5 Factors to Consider When Getting Bangs (That Aren't Your Face Shape)
Every year you go through a period in your life during which you consider bangs. You use bobby pins to see what they’d look like. You ask all your friends — you even loop in people you haven’t spoken to in an embarrassingly long time — to see if they think you should make the plunge. You spend hours Googling things like “Zooey Deschanel bangs” and “Nicole Richie hair.” Oh, and once you wound up cutting your own bangs with nail scissors, but we don’t speak of that.
It seems that most “should you or shouldn’t you get bangs” advice has to do with the shape of your face, but does anyone actually know the shape of her face? Do I have a heart shaped face? A round face? I don’t know. It’s all so confusing, right. Below are five things to consider when thinking about getting bangs that matter far more.
1. Your lifestyle. Bangs are high-maintenance. There’s no way around it. Committing to bangs is also committing to waking up earlier, and trying to constantly battle the weather (wind and humidity are the greatest enemy to bangs everywhere). Is that a thing you want to do? Are you the type of woman who is willing to wake up an hour earlier just so her bangs will look good? Be honest with yourself about this one. Otherwise, you’ll wind up throwing a headband over your bangs every day.
2. Not all bangs are considered equal. You want bangs? Well, what kind of bangs? There are so many to choose from! Blunt, heavy bangs (think Zooey Deschanel) work best on thick hair. Soft and feathered bangs are the best for fine hair. Also consider if you want straight across bangs or side-sweeping ones. Side bangs will be way more low-maintenance. Plus, they’re easier to grow out, should you so choose to do that.
3. Your hair texture and hair “issues.” Do you have curly hair and cowlicks? If so, you might not be a bad candidate for bangs. That doesn’t mean they are impossible, though. The best way to deal with a cowlick in bangs is to keep them long and thick. Those short, Bettie Page-esque bangs are a disaster for cowlicks. Be realistic about the texture of your hair, and get inspiration from celebrities who have a similar texture.
4. Do you really want bangs, or do you want the idea of bangs? Consider that photograph of the celebrity with bangs. Whenever you see that photo, you immediately want bangs, right. I mean, look at how cool they look on her! Stop to think about it. It may sound silly, but do you want bangs because they look so good on Jess in New Girl, and, wow, girls with bangs always look so cool, or because you actually want bangs?
5. OK, but do you actually look good in bangs? Do you? Really? That is something that always fails to be remember in The Great Bang Debate. Bangs are not flattering on everyone. They just aren’t! Like any fashion or beauty choice, you have to decide whether it’s actually a good choice for you.
Of course, even if bangs aren’t the most flattering choice on you, but you really, really, really want them, then go for it. Once you get something in your mind, it’s hard to get it out. I mean, there’s a reason you once did my own bangs with nail scissors. But, like I said, we won’t speak of that.
