Curtain Bangs: How to Ask for Them and Keep Them Right

Curtain bangs are a soft, middle-parted fringe that sweeps out toward your cheekbones. To get them right, ask for bangs that start long, land between brow and cheekbone, and blend into face-framing layers. Then plan a small trim every few weeks. Here's how we talk curtain bangs through in the chair at Rogue in Oceanport.

Related guide: Haircuts in Oceanport, NJ: Getting a Cut That Grows Out Well

What makes curtain bangs different from regular bangs?

Curtain bangs part in the center and curve away from your face, while regular bangs fall straight across your forehead. That one difference changes how they look, how you style them, and how they grow out.

Curtain bangs look best when they connect to the rest of your cut. On long layers, the fringe should flow into the face-framing pieces, so there's no hard line at the cheek.

How do you ask for curtain bangs without getting too much fringe?

Ask for less than you want, and show your stylist exactly where the shortest piece should land. It's easy to take more off. It's impossible to put it back.

1. Bring two photos. One of the curtain bangs you like, and one of bangs you'd hate. Both help your stylist read what you mean.
2. Point to the landing spot. Touch the place on your face where the shortest piece should sit. Brow, lash line, and cheekbone are three different cuts.
3. Talk about width. Wider curtain bangs borrow more hair from the sides. Narrower ones stay closer to the center of your forehead.
4. Mention your part and any cowlicks. Curtain bangs work best with a center or near-center part. If you always part to one side, say so up front.
5. See them dry. Every women's cut on our menu is finished with a blow dry, so you see the real length before you leave.

Start longer than you think. We can always take another quarter inch at your next cut.

Rogue Salon, Oceanport

Still on the fence? Start with face-framing layers that hit the cheekbone. If you love them, they can become curtain bangs at your next appointment.

Do curtain bangs work with wavy hair and shore humidity?

Yes, but they need to be cut with your texture in mind. Wavy hair shrinks as it dries, so bangs cut wet can spring up shorter than planned.

Humidity adds another twist. Near the water in Oceanport, a fringe that sat smooth at breakfast can lift and frizz by lunch. A few adjustments help:

• Leave a little extra length if your hair is wavy or curly.
• Ask for slightly heavier bangs if humidity makes your hair puff up.
• Check the length dry before you decide to go shorter.
• If frizz fights you all summer, ask about smoothing. Brittani, Allie, and Cathy are trained in keratin and smoothing treatments.

Curtain bangs also frame your color. The pieces around your face are the first thing people see. A fringe pulls the eye to tone and brightness up front. If you're adding color too, our guide to face-framing highlights pairs well with a new fringe.

How do you style curtain bangs at home?

Style them while they're damp, before the rest of your hair. Once bangs air dry flat against your forehead, they're hard to reshape.

• Dry them first. Point the dryer down the hair shaft so the cuticle lies flat.
• Work each side away from your face. Use a small round brush or your fingers to sweep each half outward.
• Set the bend. Hold the brush under each side for a few seconds, then let it cool before you let go.
• Reset on day two with water. Dampening just the fringe and drying it again works better than piling on dry shampoo.

A flat iron works too. Clamp close to the root, then turn the iron slightly away from your face as you glide down. Keep the heat moderate, since the fringe takes more styling than the rest of your hair.

How often do curtain bangs need a trim?

Most curtain bangs need a small trim every 3 to 5 weeks to keep the sweep landing in the right spot. The rest of your cut can usually wait longer.

Try not to cut them yourself between visits. Most home trims go straight across, which turns a curtain into a blunt bang. If you already come in for root color, that visit is a natural time for a trim. Most guests retouch roots every four to six weeks.

Growing them out is easy. Once the shortest piece passes your cheekbone, it becomes a face-framing layer you can tuck behind your ear. If you'd rather go shorter all over, read our guide to the lob haircut next.

Any stylist who lists cutting on their page can shape your curtain bangs. Browse our team page and read more on our haircuts page. Pricing by stylist level is on the Service Menu. Then book online for a cut at 700 Oceanport Ave.

Questions about curtain bangs