Yahoo Lifestyle How curtain bangs will make a comeback for autumn
In another life, the curtain fringe was synonymous with '90s boybands, but – during the 2020 pandemic, when forced to turn to the kitchen scissors and YouTube tutorials – ‘curtain bangs’ became synonymous with low maintenance chic. From then on, the modern way to wear the look was thankfully more Brigitte Bardot than teenage heartthrob, defined by longer, more tapered strands falling flatteringly around the face (rather than in your eyes).
"The fringe trend never really goes away, and we’re constantly seeing different versions coming into fashion, whether they’re brand-new trends or reinvented looks,” celebrity stylist Nicky Clarke told us at the time. And, as he points out, “curtain bangs are incredibly versatile, working on any length of hair”. Indeed, this decade’s poster girls for the look include Suki Waterhouse, Jennifer Lopez, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Alexa Chung and Kaia Gerber who have showcased them in various ways.
More recently, Jenna Ortega and Sabrina Carpenter have signalled that the style is still very much covetable – and it’s one trend forecaster and stylist Tom Smith feels will be big news again this coming autumn.
The new way to wear curtain bangs
Describing the cut 2.0 as “long or side-swept bangs, or a fringe with a central parting,” Smith explains that “it’s typically blow-dried with a voluminous bend at a length that grazes from the browbone to the cheekbone”. The tweak for AW24? “We’re seeing a very voluptuous curved lift to the bang,” he tells us. And, when looking at the hair overall, “there’s a move away from beachy waves and into that thick, luxurious feeling,” he adds. Think “extra-thick, extra-long, extra-luxurious” hair – a la Carpenter.
Who suits curtain bangs?
In particular, Smith feels that curtain bangs are “a fantastic choice for those with a heart shaped face,” like the ‘Espresso’ singer, as well as those with “a larger forehead as this style frames the eyes”. Plus, post-summer, it’s “a great ‘cosy’ look for the cooler months,” he feels – which is worth considering if you’re booking a hair appointment to refresh your look for September and beyond.
Product and styling tips for curtain bangs
“Fringes and bangs that sit on the face tend to get oily more quickly,” Smith notes, “and so after using a round barrelled brush (or a blow-drying tool such as the Dyson Airwrap or Ghd Duet Blowdry) to curve the fringe towards the nose use a light styling powder, a dry texturising spray, or a dry shampoo to add control and keep the fringe airy and fresh for longer”.
The best celebrity curtain bangs
Below, find all the inspiration you need to embrace the curtain fringe now…
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