Giving yourself a horrible, uneven haircut is practically a rite of passage for any female. I don't know a single woman, at some point in her life, didn't brazenly attempt to give herself bangs only to find out their naive confidence was completely unfounded and that hair takes a surprisingly long time to grow out when you're desperate. Whether you tried to give yourself some funky fringe in your "this is the new me" phase post-college or it was with safety scissors in elementary school, there are still some things to consider before getting bangs even though now you're presumably wiser than your younger self was.
Regardless of whether it's you or a professional hair stylist who will be giving you a new 'do, it's good to remember that any kind of hair cut is both a commitment and an investment. If things goes south, you better hope you own plenty of hats or you'll need to get really creative with braiding and accessories.
There are some game-changing factors that you may not have even thought about during your process of deciding if you should switch your hairstyle up or not. So to avoid making a cut you can't take back, check out these top things to consider before getting bangs.
1Consider Your Curls
If you have naturally curly hair, that doesn't necessarily mean that bangs aren't an option for you. Celeb hairstylist Nathaniel Hawkins told Allure that you should, "determine how smooth your hair gets when you blow-dry it before you cut anything." Of course you can always consult with a professional stylist if you're still unsure about how your texture will impact bangs.
2Understand The Commitment
Bangs may only take a few minutes to cut, but the maintenance can be more involved than you expected. "Is getting bangs realistic with the prep time you’re willing to put into it," stylist Charlie Taylor told Self. "If the answer’s no, you’re probably going to end up getting frustrated quickly." Not everyone is lucky enough to roll out of bed looking like Bettie Page or Zooey Deschanel
3Discuss Definitions At Length
What you and your stylist mean when you say "fringe" can be two entirely different things. It's crucial you and your hairstylist are on the same page about things, because you can't undo a cut. "It helps to take a magazine or picture to the salon, because there are so many variations," celeb stylist, John Barrett, told InStyle. That way there is less of a chance for misunderstandings.
4Know Your Shape
Say you and your best friend both have heart-shaped faces. She gets bangs and looks amazing, so you think you might follow suit. Not so fast. Riawna Capri, a celeb stylist, told Glamour that "face shapes are like jeans. Even though you and your friend may both wear a size 4, one brand will fit better on her than it does on you."
5Factor In Trims
The length of your bangs will play a big role in determining just how often you'll need to get them trimmed. Shorter fringe can easily be styled for an easy transition as it grows, but bangs that already start off skimming your brows leave you little wiggle room. Hairstylist Matthew Monzon told Refinery29 that the longer and more blunt a cut is, the more frequent the upkeep will be.
6Ask For A Preview
In addition to talking things through at the salon, you can also ask your stylist to give you mock bangs. Consider a trial run of sorts. "If a client says she's considering bangs, I like to pull out some clip-in bang hair pieces," Mark Townsend, a celebrity stylist, told Total Beauty. "That way there are no surprises."
7Start Slow
In general, an inch seems like a negligible length of measurement. Yet it can make a world of difference when it comes to the length of your bangs. This is why Hawkins advised Allure readers to, "ask your stylist to cut them longer at first and take them up in increments until you reach the perfect length." Remember, you can always take off more and you can't put length back.
8Evaluate Texture
If you have natural, textured, or wavy hair, you'll also need to consider what role moisture will play in things before getting bangs. Taylor told Style, "curly hair shrinks up when it dries . . . you could cut perfectly straight fringe, but when natural hair dries, it could be four or five different lengths.”
9Embrace The Cowlick
Pretty much everyone has a cowlick, which is an unruly section of hair which refuses to follow the same direction as its fellow strands. So you might want to think about just how ready you are to embrace your cowlick when it comes to getting bangs. Stylist Devin Graciano told Total Beauty that fringe requires more styling and product if you have a cowlick. Not to say that it's impossible, but you should just know that it might add some time to your morning routine.
