thick and too long.
2. Thick Bangs With A Chin-Length/ Longer Bob
Taking into account what we’ve learned about blunt, long bangs, Abdullah stresses that adding them to a chin-length bob or slightly longer lob can also highlight the effects of aging without also enhancing your features. “Thick, blunt bangs that come past the eyebrows on a blunt lob emphasize every sign of age in the face, as they don't frame the face well,” she explains. “Rather, they push all the attention to the eyes, with all their lines.” Abdullah adds that “the cousin of the bob with blunt bangs is the blunt lob with the same bangs.” This, she says, is seen as a very classic chic look (and looks great on Juliette Lewis here), but it can make you look older if not cut to frame your face shape. “That's because, like the lob with blunt bangs, the bob emphasizes the eye area, which might not look dewy. Then, it also emphasizes the jaw area, an area that many of us struggle with as we age,” she says. Her alternate suggestion is also to opt for curtain bangs, as they “flatter just about any face at any age,” with any length, as well. “They neatly frame the face while drawing attention away from serious aging signs,” she says.
3. Baby Bangs (Ultra-Short)
From timeless style icons like Bettie Page and Audrey Hepburn to current trendsetters like Emma Watson and Zendaya, many stylish women can rock a bold baby bang look. This cut, which ends before your eyebrows, might have a different effect on mature beauties, Everson notes. “I love bangs and think everyone has their own special length that enhances their features,” she says, adding that “No two bangs are the same,” and if you are looking to get bangs, “opt for a long hairstyle that will help hide forehead wrinkles.” This type of bangs, she says, can “overshare someone's wrinkle story,” drawing the eye to sagging skin rather than creating a look that has an upwards or lifting effect. “The right length of bangs can help make someone's appearance youthful, but too short borders the line between baby-ish and also aging,” she advises.
