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Curtain Bangs Are Still the Chicest, Lowest-Risk Hair Update

From Suki Waterhouse to Kaia Gerber, curtain bangs are proving to be this season’s most covetable cut.

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As hairstyles go, bangs haven’t always had the best reputation. Across film, pop culture, and even the football field, the cut has carried the same connotation for decades: a symbol of drastic decisions or even regret—often the result of a bad breakup or a craving for a major hair transformation.

Curtain bangs, however, are rewriting that narrative. From the runways to the front row, they’ve become the coolest—and simplest—way to upgrade your hairstyle. Today’s version is softer and easier to style than its former Farrah Fawcett–inspired or Jane Birkin days, and looks effortless in that air-dried, “I woke up like this” way.

What Are Curtain Bangs?

“Curtain bangs are a longer style of bangs where the hair is usually parted down the middle, or slightly off-center, framing the face on either side,” explains Grace Amelia, senior stylist at Hershesons, a London-based salon brand. “A lot softer than the old-school blunt bangs, curtain bangs have evolved—stylists now work with a client’s natural texture and thickness, customizing them for a more effortless finish.” The end result can range from eye-grazing, wispy curtain bangs to full, mid-length, layered versions—it’s all about working with your own hair, styling needs, and texture, says Amelia.

Depending on the style, cutting curtain bangs will look different for everyone. “Cutting bangs comes down to preference and hair texture, but usually I would start from the tip of the nose and cut gradually downward toward the cheekbones. It can be cut with whichever tool you prefer,” says Eva Goulding, stylist at the John Frieda x Nicola Clarke salon in London.

As for styling references? “We’ve seen celebrities like Alexa Chung—the original curtain bangs girl—Matilda Djerf, whose hair became a viral sensation, and Dakota Johnson, whose bangs have been one of the most requested styles from clients lately,” she adds.

Who Are Curtain Bangs Best For?

As hairstylist Jordan Garrett from Hershesons explains, curtain bangs can flatter just about anyone. “It all depends on the length of your hair—specifically, the shape-to-length ratio—to get the proportions, the right shape, and the weight of the bangs,” he says.

If you’re opting for long curtain bangs, they often work best with hair that falls below the shoulders, so the style doesn’t weigh down the face. Meanwhile, if your hair has plenty of depth and layers, you can experiment with a fuller set of bangs.

Consider your hair texture, too. “If your hair is very curly, it’ll be harder to achieve the sweeping ’70s look, and you might be better off with a fuller shape—think Zendaya or Mariah Carey. If it’s straighter, keeping it sitting away from your face can be tricky, so you might want to try a Jane Birkin–inspired set of bangs instead,” advises Goulding.

Are Curtain Bangs High-Maintenance?

Short answer: yes. “When it comes to maintaining curtain bangs, it’s most suited to people with a bit of a wave in their hair, where it can be left to work with the natural texture without any styling,” says Goulding. But you’ll also need more frequent salon visits. “You have to get them trimmed between haircuts, as they tend to grow out faster than the rest of your hair.”

How to Style Curtain Bangs

The good news: curtain bangs are relatively low-maintenance when styling at home. “If your hair is on the flatter side, you can blow-dry with a round brush, lifting at the root for volume,” says Amelia. “For wavy or curly hair, you might want to air-dry or use a diffuser to enhance natural texture. Using no-crease clips helps set the bangs in place while they cool down—especially if you have a few strands that don’t want to cooperate.”

You can also straighten your curtain bangs, starting at the root and bending the tool away from your face. This creates a soft wave that frames your features.

How to Blow-Dry Curtain Bangs

“You can either air-dry or diffuse,” adds Garrett. “You can rough-dry with a hairdryer (no nozzle) and, using your hands, stretch the right side diagonally toward the left eyebrow and the left side toward the right eyebrow—this will enhance the shape of the bangs.”

Curtain Bangs Styling Inspiration

Finding the right curtain bangs for you isn’t always easy—which is why we’ve done the Pinterest scrolling, celebrity spotting, and Instagram research for you. From Daisy Edgar-Jones at Gucci’s Cruise show to Jennifer Lopez out in Paris and Kaia Gerber with a chic chignon, find all the curtain bangs inspiration you need below.

