This article has been updated since its initial publish date.
Bangs have the power to highlight your best features— from eye-grazing fringe to layered locks that draw attention to your cheekbones. With that said, there are many different types of bangs, and knowing which suits your face shape can help you find a new style for spring that you’ll be excited to show off! If you do choose to go for a hairstyle with bangs, you might be excited to know that they do suit every face shape, and it’s more about choosing the right one for yours.
We checked in with Jackson Simmonds, Advanced Stylist at Julien Farel Restore Salon, to learn more about which bangs are great for each face shape so you can bring some fresh inspo to your next haircut appointment. “To determine which bangs will work best for you, it is crucial to determine your face shape,” Simmonds explains. “Balance and proportion are everything where bangs are concerned.” There are 7 basic face shapes that everyone can align with, Simmonds says, and “variations on a theme when it comes to bangs.”
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Ya’ll, I really want @alexa_chung bangs.. pic.twitter.com/lFEIBT9r3p
— . (@Noelle_Hunt12) February 1, 2017
1. Oval — Alexa Chung
If you have this face shape, lucky you! Simmonds dubs this to be the “most desirable” because the features of an oval shape (as seen here on Alexa Chung) “tend to be most” symmetrical. Simmonds advises to go for “blunt-cut bangs just at the brow.” Her oval shape leaves “enough length that the lines won’t widen her face visually, and this will look tre chic,” he adds.
Reese Witherspoon with choppy little bangs is one of my favourite visuals. Look at that… immediately relaxes me pic.twitter.com/yP7A5TCyxs
— grandma baby (@toni_bernard) March 3, 2021
2. Heart — Reese Witherspoon
As this shape is “also desirable,” Simmonds advises to “choose a blunt-cut bang, but give it a shattered edge, giving a notched finish.” This softer look, which Simmonds seems the ‘Bardot bang’ will “accentuate heart’s cheekbones but not dominate the already strong face shape.” He encourages to “let it hit a bit lower than the oval’s as texture is the key to this blunt bang.”
Selena Gomez x Bangs pic.twitter.com/aF9ttc7O2o
— Selena Gomez Brasil (@selenagomezbr) May 25, 2022
3. Round — Selena Gomez
“Round faces should have side-swept, angled bangs to balance the width,” Simmonds says. He adds that “blunt or piecey bangs will have unflattering effects on this shape.” As seen here on Selena Gomez, her bangs are just long enough but not too long, and can easily be swept off to the side to draw more attention to her stunning features.
Olivia Wilde Bangs https://t.co/pRnvMqEPFE pic.twitter.com/L9I6jLwaLV
— Free Wallpaper (@FreeWallpaper16) August 22, 2016
4. & 5. Square / Rectangle — Olivia Wilde
“Long, heavy bangs are sure fit for square-shaped faces, allowing them to be pushed side to side, or split in the middle like curtain bangs,” he adds. These flowing, diagonal lines soften corners. “Razoring is a nice touch as it gives more lift to a heavier bang section,” Simmonds continues. Rectangle face shapes also do best with “soft and feathery, face-framing layers, or fringes, he says, as they “balance the elongated shape and again, soften corners.”
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6. Oblong — Liv Tyler
Oblong faces, as seen with Liv Tyler, are served well by ‘A-Shaped Bangs ,’ Simmonds says, “which tend to be wider at the cheeks and more angular near the jawline.” The tapered edges, he notes, create “balancing angles and bring the focus to the eyes.”
Rihanna is so gorgeous with bangs! pic.twitter.com/tt820TY1Lq
— Rih (@RIRIVOGUEE) November 6, 2021
7. Diamond — Rihanna
Diamond shaped faces like a “long, side-parted bang, to break up the symmetry,” according to Simmonds. “Razor cutting this section will give you even more swing and movement. Love to tuck this behind one ear, too.” He adds that this cut is “super sexy” and reminiscent of “bedroom bangs.” Simmonds concludes that the “best thing” you can do to prepare for your new bangs to make sure the hair is prepped properly, meaning it is washed, brushed and you have the style you want in mind!
