2024 Fringe Guide: How To Consult, Cut & Style Trendy Bangs
6 Tips To Increase Confidence When Cutting & Styling Bangs
With an influx in fringe trends, you can expect clients requesting everything from curtain bangs to blunt bangs on a regular basis. But, bangs are not one-size-fits-all—and a proper consultation will break or break your clients’ fringe service beyond your chair. Keep reading for key factors to take into consideration like suitability and lifestyle, how to tailor fringe to your client’s face shape, plus at-home styling tips.
1. Consultation: How To Customize Fringe For Each Client
LA-based ARC™ Scissors Ambassador Holly Vatter (@hollygirldoeshair) is known on Instagram for creating versatile, custom fringe for a variety of haircuts. During the consultation, it’s key you take time to notice features you want to draw focus to; or, this is your chance to correct imbalances to create the coveted customization clients want:
“If someone loves their eyebrows, I might expose them with a short, choppy fringe to draw attention to the eyes. Or if a client wants to widen the jaw, I will cut framing pieces to fall on the sides of the jaw to give the illusion of more width,” Holly explains. “When I want to create the illusion of a higher forehead, I angle my bangs in peak-shaped sections, working back until my client and I see the balance we like.”
Photo Credit: Instagram via @hollygirldoeshair
2. Cutting To Draw Attention To The Lips & Eyes:
UK-based cutting duo @thehairbros always considers two things when creating a custom cut: “With every single fringe, we have to look at both the eyes and lips before we cut,” they explain. Their client below, Olivia, has big eyes and a beautiful smile they want to draw attention to. They decided a shorter-than-normal fringe would accomplish exactly that. Here are some key points to remember when cutting:
Behind The Inspiration: Charlbi Dean was known for her short fringe that highlights her eyes.
- Keep all the hair between the eyebrows the same length to draw attention to the eyes.
- Elevate small sections to 180-degrees and point cut the ends to soften the fringe. The perimeter should gently graze the eyebrows.
- Remember to connect the fringe with the sides so it flows, cohesively framing the client’s bone structure.
Photo Credit: Instagram via @thehairbros
Committing to a short length like this can be intimidating for first-time fringe clients, but @thehairbros likes to ensure clients understand the power behind a bold fringe: “It really shows off the face and works with absolutely any hair texture and thickness. It also feels like a huge change without losing the hard-earned length. Always a bonus, it grows—unlike a tattoo!”
Photo Credit: Instagram via @thehairbros
3. Styling: Pro Tips To Go From Polished To Playful
One of the misconceptions about a bang lifestyle is styling becomes too difficult on the daily. “Bangs can be surprisingly low maintenance,” Holly shares. “I teach my clients to use their hands to wet set and air-dry to embrace the cute little waves and quirks. I also show them how to wrap with a blowdryer and flat brush to pull out cowlicks and kinks for a more polished look,” she adds.
Styling Tip #1. Day-Three Refresh Made Easy:
If you have clients that only see wash day once a week or love to hit the gym, this is Holly’s favorite trick: Have them pull their hair back and wash only their bangs and face-framing pieces. Then, dry and style the bangs, keeping the rest of the hair tied back in a chic topknot.
Styling Tip #2. Sometimes, Less Is More With Product:
“Use multiple tools and keep product to a minimum. [That way], styling bangs can be a success every time and last even longer,” explains Ulta Beauty Design Team Member Justin Toves-Vincilione (@ahappyjustin). His go-tos? Authentic Beauty Concept Amplify Mousse for long-lasting style memory and hold—plus, Authentic Beauty Concept Strong Hold Hairspray to define the shape while leaving the hair touchable.
Press play to see how Justin styles trendy butterfly bangs with his two favorite products and the Dyson AirWrap™, Flat Wrap Attachment and Round Brush Attachment:
Styling Tip #3. How To Shape A Shag & Bangs:
For shag expert and co-owner of Edo Salon, Jayne Matthews (@jayne_edosalon), styling couldn’t be more simple: “I spend five minutes styling my shaggy bob [and] I never wash my hair more than once a week. It never gets oily and it used to be super oily after two days when I used normal shampoo,” she shares. Get her styling must-haves below!
- New Wash Purple Booster: Hairstory New Wash is free of harsh detergents, protects color and extends time between washes. Using a cleanser versus your typical shampoo can reveal and enhance natural texture—learn more here!
- Hair Balm: Also known as “the world’s best styling cream” to Jayne, Hairstory Hair Balm is the perfect styling product to aid with detangling, provide heat protection and enhance natural texture.
- Powder: Jayne uses Hairstory Powder when she wants to add volume to her hair. Apply it to the roots and scrunch.
Click here to watch Jayne’s quick styling tutorial!
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