1

Ella Purnell

west hollywood, california august 15 actor ella purnell attend prime videos fallout tastemaker event at pendry west hollywood on august 15, 2024 in west hollywood, california photo by michael tullberggetty images
Michael Tullberg//Getty Images

Ella Purnell proved just how to modernize the classic cut via a choppier, less uniform fringe and a curly, undone updo. This fresh take can be achieved with a curling wand and some sea salt spray to add texture and volume.

2

Lucy Boynton

curtain bangs and bob styling
Karwai Tang//Getty Images

How to upgrade the ubiquitous bob? Follow in the footsteps of Lucy Boynton and add soft, face-framing curtain bangs.

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3

Suki Waterhouse

the 2025 met gala celebrating "superfine: tailoring black style"
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Forever our style muse, Suki Waterhouse has long been the poster girl for curtain bangs, favoring a lived-in curl and boho-inspired fringe.

4

Daisy Edgar-Jones

daisy edgar jones with curtain bangs
Tristan Fewings//Getty Images

A departure from Daisy Edgar-Jones’s signature choppy full fringe, this new ’do is softer and more subtle, with beachy waves that help create the undone and retro finish.

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5

Jenna Ortega

jenna ortega attends the 75th primetime emmy awards with curtain bangs
Getty Images

An early adopter of curtain bangs, Jenna Ortega attended the 75th Emmy Awards with a fresh update on the curled-out classic. Low-maintenance and effortless, this fuller finish requires careful precision at the salon but (if your hair is naturally straight) needs very little in the way of styling thereafter.

6

Billie Eilish

billie eilish attends oscars with curtain bangs
Variety//Getty Images

Debuting her longest hairstyle to date wasn’t the only thing of note for Billie Eilish’s 96th Academy Awards beauty look. Her long curtain bangs were also worthy of an award. A true example that you don’t need to go big to make a bold statement, consider these the perfect entry point into bangs if you’re still unsure whether to take the full leap.

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7

Dakota Johnson

dakota johnson at event in milan with curtain bangs
Stefania M. D'Alessandro//Getty Images

There have been full fringes, wispy layers, and soft curtain bangs, but however she styles them, there’s no denying that Dakota Johnson is the ultimate fringe muse. This slightly chunkier iteration of curtain bangs is an ideal option for anyone with extra-long hair as it adds shape and definition to ensure your lengths don’t weigh down your face shape and features.

8

Yara Shahidi

yara shahidi attends the christian dior haute couture show with curtain bangs
Marc Piasecki//Getty Images

Take notes from Yara Shahidi’s stunning curls, which have been given the runway seal of approval for Christian Dior Haute Couture’s show.

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9

Emily Ratajkowski

emily ratajkowski attends the 2023 mtv video music awards
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Always the beauty tastemaker, there’s no hairstyle that Emily Ratajkowski can’t work. For the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, she opted for full bangs and Hollywood curls which have been blow-dried for extra volume.

10

Jessica Alba

jessica alba at the 2024 vanity fair oscar party with curtain bangs
Karwai Tang//Getty Images

A modern take on the classic Fawcett flicked-out style, Jessica Alba’s curtain bangs, which she debuted at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, beautifully frame her face and highlight her features.

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11

Emily Blunt

emily blunt out in los angeles with curtain bangs
PG/Bauer-Griffin//Getty Images

Emily Blunt, who looked effortlessly cool out in Los Angeles recently, gave us a lesson in long curtain bangs and their low-maintenance allure—a quick top knot requires little styling, and the bangs here do all the heavy lifting.

12

Alexa Chung

vogue world: paris 2024 – arrivals
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis//Getty Images

Alexa Chung has long been a source of hairstyle inspiration over the years. And if you’re on the fence about taking the plunge, this softer in-between take on the classic curtain bang could be for you. Simply ask your stylist for some choppy layers and curtain bangs that blend in.

From: ELLE UK
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