From long to short and every length in between, all signs on the red carpet and the Spring ’15 runways point to bangs. Take inspiration from celebs and models and refresh your look in a few quick snips.
—Baze Mpinja, Style.com
In With A Bang
Big Bang Theory #1: Allow yourself an adjustment period.
Catherine McNeil was one of the handful of models who got a fast set of fringe snipped before taking the runway at Givenchy. Although pros like her know how to adapt quickly to a new look (or at least fake it), a real-life cut may require some patience. "If you haven't worn bangs for a long time, you have to retrain your hair a bit. It could take a while for the style to settle in—give it a couple of weeks," says Teddi Cranford, New York City-based hairstylist and founder of the White Rose Collective agency. To style long, blunt bangs, she reaches for a Mason Pearson brush and blow-dries them in a back-and-forth motion from the roots before blowing strands straight down. "Your bangs will fall more naturally than if you try flat-ironing or brushing them down toward your nose and flattening them completely," Cranford says. Photo: Gianni Pucci / Indigitalimages.com
Big Bang Theory #2: Work with what you’ve got.
Forget the myth that curly-haired women can't get away with bangs. Models Antonina Petkovic and Mica Arganaraz (shown here) squashed that notion at the last round of shows. The trick is to work with, not against, your hair texture. Avoid harsh lines so that the bangs blend into your hair for an effortless effect. "The classic reference for this is the Freja [Beha Erichsen] bang," says Cranford. Photo: Sonny Vandevelde / Indigitalimages.com
Big Bang Theory #3: Come up short.
To pull off itty-bitty baby bangs, there is only one thing you need: Beyoncé-level confidence. (That, or maybe Guido Palau's precision with a pair of scissors—see Versace's Fall 2012 show.) For a slightly choppier version, look no further than model Kiki Willems, who opened Saint Laurent this Spring. Photos: Gianni Pucci / Indigitalimages.com; Neil P. Mockford / Getty Images
Big Bang Theory #4: Mess with perfection.
Side-swept bangs are always flattering and they're easier to grow out, hence their steady popularity. The red-carpet version tends to be sleek and polished (think Emma Stone and Reese Witherspoon), but at Tom Ford, the look had a Debbie Harry-inspired vibe with a "slept-in" texture. Each model wore a custom-dyed wig that hair guru Sam McKnight went to town on with a razor. To rough up a similar cut at home, try lightly teasing it all over with a rattail comb. Finish with hairspray. Photo: Sonny Vandevelde / Indigitalimages.com
Big Bang Theory #5: Breathe new life into a classic cut.
Going for timeless Birkin bangs? "Don't wear them dead straight. Give them life and movement," says Cranford. To boost volume and texture, she recommends spritzing fringe all over with hair powder, then blow-drying it in a back-and-forth motion with a brush. "If your hair is already pretty straight, apply thickening spray and toggle your dryer quickly until bangs are 80 percent dry. Let them air-dry the rest of the way," she says. Photo: Michele Morosi / Indigitalimages.com
Big Bang Theory #6: Add some rock-and-roll edge.
Remember when the lob was all the rage? That look has evolved into the next must-have haircut: the shag. It's a great option for thick hair because the layers make it easier to tame, and since it's supposed to look a bit undone, there's no need to worry about perfection. Just add volumizing mousse to damp strands for body, blow-dry, then scrunch with a salt spray—a technique hairstylist Garren used backstage at Anna Sui. Photo: David X Prutting / BFAnyc.com
Big Bang Theory #7: Personalize a cropped cut.
If you have a short, boyish haircut, the length of your bangs sets the tone for your whole look. "Below the brow or right at the brow gives you a softer effect. Longer, choppy bangs read rock 'n' roll," says Cranford. Photo: Gianni Pucci / Indigitalimages.com
Big Bang Theory #8: Mix it up.
The commitment that bangs require can seem daunting, but there are little tweaks that can make them look different day to day. Try styling them with a center or off-center part. And when you wear your hair up, pull some pieces out and let them hang down to create balance. Photo: David X Prutting / BFAnyc.com
Big Bang Theory #9: Fake it till you make the cut.
If you're just not ready to jump on the bangs bandwagon for more than a day, test out fringe with one of the scissor-less options designers showcased for Spring '15. Slip on a wig in glacial blond or pitch black as models did at Haider Ackermann and Marc Jacobs. If your hair is long, work with what you've got. Use the baby hairs around your face to create wispy, long bangs and mist them with water to keep them in place, a trick Palau employed at Prada. Another option devised by Anthony Turner at Kenzo: To mimic the look of choppy, side-swept bangs, divide your hair into two sections, crisscross them over the back of your head, and bring the length forward (securing with pins and plenty of hairspray as you go along). Feeling really daring? Make mini knots down the center of your head as seen at MBMJ and leave a tuft of hair sticking out of the bun in the front to create the illusion of punky fringe. Photos: Gianni Pucci / Indigitalimages.com
Big Bang Theory #10: Amp up your product arsenal.
Once you've chosen your perfect bangs, all you need are a few essential styling products and tools to keep them selfie-ready every day. Cranford's picks: Sachajuan Volume Powder, US $32; AED/SAR 117 Buy it now Add freshness, texture, and body by misting fringe only at the roots. Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray, US $29; AED/SAR 106 Buy it now For a smooth finish and crunch-free hold, place your hand under damp bangs and spritz before you blow-dry. Mason Pearson Pocket Mixture Bristle Hairbrush, US $105; AED/SAR 385 Buy it now A paddle brush creates the right amount of sleekness and shine when blow-drying, whereas a round shape can lead to "mall bangs." And nobody wants those. Photos: Courtesy of Sachajuan; Courtesy of Bumble and Bumble; Courtesy of Mason Pearson
