Blunt Bangs: Who They Suit and How to Style Them

Everyone has that moment. You’re in the salon chair, your stylist asks if you want anything different, and a little voice says: bangs.

Blunt bangs, specifically. The heavy, straight-across kind that skims your brows and looks a bit French, a bit ’60s and very cool. They’re also the kind of fringe people overthink the most, because once they’re cut, there’s no hiding them.

So before you say yes, here’s the real deal on blunt bangs. Who they actually suit, which celebrities wear them best, and how to live with them once the novelty wears off.

What Are Blunt Bangs?

Blunt bangs are cut in one straight, solid line across the forehead. No feathering, no wispy ends, no gaps. They usually sit somewhere between the top of your brows and just above your lashes.

They’ve been around forever. Silent film star Louise Brooks made a sharp bob with a blunt fringe famous back in the 1920s, and it’s still one of the most copied haircuts ever (our guide to 1920s hairstyles has more on that era). In the ’60s, Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot gave the look a softer, sexier twist.

Blunt vs. Curtain vs. Wispy Bangs

If you’re not sure which fringe you’re picturing, this helps.

• Blunt bangs are thick and cut straight across. Bold, graphic and very noticeable.
• Curtain bangs part in the middle and sweep out to the sides. Softer and easier to grow out.
• Wispy bangs are thin and broken up, so your forehead peeks through. The most low-key of the three.

Blunt is the biggest commitment. It’s also the one that changes your face the most.

Do Blunt Bangs Suit You?

Honestly, more people can wear them than you’d think. It’s less about “can I” and more about getting the right length and weight for your face.

By Face Shape

Got an oval face? Lucky. Go as heavy and straight as you like and it’ll probably look great.

The people who get the biggest glow-up from blunt bangs are actually the ones with longer faces. That straight line across the forehead cuts the length, and suddenly everything looks more balanced. It’s a bit like magic.

Round face? You can still do it, I promise. Just don’t let anyone talk you into a super short, super wide fringe. Ask for it a little longer, and a bit softer at the corners, so it doesn’t make your face look even rounder.

If your forehead is on the wider side, which is common with heart-shaped faces, a fringe is honestly a gift. It covers that area and, if your stylist blends it into some longer pieces around your cheeks, the whole thing looks really soft.

And for square faces, the trick is just not going too boxy. A fringe that’s slightly softened at the sides keeps your jaw and your bangs from both being sharp at the same time.

By Hair Type

Straight hair is the easiest. It falls neatly and stays put.

Thick hair works beautifully, though your stylist may thin out the fringe a little so it doesn’t sit like a helmet.

Fine hair can wear blunt bangs, but they might separate as the day goes on. A bit of dry shampoo fixes that.

Wavy and curly hair can absolutely do it. You just want the cut done dry, so your stylist can see how the bangs will actually spring up. More on that below.

One honest warning: if you have a strong cowlick right at your hairline, talk to your stylist first. It can make blunt bangs flip in a direction you didn’t ask for.

Celebrities With Blunt Bangs

If you want proof that blunt bangs work, these women have basically built a look around them.

Zooey Deschanel

You can’t talk about bangs without her. Zooey’s thick, glossy fringe has been part of her look for so long that it’s hard to picture her without it. Her version is full, brow-skimming and paired with big, soft waves.

Taylor Swift

Taylor has worn some version of a fringe on and off since around 2009, and her blunt, slightly piecey bangs became a big part of her look in the Red and 1989 eras. She’s proof that bangs can look both sweet and a little retro.

Anna Wintour

The Vogue legend has worn the same sharp bob with blunt bangs for decades. It’s polished, it’s precise, and it never changes. If you want the most “I mean business” version of this haircut, she’s your reference.

Dakota Johnson

Dakota’s bangs are long, full and a bit undone, which makes them feel more relaxed than a strict blunt cut. They sit right at her lashes and work with both her long hair and shorter cuts.

Jenna Ortega

As Wednesday Addams, Jenna gave a whole new generation a reason to cut blunt bangs. The dark, heavy fringe and braids became one of the most recognizable TV looks of the last few years.

Fall is a popular time to try bangs, by the way. If you want a few more ideas, these bang styles for fall are worth a look.

Ways to Wear Blunt Bangs

With a Bob

The classic. A chin-length bob with a blunt fringe is sharp, chic and a little Parisian. Keep it sleek for a polished look, or add some texture for something cooler. A layered bob with blunt bangs is a nice middle ground if you have thick hair and don’t want the whole thing to feel heavy.

With Long Hair

Long hair and blunt bangs is a very ’60s combo. Think Jane Birkin. Soft waves balance out the strong line of the fringe, and it works on pretty much everyone.

With Curly Hair

Curly blunt bangs are seriously underrated. The key is a stylist who cuts curls dry, one curl at a time, so the fringe springs up exactly where it should. They’ll look a little fuller and rounder than straight bangs, and that’s the charm.

With a High Ponytail or Bun

Pulling the rest of your hair up and leaving the bangs down is an easy way to make a basic ponytail look intentional. It’s very ’60s mod and great for nights out.

With a Bold Color

Blunt bangs look amazing with strong color. Jet black, bright copper and warm strawberry blonde hair all look extra striking with a solid fringe, because the line of the cut shows off the shade.

Living With Blunt Bangs

How to Style Them

First rule of bangs: dry them before anything else. They dry way faster than the rest of your hair, and if they set in a weird shape, that’s how they’re staying until your next wash.

I like a flat brush or a small round one. Blow-dry them left, then right, then straight down. Sounds fussy, takes about a minute, and it’s what stops that annoying split down the middle.

Your forehead makes oil. Your bangs sit on your forehead. You can see where this is going. A little dry shampoo at the roots around lunchtime fixes it.

Also, hands off. I know it’s tempting to keep fixing them, but every touch makes them greasier and more separated by the end of the day.

How to Trim Them

Expect to get them trimmed every three or four weeks if you want that crisp line. It’s a quick appointment, and a lot of salons will do a fringe trim for free or for a few dollars between cuts, so it’s worth asking.

Doing it yourself? Cut them dry, not wet, because wet hair shrinks up and you’ll end up shorter than you meant to. Take off a tiny bit at a time. And snip into the ends with the tips of your scissors instead of chopping straight across. One straight snip is how people end up with those very short, very surprised bangs.

How to Grow Them Out

There’s an awkward phase. There always is. But it’s shorter than you think.

Once they’re long enough, part them down the middle and they’ll naturally turn into curtain bangs, which honestly is a whole cute look on its own. When they reach your cheekbones, sweep them to one side. For the in-between weeks, headbands, a couple of pretty clips or a slicked-back style will save you.

Final Thoughts

Blunt bangs are a small cut with a big effect. They can make a simple outfit look styled, a plain bob look chic and your whole face look a little different, in a good way.

If you’ve been thinking about them for months, that’s probably your answer. Bring photos, go a touch longer than you think for the first cut and enjoy your new look.