Bangs have been a significant element in the fashion industry for ages, capable of instantly transforming your look and highlighting your best features. For those with long faces, the right style of bangs can work wonders. The key is to choose a fringe that reflects your personality and complements your face shape. This guide explores the best bang styles for long faces, offering inspiration and tips to help you find the perfect match.
A long face is characterized by its length, being less wide than it is long. The edges are often rounded, similar to an oval shape around the hairline and chin. Celebrities like Liv Tyler exemplify this face shape. Bangs are particularly flattering for long faces because they create a horizontal line that visually widens the face. They fall right at the middle of your face, naturally aiding in creating that horizontal line that you want to widen a long face.
Several bang styles are particularly well-suited for long faces, each offering a unique aesthetic:
A full horizontal fringe can significantly widen a long face. This style, as seen on Liv Tyler, involves a straight-across cut that covers the forehead, creating the illusion of width. The thickness of the bangs is crucial; they should be full enough to make an impact but not so overwhelming that they overshadow your features.
A variation on the full fringe, textured straight-across bangs offer a softer, more modern look. As Kelly Rowland demonstrates, these bangs have the same effect of creating horizontal fullness but with a more relaxed feel. The texture prevents the bangs from looking too heavy or blocky.
Read also: Bangs and a Pixie Bob: A Perfect Match
Inspired by Brigitte Bardot, these bangs are longer and thicker on the sides, gently parting in the middle to expose a bit of forehead. Rachel Zoe's take on this style showcases how it can add a touch of glamour and sophistication. The deliberate length and thickness on the sides contribute to widening the face.
Similar to Bardot bangs, curtain bangs are a versatile option that works well for various face shapes, including long faces. Alexa Chung wears them with a more defined center parting, but you could also do something similar with a slightly off-center part. These bangs frame the face and can be styled to create width and softness. Curtain bangs create softness and style to any look and they’re also much easier to maintain due to the length of the style, and they’re perfect for any season and any face shape.
Side-swept bangs are another excellent choice for long faces. Kelly Reilly's voluminous side-swept fringe demonstrates how this style can create a rounding effect. The bangs cover most of the forehead, hitting right at brow level before tapering down on one side. The length and volume of the bangs are key to achieving this flattering look. It shifts focus on your eyes instead of your forehead, and is perfect for long faces.
A softer version of the side-swept bang, as seen on Molly Sims, involves a less thick cut that still covers most of the forehead. These bangs reach just the top of the brows and add interest to long, straight hairstyles. This style is particularly suitable for those with finer, straighter hair types.
While many bang styles can flatter a long face, some may not be the best choice:
Read also: Guide to Short Haircuts, Side Bangs
Baby bangs, cut well above the eyebrows, can make a long face appear even longer. Krysten Ritter is an ex-model, so she actually manages to pull off these baby bangs-but for us mere mortals, they’re not the best idea. They’re cut well above the eyebrows, which is too high on the face to have the desired widening action. These bangs don't provide the desired widening effect because they sit too high on the face. Sarah Jessica Parker's short-lived experiment with baby bangs further illustrates this point.
Bangs that are too short and wispy, especially when paired with a short haircut that adds height at the top of the head, can elongate the face. Hilary Swank's hairstyle exemplifies this pitfall. When opting for a short hairstyle with a long face, it's best to keep the layers at the top long and flat to avoid adding unnecessary height.
Bangs that are too heavy, long, and helmet-like can overwhelm the face and obscure your features. The idea behind these Leona Lewis bangs was good-I just think something got lost in the execution, as they’re way too heavy, long and helmet-like. All you see are bangs, comin’ through! Not her eyes or any of her pretty face. It’s essential to strike a balance and ensure that your bangs complement, rather than overshadow, your overall look.
Long, stringy bangs that don't cover any of the forehead can also have an elongating effect. Alicia Keys was SO close here-I actually love the idea of bangs on her, just not these bangs. They don’t have enough weight to eliminate the stringiness, so need more hair to be cut into the bang from higher on the crown. Dakota Johnson's long bangs, which stop at her jawline, demonstrate how this style can fail to de-emphasize face length. It's better to opt for thicker bangs that stop around the cheekbones to create the illusion of width in the middle.
Beyond face shape, consider these factors when choosing bangs:
Read also: Versatile Bob Haircuts
“For individuals with a rectangle face shape characterized by straight lines and angular features, blunt or straight-across bangs are ideal,” says Rogerio Cavalcante, owner and hairstylist at NYC’s the Second Floor Salon. “These bangs emphasize the sharpness and structure of the face, maintaining a sleek and sophisticated appearance.”
His go-to example? Anne Hathaway, of course.
“The oval shape features a blend of softness and structure. Long, side-swept bangs work best, offering a relaxed, effortless look that mirrors the oval shape’s casual and harmonious essence,” says Cavalcante. “These bangs enhance balanced features without overpowering them.”
Named for actor Jane Birkin, whose signature look was feathered fringe, Birkin bangs help to soften the sharpness of a square face.
“Birkin bangs are characterized by their wispy, slightly longer, and often uneven cut that effortlessly frames the face,” says Jennifer Korab, a celebrity colorist and educator and Founder of Renaissance Salon & Spa. “These bangs tend to have a more relaxed, bohemian vibe and are typically paired with a natural, undone hairstyle.”
“Characterized by softness and curvy features similar to a heart, soft, rounded bangs are ideal,” says Cavalcante. “These bangs create a gentle frame around the face, highlighting their delicate and feminine attributes. The curved shape of the bangs enhances overall softness and allure.” Two heart-shaped beauties who love the style? Zooey Deschanel and Reese Witherspoon.
Williams encourages people with diamond and oval-shaped faces to experiment with micro bangs, which end above the eyebrow.
“They add fullness with a lot of playful movement that’s suitable for most hairstyles,” he says. Another bonus? “These bangs even look chic if you’ve missed your three- to four-week maintenance trim appointment, since they’re much shorter in nature.”
For an even more micro take on micro bangs, try high-fashion Hepburn bangs. “Micro bangs are definitely not for everyone, but they’re most suitable for square faces, as they enhance and work together with their facial structure,” Williams says. Case in point? Zendaya’s take on the trend.
“Triangle face shapes often exhibit youthful and animated qualities. Short, choppy bangs are best, enhancing the playful and energetic nature of the ‘gamine type,’” says Cavalcante. “The irregular, piece-y texture of choppy bangs adds dynamism and a touch of edginess.”
“Layered, wispy bangs are great for square face shapes,” says Jenna Spino, a stylist at Maxine Salon. “These can be straight-across or curtain bangs, as long as they are textured they will soften the jaw.” One perfect example of how to wear the look? Jenna Ortega’s edgy front bangs. Add a spritz of texturizing hair spray like Balmain Hair Session Spray for an effortlessly undone look.
Bardot bangs are best for people with oval faces, says Williams. “They are definitely the focus of the haircut and do require more maintenance, but they can really be a game changer,” he says, adding that they’re especially ideal if you have a large forehead you want to cover.
“These are a classic, feminine bang style characterized by their voluminous, wispy, and effortlessly chic appearance,” adds Korab. “Bardot bangs are typically longer than traditional bangs, often reaching the cheekbones or even the jawline. A key feature of Bardot bangs is their volume, often teased to enhance the look. They are designed to blend seamlessly with the rest of the hair.”
To achieve the rounded shape, blow out your bangs with a small round brush like Sisley-Paris Hair Rituel The Blow-Dry Brush N°2.
“Traditional blunt bangs are best for people with heart-shaped faces,” says Williams, who notes that one especially chic way to wear them is by texturizing them.
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