Bang on

A more versatile, face-framing variant of the traditional fringe, curtain bangs are all the rage right now. Three salon professionals tell you how to make the hairstyle work for you

While the Bardot neckline might as well qualify as fashion terminology now, we don’t credit French actress Brigitte Bardot enough for her bangs. Middle-parted in the front and poofed up at the back with locks of hair hugging either sides of her face and meeting the jawline, her bangs were the real deal in the ’70s. At 86, Bardot still sports them today and well, the style itself is making a comeback — thanks to a viral TikTok video and celebrities like Ariana Grande reviving it in the music video 34+35. Three salon hair stylists share what you need to know about the trend before heading for a cut.

Colour and care

If you have your hair coloured at the bottom, then there is no need for your curtain bangs to be coloured, too, as demonstrated on Fernandes's client

If you have coloured your hair only at the bottom, refrain from adding colour to your bangs. Sareena Acharya, artistic head, Enrich, adds that the money piece highlighting technique, ie having one or two strands of colour on your forehead that blends into the bangs, is helpful. Shampoo your bangs often as the T-zone tends to get oily. “If your scalp is greasy, apply dry shampoo to the bangs,” Alistan Fernandes, advanced stylist, BBlunt, says. It is also imperative that you visit the salon at least once in two months to get a trim, because, as Raghuvir, stylist at Jean-Claude Biguine Salons India states texture is crucial. “It gives a messy look with a series of pointed cuts to eliminate the ‘weight’ of the fringe,” he says.

Face-off with shapes

Raghu, Alistan Fernandes and Sareena Acharya

“Curtain bangs really help to contour your face shape unlike a solid bang which can make your face seem either small or wide, especially on Indian face shapes which are versatile,” says Acharya. A square or oval face shape, Raghu says, are best suited for curtain bangs. But your stylist can always make it work for you by framing them for your face shape. Your parting matters, too; a middle one, like Bardot’s, works best but Acharya cautions that a natural side part could be tricky to maintain a curtain bang. “You’ll have to blow dry your hair to manage the centre part. Curtain bangs look great on wavy hair but I wouldn’t recommend it for those with curly hair since it can come off as too voluminous. Even if you have straight hair, it won’t work because your hair is supposed to flip out to give that curtain shape,” she says.

A win for the busy bees

The primary purpose of curtain bangs is to frame the face; Gigi Hadid’s bangs add dimension to her face. Pic/Instagram

Fernandes believes that anyone can get a bang. “There is something for everyone but your face shape and lifestyle need to be considered. For instance, if you are someone who is constantly on your toes, then you wouldn’t want hair coming all the way on your face. That’s where longer bangs, like curtain bangs, work. It’s longer on the side and has wispy ends,” he shares. The wavier the hair, the longer the length of the bang one can opt for. Additionally, the style is also a good option for those who don’t have a lot of hair or aren’t happy with their hairline in the front.

No cutting, just clip-in

Pic/Facebook

If you are apprehensive about cutting bangs, you could also opt for a clip-in extension that Raghu says are very popular for bridal looks. While fringe extensions are available in plenty online, Nish Hair, a city-based company, offers clip-in curtain bangs made of human hair.

Log on to nishhair.com
Cost Rs 2,799 onwards

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