4 Fresh Ways to Rock Bangs

Achieving bangs with a slightly nineties feel is simple with a little length and a one-inch-barrel curling iron. Even if your tresses are on the shorter side, these spirals are a cool departure from traditionally sleek fringe. “This look is romantic, sexy and a little bit playful,” says Gillian Garcia, of Gillian Garcia Artistry in Brooklyn, who created the styles in this story. Garcia French-rolled the back of the hair from the bottom up, then spiral-curled the loose ends to hang over the forehead.

If your hair is long or if you want to rock a bang without actually cutting your locks, this one’s for you. Garcia secured the hair into a pony at the crown and then separated the loose strands into two sections. She pulled one section forward, braided it to the side and then pinned it into the pony. For the bang effect, “the braid has to be very loose—it can’t be tight. That’s what’s going to give it that swoop,” says Garcia. She finished by rolling the rest of the hair into a bun.

Grown-out locks are the trickiest to deal with. If you’re stuck somewhere between a fresh cut and long layers, try this seventies-inspired flip. It’s a little messier than a classic bang, and the center part adds a retro vibe. This style looks best with hair that falls right on the eyelid. “Most people like bangs, but they want to still be able to see their eyes,” says Garcia. If you’re struggling with the in-between stage, Garcia suggests wearing a side-swept bang that you can either tuck behind your ear or let fall, sexily, over your eye.

It’s no secret that trying a wig is the perfect way to test-drive a new do—like this Harajuku-inspired super-short blunt. Garcia went for a fall-friendly plum shade, and instead of creating sharp lines across the back, she added texture with a jagged cut. Straight tresses with a slight bump at the ends (done with a curling iron) are what make this fringe fresh. It should sit at least one inch above the brow. “If you don’t want to go that edgy, you can bring it closer to the brow. But the higher up the edgier,” says Garcia.