We’ve all been there. Scissors in one hand, half-empty bottle of wine in the other, staring at yourself in the mirror and asking the age-old question: “To bang or not to bang?” And no, we’re not referring to your daily Who Would You Rather: Celebrity Edition playoff. But, for the record, Team Cumberbatch all the way. We’re talking real bangs – the kind you haphazardly cut for yourself (and for your Barbie) at age five, nearly giving your mother a hernia.
Whether you’ve rocked bangs your whole life, Anna Wintour-style, or stayed away out of pure, unadulterated fear, here at The Cov we’re all in favor of a little new year, new ‘do action. But like anyone who’s shorn herself in the name of a drastic new style knows, taking the leap of fringe-fate can be daunting. We mean, 2014 was the year of the infamous ‘Yonce baby bangs heard ’round the world. Hashtag babybanggate.
With fringe-fear in mind, we asked the London-based hairstylist George Northwood – also known as tress whisperer to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and full-time bang aficionado Alexa Chung – to tackle four of our favorite eyebrow-grazing styles. The lineup? Straight across, side-swept, middle-parted, and, yes, the baby bang. We’re going for it, kids.
Fringe
This style is not for frizzy, unruly hair or if you consider yourself to have a round face. A straight fringe will cut the face in half.
Use a small ceramic brush and blow-dry forward. If your hair is slightly unruly, apply Pureology Super Smooth Relaxing Serum to tame and keep smooth. Keep a dry shampoo such as Redken Pillow Proof Two Day Extender on hand as this style can become slightly greasy.
With this style, you can trim a little yourself, but it’s not advised. If you do opt to DIY your bang, concentrate on the middle section and leave the sides to your hairdresser.
Middle-Parted
A middle-parted fringe suits most faces. If you consider yourself to have a round face, go slightly longer.
Blow-dry forward and curl in with a brush. Part at the end.
Illustrations by Meghann Stephenson.
