Maybe you were trying to get over a bad breakup. Perhaps your favorite celebrity debuted a new fringe. (I had committed to growing out my curtain bangs until I saw Daisy Edgar-Jones debut her fringe earlier this year.) There’s a point in everyone’s lives when they’ve contemplated getting bangs. And what better time to try something new with your look than the start of a new year?
In 2025, there’ll be a veritable buffet of styles, from sweeping side bangs to a dramatic curtain fringe. When it comes to finding the right style for you, hairstylist and brand founder Andrew Fitzsimons says first you’ll want to consider your hair type. For those with fine hair, he suggests opting for a heftier fringe (like side or blunt bangs). For thicker strands, he suggests cutting your face-framing pieces so that they’re lighter.
Next, consider how the style would complement your features, says Fitzsimons. Lacy Redway, a hairstylist and spokesperson for Nexxus, adds that you should look for photos of people with a similar facial shape to yours to bring to your hairstylist. You might also want to “try faux bangs and wigs to help determine different bangs styles for your face shape,” she says.
And, of course, you’ll want to pay attention to your hairline. If you have a cowlick or a dramatic widow’s peak, getting bangs might be more challenging for you. “You’ll want to consider your hairline’s growth pattern and density, as well as where your hair parts,” says Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City. “If any of those three features interfere with your ideal fringe, work with your hairstylist, who might have to pull more hair forward before cutting to achieve the look you’re after.”
Bangs require a lot of upkeep, so thinking about your lifestyle and daily routine is key to being happy with them. “They’re most realistic for those who don’t mind adding an extra step to their morning routine as they almost always have to be styled,” says Fitzsimons. So, if you find yourself often sleeping in, then perhaps reconsider getting them. “Bangs also tend to get oilier quicker than the rest of your head,” he adds, so be ready to wash your hair more often or invest in a good dry shampoo. Lastly, remember that bangs need to be trimmed regularly. Fitzsimons suggests doing so once every three weeks, adding that “regular trims prevent them from growing over your eyes or getting too heavy to where they start splitting.”
Ready for your big chop? We turned to Fitzimons, Redway, and more hairstylists to weigh in on the bangs trends that they see taking over in 2025.
Blunt bangs
Blunt bangs are exactly what they sound like: “heavy and cut straight across,” says Toth. “They don’t contain any layers or texture.” While that may sound simple enough to snip at home by yourself, Fitzsimons discourages this, saying that you should see a hairstylist who can work with you. “Blunt bangs are all about precision and balance,” he says. “The wrong length can look harsh.”
Toth says that blunt bangs will need styling pretty much every day with a round brush and blow-dryer, as well as a strong-hold hairspray if you want to keep them in place. Fitzsimons recommends a light layer of Got2B Glued Blasting Freeze Spray, a lightweight, water-resistant formula.
Micro bangs
You can take blunt bangs a step further by making them really short. “Micro bangs or baby bangs land well above the eyebrows,” says Toth, adding that their ultrashort length can give the illusion of a longer face.
Chris Appleton, a hairstylist and spokesperson for Shark Beauty, predicts we will see them paired with bobs or styled with lived-in layers. Like blunt bangs, you’ll likely have to style your micro bangs every day—blow-drying and/or straightening them before following with a strong hairspray. Appleton says if you want to give your bangs some extra shine use a lightweight oil like the Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil.
Curtain bangs
We don’t blame you if you haven’t been able to get Sabrina Carpenter’s voluminous curtain bangs out of your head. Somehow, her latest album and her hairstyle have that effect. The look highlights her facial features—and it can do the same for you. Marty Harper, a hairstylist and spokesperson for Fekkai, says to ask your hairstylist for soft, face-framing bangs that blend into the rest of your hair.
To style curtain bangs, Toth recommends using a small, round brush (like the YS Park Mixed-Bristle Round Brush in 35G5 with a 1.3-inch barrel, which is great for picking up shorter strands) to give them a ton of curvature. “Once they are completely dry,” he says, “I use a larger round brush to stretch them out, making them go from a curl to a bend.”
Appleton suggests sweeping the hair where you want it to fall and using clips like the Kitsch Creaseless Clips to set it in place. Remove the clips and spritz the bangs with hairspray. (Carpenter, a Redken ambassador, has been using the brand’s Max Hold Hairspray on her 2024 tour. We also like the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hair Spray, which gives long-lasting hold and shine.)
Shaggy bangs
Harper describes wispy bangs as light and airy, “not too heavy and not too soft.” The look is great for someone who might be nervous about getting bangs. “If you don’t want full-on, heavy bangs, then wispy bangs can give you some soft movement and still bring attention to the face,” says Toth.
When it comes to styling, you’re going to want to reach for lightweight formulas. Spritz on a flexible-hold spray like the Oribe Superfine Hairspray, which has a fine-mist dispenser for controlled, even application. Fitzsimons adds that having a dry shampoo (like the Best of Beauty Award-winning Batiste Original Dry Shampoo) or style refresher (like NatureLab’s Perfect Clean Style Refresher Spray, which contains rice extract to absorb oil) on hand can help revive weighed-down bangs.
Side bangs
Like chunky necklaces and velour tracksuits, side-swept bangs were a symbol of the early aughts. Sure, the internet has been divided about this look, but hairstylists say we should expect a resurgence in the new year because they’re nostalgic. “As a millennial, I have never fallen out of love with side-swept bangs,” Redway says. “They were a staple from a lot of R&B icons, like Aaliyah.” Harper agrees, adding that they complement different face shapes and hairstyles.
Redway says you’ll want to blow-dry your bangs using a flat paddle brush (like the Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Paddle Brush, which we love for its flexible and heat-resistant bristles that make styling super easy) and sweep them across your forehead to your preferred side. When they are about 90% dry, she says to shift your dryer so that it’s facing downward to smooth your hair. (If you have any flyaways, you might want to do a pass with a flat iron after your hair is totally dry.) Redway recommends finishing with the Nexxus Comb Thru Flexible Hold Hairspray. We also like Pureology Style and Protect Soft Finish Hairspray and Living Proof Style Lab Flex Hairspray for a similar hold.
