| Hair Bangs - Types & Face Shapes |
| Karen Marie Shelton - Copyrighted 03/01/97
- All Rights Reserved. |
| Revised Date: 12/13/07 - Original Publication Date: 03/01/1997 |
Introduction
 |
|
Allison Mack
With
Sleek Side-Swept Bangs |
|
DailyCeleb.com
All rights
reserved. |
One of the
most controversial elements of hair
bangs is whether to call them "bangs" or call them
"fringes". In the United
States bangs are the common word for hair that fully or
partially covers the forehead area of the face.
In England
and other European countries bangs have a slang related
meaning that is considered "off color". For those
countries the word used to describe forehead hair is
"fringes".
Note: See image of Actress Allison Mack
to the side.
Regardless
of what term you prefer to use, forehead hair, like
everything in the hair world, has its style trends and
general rules.
Although the
hair bang cycles in and out of favor depending on
fashion trends and other related style indicators, they
tend to look good on just about anyone ranging from
babies to boomers of any age. So why are they
consider the one-stop-hair-trend for all? Mainly
because they can be created to scale from long to short,
side-swept to full frontal blunt or a variety
in-between.
Bangs can be
worn to minimize large foreheads, help control annoying
cowlicks or disguise forehead lines. They work in
harmony with a wide range of hair accessories from
headbands to clips.
What else
should you note about bangs? They can be an
instant fix for a bad haircut or a decision that is made
in haste and repented in leisure because bangs can be
challenging to deal with during the sort-to-long phases.
Selecting Best Bangs
Bangs cut to
enhance your face shape and
when in harmony with your hair's
type, texture and condition, can be wonderful.
However, there can be drawbacks in other areas.
If you wish
to accentuate your eyes, wear bangs that are cut just to
the brow line which will draw instant attention to your
peepers.
Super thick
bangs that are too long may accentuate your note which
may or may not be a good thing.
Selecting
bangs should encompass a wide range of factors that
include:
1. Hair type
When cut and styled correctly, bangs can actually help
fatten naturally thin or fine strands. Side swept bangs
might give the impression of fuller strands whereas
feathered or wispy bangs might negatively highlight
thinning strands. In fact, the famous male comb
over style is a form of bangs that should never be
adopted by anyone trying to hide thinning strands.
 |
|
Jennifer Love
Hewitt
With
wWispy Side-Swept Bangs |
|
DailyCeleb.com
All rights
reserved. |
2. Hair texture
While
perfect for naturally straight hair or hair with some
bend, bangs can be a living hell for
naturally curly or
super wavy strands.
Note: See image of Actress Jennifer Love
Hewitt to the side.
3. Hair length
The
length of bangs can range from super baby short to long.
Depending on the over look desired, bangs can be cut to
blend with the overall hairstyle and cut. Bangs
can also be utilized to help blend an uneven or
disastrous cut.
4. Condition of Hair
Bangs
may not work well for hair that is prone to breakage or
has been chemically damaged. Each situation would
need to be addressed with your hairdresser. Hair
that is prone to oiliness may prone difficult when worn
with bangs. This is especially true when oily
strands are coupled with oily skin.
5. Face shape
Once
you have considered all hair related challenges,
the
face shape should be analyzed to select the very best
type of style to frame the face. Afterall, while
helpful in minimize a myriad of lines and other facial
challenges, bangs should flatter and act as a beautiful
curtain of tresses.
Consider the following rules of thumb when selecting
bangs.
Oval face shapes - the oval face shape is considered
to be a face shape that can wear any type of style or
hair. This includes bangs which can be worn in
just about any style. Of course bangs for oval
face shapes should be chosen with an eye for hair type,
texture, length and condition.
Round face shapes - the most flattering bang
styles tends to be built upon long softly layered or
feathered bangs (if your hair texture, type and
condition support feathering) that gently hug the cheeks
areas to minimize round cheeks. When skillfully
constructed, bangs can add beautiful contour to round
fact shaped features. Great bands can instantly
chisel into the cheekbones and help them pop.
Long face shapes - blunt brow hugging bangs that
softly drape over the forehead will help to give the
impression of a more oval-shaped face. The oval
look can be strengthened by opting for long or graduated
layers that softly caress the sides of the face.
Square face shapes - consider side-swept bangs
that gently curve or taper inwards towards the jaw to
soften pronounced square facial lines. When well
cut, side swept bangs can also help soften all the
angles of the face.
Heart face shapes - depending on the ultimate
goal, bangs can be selected to either minimize the
general wideness of the heart shaped face or help to
balance the generally prominent chin. A side swept
feathered or texturized bang style can also be another
great option.
