The micro fringe has been quietly making its way into the mainstream for the past 12 months or so, but hairstylists are calling 2026 the year of the short French fringe. Thanks, in short (no pun intended), to several red carpet appearances and sightings on the runway, this striking look is set to be big this year.
It started at last year’s Oscars, which saw not one, not two, but three shorter cropped fringes in attendance. Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and model Anok Yai all chose to sport baby bangs, but each one interpreted it slightly differently to reflect their individual looks. Pamela Anderson’s makeup-free face might have been the talk of the Met Gala red carpet, but her baby bangs were just as iconic. Short fringes featured heavily at the spring/summer 2026 shows—feathered at Balmain, wispy at Louis Vuitton, super straight at Acne and neatly cropped at Dries Van Noten.
However, what works for celebrities and fashion week doesn’t always translate to the streets and real-life hair. Which is where the short French fringe comes in. In 2024, we were obsessed with recreating French girl bangs; well, this is 2026’s cool iteration. According to Hairstylist Edward James, the key to the look and what makes it super wearable is softness. By introducing movement to a fringe, you avoid it looking too severe. “Even the shortest fringe needs movement,” he explains. “I always cut them slightly pointy and imperfect rather than blunt and heavy. If a fringe looks too perfect, it immediately loses that effortless feel and becomes much harder to wear day to day.”
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What is a short French fringe?
Similar to baby bangs, it’s a fringe that’s cut high above your brows. However, the short French fringe is effortless and slightly tousled. With such a statement look, it’s easy to go wrong, but when it has been cut well, it helps to elongate the face and look incredibly modern. “The biggest mistake people make is cutting them too thick or too straight, which is when they start to look homemade rather than chic,” says James. “Texture is everything. I often razor-cut short French fringes to keep them light and broken rather than solid.”
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Who would suit a short French fringe?
As you can probably imagine, not everyone is going to look the part with a shorter style. “Not all hair types suit them equally,” says James. “Straight or lightly wavy hair works best because the fringe holds its shape more predictably. Very curly hair can struggle unless the fringe is kept a little longer and softer to allow for shrinkage and natural movement.” He goes on to add that your hair texture is an important factor when deciding whether to get a shorter fringe or not. “Curly hair will shrink. That does not mean you cannot have baby bangs, but you must account for how much the hair will jump once it dries.”
Not only does your hair type matter, but also your facial structure, hairline and dress sense. James says that a short French fringe looks great on those with a strong bone structure, particularly those with oval and heart-shaped faces. If you have a cowlick or a strong growth pattern at the hairline, he recommends steering clear of such a short fringe type, as it just won’t sit properly for you.
“It also works beautifully on people who dress quite simply because the fringe becomes the focal point of the look.” That said, lifestyle really matters. Fringes in general aren’t exactly low maintenance, and baby bangs require daily attention. You need to be realistic about how much time you are willing to spend styling them each morning.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
How do you style a short French fringe?
According to James, less is always more when it comes to styling. “You do not want your fringe stuck to the forehead or overly blow-dried,” he warns. He recommends drying the fringe side to side first to remove any bend, then allowing it to fall naturally and finishing with fingers rather than a brush. The aim is for it to look effortless rather than obviously styled.
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Best products for styling a short French fringe
Like with most fringes, one of the main objectives is to control without grease. Opt for products that are super lightweight. James says that anti-humidity products work really well too to create subtle separation and give the fringe a polished feel without looking over done.
Pureology
Color Fanatic Multi-Purpose Hair Spray
Living Proof
No Frizz Spray Humid
Oribe
Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray
Amika
The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray