HAIRCUTS / CURLY FRINGE
Curly bangs are having another moment, and thankfully, nobody is asking you to straighten them first. Here’s what to know before you make the cut.
A curly fringe can completely change a haircut without taking much length off anywhere else.
Think a few brow-skimming ringlets, an airy curtain of coils, longer face-framing curls or a full rounded fringe.
The one thing you really don’t want to forget?
Shrinkage.
Can every curl pattern wear bangs?
Pretty much.
Waves, curls and tight coils can all work with a fringe. The finished shape will just look different depending on how your hair naturally bends, coils and contracts.
Looser curls may fall into longer S-shapes or ringlets across the forehead. Tighter curls and coils can create more volume, more shrinkage and a rounder shape.
The goal isn’t to make your texture behave like the reference photo.
It’s to create a fringe that works with the curls you actually have.
How short should curly bangs be?
If this is your first fringe, starting longer gives you more room to adjust.
Curly hair has a naturally spring-like structure. When a curl is stretched and released, it can contract considerably, which means the length you see while the hair is pulled straight is not necessarily where it will sit naturally.
And every curl may spring up a little differently.
Leave it longer.
You can always take off another half-inch.
Growing it back by dinner is unfortunately not one of our options.
Should curly bangs be cut wet or dry?
There isn’t one cutting method that every curly-haired person has to follow.
What matters is that the stylist understands where your curls naturally sit once they are no longer stretched.
Curly fibres change shape as they are manipulated and stretched, so evaluating the natural curl pattern is especially important when you’re deciding where a fringe should land.
Some stylists prefer to cut or refine curly bangs while dry because they can see the finished position of each curl. Others use a combination of wet and dry cutting depending on the haircut and texture.
The important part is accounting for your actual curl pattern and shrinkage.
The length that matters is where your fringe lands when your curls are being themselves.
What should you ask for at the salon?
Bring pictures.
“Curly bangs” can mean a lot of different things, so show your stylist the shape you’re imagining.
Do you want them thick?
Airy?
Above the brows?
Long enough to part?
Blended into face-framing layers?
Also tell your stylist how you normally wear your hair.
If you air-dry almost every day, that matters. If you always diffuse, that matters. If your curls shrink dramatically between wet and dry, that definitely matters.
How much your curls shrink.
Whether you usually air-dry or diffuse.
Where you normally part your hair.
How much styling you’re realistically willing to do every morning.
And bring photos of fringes with a texture and shape similar to yours when possible.
Which kind of curly fringe should you get?
You have options.
Airy curly fringe
Fewer curls are brought forward, leaving some space between them. It gives you the effect of bangs without creating a heavy section across the forehead.
Full curly bangs
More hair, more volume, more impact. These can work especially well with rounded cuts, shags and heavily layered curls.
Curly curtain bangs
Longer pieces that can separate through the middle or slightly off-centre. A good option if you like changing your part or want an easier grow-out.
Micro fringe
Short, intentional and much less forgiving of an accidental extra inch.
Long, brow-skimming curls
An easier starting point if you want bangs but aren’t quite ready to commit to a much shorter fringe.
How do you style curly bangs?
Treat them like a miniature version of the rest of your curls.
On wash day, apply a small amount of your usual curl product while the fringe is wet or damp. Smooth or scrunch the curls into place, then let them air-dry or diffuse them.
If one curl refuses to join the group, you can wrap it around your finger to encourage the shape.
And be careful with very heavy creams and oils around the fringe. Because the hair sits against your forehead, too much product can make it look weighed down faster than the rest of your curls.
1. Wet or dampen the fringe.
2. Add a small amount of mousse, gel or your usual styler.
3. Reshape any stubborn curls with your fingers.
4. Air-dry or diffuse.
5. Try not to keep touching them while they dry.
What do you do with curly bangs on day two?
Refresh the bangs instead of automatically refreshing your entire head.
If a few curls flattened overnight, lightly wet those pieces and reshape them with your fingers.
Your existing styling product may reactivate with water. If it doesn’t, add a very small amount of your styler to the sections that need more help.
Then let them dry before deciding whether they need anything else.
Why do bangs get oily before the rest of your hair?
They spend the entire day sitting against your forehead.
That means your fringe comes into contact with skin oil, sweat, sunscreen and skincare much more than the curls at the back of your head.
If your bangs need washing before the rest of your hair, you can wash just the fringe and restyle that section.
Dry shampoo can also absorb some oil between washes, but the American Academy of Dermatology notes that it does not actually clean the hair or scalp. Regular shampoo and water are still needed to remove oil, dead skin and product buildup.
What happens when curly bangs grow out?
This is where curly bangs can be surprisingly forgiving.
As they get longer, the fringe can gradually turn into face-framing curls instead of staying an obvious straight line across the forehead.
You can part them.
Pin them back.
Blend them into layers.
Let them become curtain bangs.
Or decide you like the longer shape and keep it.
Should you cut curly bangs yourself?
For your first fringe, a stylist who understands curly hair is the safer option.
The challenge isn’t simply cutting a straight line at the right length. Individual curls can have different amounts of curvature and spring, so they may not all land in the same place once released.
Once you already have bangs and know exactly how your curls behave, small maintenance trims are a different story.
But if this is your first time and you’re standing in the bathroom stretching one curl toward your eyebrow with scissors in the other hand?
Maybe give that curl another minute to live.
The bottom line
Curly fringe works because it doesn’t have to be perfectly uniform.
Start a little longer if you’re unsure. Account for shrinkage. Choose a shape that works with your natural pattern and tell your stylist how you actually wear your hair at home.
Then style the fringe like what it is:
A handful of curls that happen to live on your forehead.
Disclaimer: This article provides general hair-care information and is not a substitute for advice from a dermatologist or other qualified healthcare professional. Persistent breakage, scalp changes or sudden hair loss should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.