A heart shaped face can also usually carry off full
bangs cut straight across the face. Long or short,
full bangs can look really great for a heart shape.
Triangular face shapes - wider bangs that are
feathered, wispy or texturized can help to balance the
face and create more of an oval shape.
A slight wispy fringe will cover and conceal a wide forehead. It will also bring
it into a better proportion with a wide chin. Avoid the flat, pageboy fringes. These can
level out fullness and height.
Other Bang Tips
Bangs cut to
enhance your face shape and in harmony with your hair's
type, texture and condition, can be wonderful.
However, there can be drawbacks in other areas.
If you wish
to accentuate your eyes, wear bangs that are cut just to
the brow line which will draw instant attention to your
peepers.
Super thick
bangs that are too long may accentuate your note which
may or may not be a good thing.
Wet or Dry Cutting
There is a
lot of controversy about whether hair should be cut bone
dry or when damp. Depending on your hairdresser,
their preferences and their skill levels they may prefer
to cut your bangs either way. While some
hairdressers believe that there is more hair control
when dry cutting is utilized. Other disagree
strongly and prefer wet bang cutting.
Note:
Some people
prefer to cut their own bangs. For detailed
information on cutting your own at home check out
HairBoutique.com Tip 18051.
Types of Bangs
 |
|
Caitlin Wachs
- Parted Bangs |
|
ABC
All rights reserved |
It is always
best when considering the addition of new bangs to chat
with your hairdresser before taking the plunge. It
is always best to discuss the pros and cons along with
looking at images of bangs that you might like.
Your hairdresser can advise you whether the style you
like would work well for your hair type, texture,
condition, overall face and body shape.
Although
bangs generally have descriptive titles and names, in
essence a good hairdresser can custom design bangs that
work perfectly for you.
Some hairdressers might
combine a blunt bang with tapered sides or create a
side-swept bang that has creative layering built in.
Listed below
are some common bang styles:
Blunt
Bangs - Worn just below the eyebrow these forehead
fringes are cut precisely straight across from side to
side.
Side
Swept Bangs - Cut so that the hair tapers from
shorter to longer lengths and is extended generally from
a side part with the hair brushed to sweep across the
forehead.
Parted Bangs -
Usually worn as a modified version of blunt bangs, these
bangs are often cut so that they part slightly either in
the middle of slightly to the side.
Choppy Bangs -
Usually worn as a modified version of blunt bangs, these
bangs are often cut with a scissors and then texturized
for a choppy look. Choppy bangs provide increased
depth to the facial features.
Asymmetrical
Bangs - These bangs will have widely varied lengths
with one side being a lot shorter than the other side or
the middle being a lot shorter than either side.
Disconnected Bangs
- These bangs encompass
extreme angles that often plummet drastically from side
to side. Blunt edges may be cut into the bangs at
unexpected locations and lengths.
Blow Drying Bang Secrets
 |
|
Ashlee Simpson
- Asymmetrical Bangs |
|
DailyCeleb.com
All rights reserved |
The secret to having great bangs is in the styling
products utilized and how you blow dry them.
Although hair experts disagree, celebrity hairdresser
Barbara Lhotan of the Elie Elie Salon in Virginia
recommends that bangs should be towel blotted before
drying.
Other stylists recommend that you blow dry
bangs when they are soaking wet. Ask your
hairdresser for suggestions and then be prepared to
experiment.
Apply the styling product of your choice based on
your hair's type, texture and condition.
Separate bang strands into small sections of 1-2
inches. Use your fingers to anchor the strand and
then blow-dry from the roots down to the ends of the
bangs. Direct the air flow "down the shaft" to add
natural shine.
If you have problems with bangs that get either too flat
or too frizzy blow dry the roots of your bangs first.
Then use a small flat brush to anchor the ends of the
bangs while you blow dry.
If you prefer some
movement and bend, use a small round brush. You
can also experiment with moving the air flow so that you
direct the heat from up above the roots and from under
the roots.
If you prefer stick straight bangs, once bangs are
100% dry, use a small flat iron and run the iron over
them quickly to straighten. Remember that if the
bangs are too straight, they might become limp or stick
straight out. Finish with a light spritz of hairspray.
Summary
One of the
most controversial elements of hair
bangs is whether to call them "bangs" or call them
"fringes".
Once you get past that initial
challenge, the world of bangs/fringes can be all
encompassing when you examine all the different styles
and how they might work with various hair types,
textures and conditioner.
Whether you embrace bangs or
not, they always offer new hair options. |