Curtain bangs are back for autumn—and here’s how to style them for the season ahead
All the inspiration you need before opting for the chop.
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…
Sabrina Carpenter
Nodding to the Texan blowout—spring/summer's trend which was all about huge hair—Sabrina Carpenter demonstrates the voluminous way to wear curtain bangs.
Daisy Edgar-Jones
A modern fringe icon, as Daisy Edgar-Jones knows well, curtain bangs are also a clever style to embrace while growing out a shorter fringe.
Jodie Comer
For her Harper's Bazaar cover shoot in 2021 Comer gave new life to the 'French girl fringe'. Key to the cut (as with most aspects of the ever-celebrated French aesthetic) is its effortless-looking finish, her stylist Patrick Wilson told us. “I like to use a razor as you don’t want any bluntness to the fringe. It’s got to look soft and textured.”
Alexa Chung
Alexa Chung has long been an advocate for the centre-parted fringe, wearing hers with varying lengths and degrees of texture throughout the years.
Jenna Ortega
As Ortega explains in her 'Inside my beauty bag' video for Harper's Bazaar, she uses the R+Co Jenny Cho Velvet Curtain Cotton Touch Texture Balm to style her layered hair at home. “It really is so easy… you just put a little bit in your hand and rub it around and it’s perfect,” the star says.
Suki Waterhouse
Someone synonymous with curtain bangs, Suki Waterhouse's mussed-up texture highlights her signature 1970s cut to perfection.
Jennifer Lopez
When teamed with caramel highlights and waist-length extensions, the curtain fringe moves into wholly glamorous territory, as J-Lo shows.
Halle Berry
Halle Berry's heavily layered cut is precisely shaped to flatter her face while looking completely effortless.
Georgia May Jagger
While Georgia May Jagger's signature style is centred around a long curtain fringe that looks effortlessly cool with her natural texture, executing the look with some sex kitten-esque '60s styling looks so chic for an event.
Violette Serrat
The make-up artist is known for her laid-back French-girl fringe, which looks all the more chic when parted loosely at the centre.
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra often experiments with a flattering fringe that works worn straight or flicked softly out.
Matilda Djerf
The Swedish influencer and content creator demonstrates the AW24 take on the trend with luxe-looking root lift and bouncy curls.
Lead image credit: Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images
This article originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar/UK in August 2024
Also read: Here’s how to achieve Daisy Edgar-Jones’ relaxed fringe, according to hairstylists
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