How to Style Long Bangs: 6 Hairstyling Ideas

Much like other types of bangs, long bangs are strands of hair from your front hairline that are cut shorter than the rest of your hair. However, while baby bangs, blunt bangs, and other short bangs generally fall above or near the eyebrow, long bangs go past the cheekbones for a face-framing effect.

Long bangs create a low-maintenance hairstyle because as they grow out, they seamlessly integrate with the rest of your hair as layers. This means fewer trips to the hairstylist and more options for everyday styling. Depending on your hair texture, many long bang hairstyles can air dry and need only a spritz of hairspray to stay in place. The extra length also makes it easy to pin long bangs back with hair clips, headbands, and other hair accessories.

There are long bang hairstyles that complement every face shape, hair type, and haircut. While shorter, more blunt bang hairstyles can be challenging with a cowlick or fine hair, long bangs work with these features to create versatile, effortless looks. To style long bangs, you will need a round brush and either a hair dryer or flat iron to create your desired shape. If you have curly hair, using a diffuser attachment on your hair dryer can bring volume and shape to long bangs while maintaining curl definition. While you can achieve long bang hairstyles with little or no styling product, hairspray, dry shampoo, and texturizing spray may help depending on your hair type.

1. 1. Curtain bangs: Retro, face-framing curtain bangs flatter any face shape and work for curly hair, straight hair, and all textures in between. Curtain bangs are a variation of traditional straight-across bangs, but are cut shorter in the middle with wispy sides that taper off into the rest of your hair. Style them by parting your hair in the middle and sweeping the bangs to each side of your face. Wrap one-inch sections of the parted bangs around a round brush and gently blow-dry until the bangs reach your desired volume and shape. You can also style them by using a flat iron to bend the bangs into soft waves.
2. 2. Lob with bangs: A variation of the bob, a “lob” is a longer bob haircut that is chin-length in the back but reaches the collarbone in the front. This hairstyle creates strong angles that elongate the face, which can balance round face shapes. Long bangs complete the lob hairstyle by framing the face and making any hair texture appear thicker. For a softer looking lob, experiment with hair color by adding a subtle balayage or ombre to the ends.
3. 3. Shag with bangs: For medium or long hair with bangs, the choppy layers of a shag hairstyle add natural volume and retro flair with minimal effort. Face-framing bangs are a hallmark of this hairstyle because they tailor the cut to suit any face shape. If you have straight hair or wavy hair, get a piece-y, tousled shag by letting your hair air dry with texturizing spray. If you have curly hair, use a styling product like curl-defining cream or gel and then hold the diffuser attachment of your hair dryer to your hair until it’s nearly dry. Then, let your hair air dry for a retro, effortless hairstyle.
4. 4. Side-swept bangs: For those with thin or fine hair, side-swept bangs can give a full, voluminous appearance without using much hair. And since side-swept bangs start with a side part and fall diagonally across the face, they can easily disguise a receding hairline or cowlick. Part your hair on one side, then brush the bangs diagonally across your face to create a swoop. If desired, blow-dry the bangs for additional volume. A styling product like hairspray or texturizing spray will lock side-swept bangs in place and prevent them from appearing flat. If the oil or skincare products on your forehead make your bangs greasy, use dry shampoo to refresh as needed.
5. 5. Updo with bangs: If you have long or medium-length hair, pair an updo with long, face-framing bangs to draw attention to your face and de-emphasize thinning hair or a receding hairline. Since long bangs usually create a windblown, tousled hairstyle, try pairing long bangs with a messier updo to match. If you have short hair, long bangs provide the same face-framing and elongating look to a half-up, half-down hairstyle.
6. 6. Wispy bangs: Start with these if you want an easy long-bang hairstyle with little commitment. Wispy bangs are piece-y, see-through, and have feathered ends that softly frame the face. If you have thick or curly hair, wispy bangs can lighten hair density around your face for an airy, tousled look. Wispy bangs also can enhance fine hair by creating shape and volume. To maintain the piece-y texture of wispy bangs, blow-dry the hair and keep it moisturized and de-frizzed with a styling product like leave-in conditioner.