There’s no denying that curtain bangs are one of the swishiest, sexiest, most voluminous hair trends on the agenda right now. And, it’s also no surprise that the style is one of the most covetable haircuts of 2023 – despite having already headlined for the past few years. Full, thick and flicky, the ‘70s shape has dominated on TikTok, with over 3 billion views on the platform and, word from top stylists is: it’s going absolutely nowhere any time soon, since it remains one of the most requested chops in the salon.
“I’m predicting that curtain bangs [or curtain fringes] will continue to go strong throughout the year,” LA’s coolest hair stylist and trendsetter, Sal Salcedo, told GLAMOUR. People are still catching up to them, while others are putting their own stamp on them.
What are curtain bangs?
Curtain bangs, for the uninitiated, are those shaggy, effortless bangs that—as the name suggests—frame your face perfectly, much like a curtain does with a window. The look has roots in the ’60s and ’70s (think Jane Birkin), but today’s take on it works with a range of styles and textures: messy waves, curly shags, sleek blowouts, high ponytails, you name it.
Specifically speaking, a curtain bang is a graduated fringe, it’s usually worn centre-parted and starts shorter in the centre, then gets longer towards the perimeter of the face. “It should start mid-way between the eyebrows and the bridge of the nose, then have more length at the sides,” explains celebrity hair stylist and ColorWow international creative director, Dom Seeley.
Depending on how heavy you get it cut, it can feel ultra plush or barely there. And you should be able to tuck it back into the rest of your hair when it’s up, or tease it forward when you want more volume. “It has a flowy vibe. It’s not a solid bang or fringe, but it’s also not just face framing. It’s somewhere in the middle and it suits the majority of hair lengths too,” says Dom.
Are curtain bangs high maintenance?
As hairstyles go, this one’s pretty chill. Curtain bangs are one of the most effortless fringe styles to wear since you can tailor them to you and your lifestyle. “Curtain bangs are the gateway to bangs, because they’re super versatile,” says Emily Heser, stylist at Cutler Salon in New York City. “They’re long enough to grow out or pin back if you want, but they can also be cut into a shorter look.” The style has steadily become both a celebrity and Insta-girl fave for its easy-going vibe.
“They require the lowest maintenance,” agrees Sal. For one thing, they grow out easily “and slowly turn into a nice frame that looks good through any stage,” Sal says. “The best low-maintenance cut will always be a mid to long haircut with a variation in bangs,” explains Sal. “These are haircuts that can be worn and grown without too much attention and they stay looking strong with you. I only see some of my clients every six months to a year when they have these.”