Making that decision to cut your hair, no matter how petty it may seem, can be pretty nerve-wracking! Chopping hair is committing to a specific hairstyle with no point of return--well, at least until it grows back (which takes a long time). So, giving the go signal to our hairdresser to snip off our precious locks is as serious as (or even more so than) clicking on the "PLACE AN ORDER" button when shopping online!
When you feel uncertain about what hairstyle you want for yourself, opt for the next best thing that’s not as drastic as a make-overhaul or a pointless-but-needed monthly trim: BANGS! Adding bangs or fringes to one's hairstyle is like taking a courageous baby step to an entirely new haircut. Here are a few guidelines on how to make the fringe work for you:
1. We usually want to jazz up our look at minimal cost and minimal risk. Adding fringes to a hairstyle can instantly update your look without investing in a new wardrobe.
2. Consider the shape of your face to get the right type of fringe to complement it.
- Sporting super-blunt bangs can give an oval face a more angular look. This would look great on round faces as well.
- Tyra Banks cleverly conceals her large forehead and balances the length of her oblong-shaped face with bangs!
- Square-shaped faces should opt for face-framing bangs to soften facial features, as seen on Heidi Klum. But if you insist on sporting blunt bangs, round off the ends lightly with a roller brush to soften the cut’s hard vertical line, like Carrie Underwood does.
- Chicks with heart-shaped faces look great with bangs. Jennifer Lopez's fringe, for instance, emphasizes the narrower bottom part of her face, while still accentuating her piercing eyes.
3. On that note, also consider your budget. Super-blunt bangs are the easiest to maintain as they just need to be trimmed straight across. You can even trust a friend with a steady hand to do it--unlike side-swept, frayed, or layered bangs and fringes, which need to be trimmed by a professional to make sure it retains its shape.
4. Bangs and fringes are a great way to lose weight from thick and/or long hair. Think of your bangs as the highly-needed stopover in the middle of long highways!
5. For thin hair, though chopping it off may seem like it will only make matters worse, it's not always the case. Add volume to bangs by blow-drying it with a round brush. Starting from the roots can give more dimension and lift the hair’s appearance from all angles.
6. If the fringe still scares you, try side-swept bangs, which is still very subtle but noticeable enough on your Facebook profile pic--Like! Not to mention it’ll grow out well, giving your hair a layered look a la Nicole Richie!
7. If your bangs need a less harsh look, say, for a casual lunch with friends, separate them to give them a choppy, relaxed look instead like Anne Hathaway's.
8. If you’re prone to breaking out, avoid heavy, thick bangs and fringes that’ll always be touching your forehead.
9. Smaller faces shouldn’t do bangs that go past the bottom of the eyebrows. Remember, the objective is to accentuate your best feature--your eyes--and not cover them! Any longer than that is an edgy style that only a few--like Anne Curtis--can pull off successfully.
10. The extra-short fringed look is also another style not everyone could bravely don, unless you’re aiming for a period or quirky look, like Katy Perry.
When all else fails, try clip-on extensions! No pressure, no fuss!
Check out some celeb fringe looks by launching the gallery!