Bang, Bang, Bangs

I haven't had bangs in three years, but 2014 was giving me good bang vibes. So I followed my gut and got my hair chopped.

Every baby picture shows me sporting bangs. I grew up with them. Also, might I add, every baby picture of me is terrible. Absolutely horrendous and embarrassing. These are probably the best ones, and I look like coconut head from Ned's Declassified on the right. Clearly my face hasn't changed at all (I did get better at smiling, sort of, and taking pictures) so getting my hair snipped across my forehead wasn't a huge deal to me.

Most girls stray away from getting bangs because they don't know how to maintain them. I haven't had bangs in a while, but I've formulated a routine that is basically fool-proof. When you wake up and you're fringe looks like a sad quiff that would belong to a member of a boy band, DO NOT FREAK OUT.

First, go and wet your bangs, but don't press them down that's the trick. While they are wet is the time to style them. Then after they've been air dried spray dry shampoo onto them. This will give your bangs some bounce and make it looked like you've showered (we've all been there, no worries). Lastly, blow dry your fringe. Blow dryers are magical and will make your fringe perfectly piecey and give off an effortless look. Presto! The sad boy band quiff is gone and your bangs look chic and clean.

A huge pet peeve of mine is when girl question whether they can pull them off or not.  Come on ladies, grow some confidence and wear or do whatever the hell you want. If you want bangs then go get them! Across bangs can be styled and cut in various ways to be complimentary and veered towards a particular style. Here is a wide range of bang inspiration to wet every fringe-wannabe girl's appetite.

http://woohair.com/

Audrey Hepburn had a classic face and iconic bangs. Her's are rather daring because they don't graze her eyelids. But if Hepburn can wear them then there are plenty of other women who can too. I would recommend brining a picture in to the hair salon so you get the exact cut and shape you want.

http://www.juxtapost.com/

http://www.hitherandthither.net/

Jane Birkin was, in my opinion, the coolest girl from the 60's. Her style oozes elegance and ease. Her piecey, long bangs that don't seem so put together helped her achieve that look. Birkin was also the inspiration for Hermès Birkin bag. The point is if Birkin's good enough for Hermès she's good enough for you. 

http://flavorwire.com/

http://www.last.fm/

Marianne Faithfull another great fringe muse from the 60's. I don't know what it was about that era, but bangs were so cool. Faithfull was the former flame to Mick Jagger, frontman for The Rolling Stones and the frontman of my heart. Faithfull was a master at styling bangs. The middle parted fringe is very chic, Alexa Chung is also huge fan of it. But, Faithful also knows how to rock the classic full eye grazing fringe.

http://www.bellasugar.com/

Françoise Hardy is my personal fringe inspiration. She's french and fully captures the cool French girl vibe. Hardy has a side part and splits her fringe accordingly, which is what I do almost regularly. Run your fingers through your bangs, muse them up and let them fall accordingly for a perfect French, Hardy inspired look.

http://glamourcouture.blogspot.com/

http://www.stylebistro.com/

Rashida Jones has long and wide bangs that fully encompass her forehead, which is different than the previous looks. The Harvard graduate knows that having bangs allow for really easy, cute hair styes. Bangs look so chic when hair is pulled back either in a pony or bun so much that Jones does it on the red carpet.

A misconception about across fringe is that it needs to lay perfectly across the forehead. Unless you're going for a Zooey Deschanel look on the daily, that is not the case. Bangs are very versatile and can be cut and styled in various ways. So many style icons have sported the across fringe, use them as inspiration and get bangs.

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By: Sarah Weingarten