There's no doubt about it, bangs can be sophisticated, flirty, and fun — sometimes all at once. There's a bang shape that works for everybody (and if you don't believe me, check out my guide to finding the right fringe for your face). But when it's time to grow them out, they're more of a burden than a beauty boon. To find out how to deal with bangs when they're in that awkward stage, read more.
- First off, take a look at your bangs. Are they all one length? If not, you need to work on evening them out. A lot of styles are shorter in the middle, and a bit longer on the sides. Wait until the shortest part of your bangs reaches just above your lashes, then trim them (just a touch!) so that they are all the same length. They will be much easier to manage this way.
- Hair accessories are now officially your best friends. Indulge in some retail therapy and pick up a new sparkly clip or fun patent leather headband to help get you through the next few months.
- Focus on styles that help the bangs blend into the rest of your hair. A hot look right now involves parting the front of your hair in the middle, twisting it off to either side, and securing it with clips. This might work better when your bangs are a bit longer. For shorter bangs, try twisting some of the longer hair from the side of your head in with the shorter pieces.
- If you are going to push the bangs back with a headband, use a styling pomade to smooth them back into the rest of your hair first. Otherwise, they will stick straight up behind the band. Try Bumble & bumble Styling Wax ($23). Or you can pin them back with bobby pins, and place a headband or tie a hair ribbon right over the pins to conceal them.
- Play around with your part. A side part is a flattering way to conceal bang regrowth. While hair is still wet, applying a medium hold styling gel or cream, such as mop defining cream ($12), to your bangs, then part and smooth to either side. Pin back if drying naturally, or brush to one side while blow drying. If bangs are still in the shorter stage, you may need to apply some molding wax once dry to get them to stay off to the side. I like Terax Sculpting Wax ($16).
- If you're struggling with the styling options, you can grow out your bangs and keep them at the same time–allow me to explain. Pin back the top section of your bangs, leaving wispy, short pieces underneath. Keep those short, and worn as normal bangs, while growing out just the top section. You will have to keep it pinned back constantly, or under a headband, but this allows you to skip the "growing-out look" altogether. Once the top pieces are long enough, you can blend them into your shorter bangs until they are grown out.
