Flattering curtain bangs ideas—will you try the '70s-inspired hair trend?

2022-05-28 18:04:55 By : Ms. Alsa Hu

We thought we’d never see the day, but curtain bangs are back with a, well, bang. And while the modern resurgence isn’t a carbon copy of the original 1970s style, curtain bangs do have a cool, nostalgic vibe that's definitely part of the appeal.

Just as the name suggests, curtain bangs are slightly grown-out bangs that are parted in the middle, like a pair of curtains. Because they’re longer than your typical fringe, curtain bangs are less dramatic-looking and less high maintenance than classic bangs hairstyles. "They are a great way to freshen up a hairstyle—they suit long or short hair and almost any face shape," agrees Charles Worthington Salons' Senior Master Stylist Jess Johnson, and Fekkai stylist Elidona Pjetraj agrees. "Because they are cut purposely to frame your face, the growth is very natural and effortless." 

As a visual reference, the most iconic curtain bangs of all time belong to Charlie’s Angel Farrah Fawcett and Iconic comedy actor Goldie Hawn. But the style didn't die out with disco, hair icons of every era, from Jennifer Lopez to the Duchess of Cambridge, have experimented with this look at some point.

Curtain bangs can work for almost any hair type and texture, from curly hairstyles to bob hairstyles and more. Consider the following when deciding if this versatile style is right for you:

A bob with bangs is a timelessly chic hairstyle, but a curtain bang twist brings the look right into the now. Another short haircut that's a huge 2022 hair trend is the shag—a cool '70s throwback look that perfectly compliments a center-parted fringe. 

This chic, gamine style suits oval and heart-shaped faces best and really enhances great bone structure, making those cheekbones pop. 

This beautiful style looks brilliant on hair that's smooth but not overly straight—the best hair straightener brushes will help you achieve the right level of smoothness. 

Double down on 1970s style by combining a layered shag haircut with a center-parted fringe. The trick to keeping this look modern is knowing how to style layered hair for choppy definition. 

Medium to thick hair textures, as well as naturally wavy hairstyles will bring beautiful movement to this cute, short bob with layers.

A lob hairstyle is a great option for anyone with a square or round face, as the extra length is a little more forgiving. Teamed with tapered curtain bangs here, this style has bags of versatility. 

Nothing says '70s glamour like naturally curly hair with loose curtain bangs. Encourage beautiful definition by following the curly girl method.

It's the color that makes this style so special. Beachy bleached balayage through the ends of the bob and front of the curtain bangs make for a cool-girl look. 

This style has a rock 'n roll edge, thanks to the modern mullet cut and graduation of length in the bangs. It suits finer hair particularly well, ideally with a bit of natural texture.

Look effortlessly put together with this sleek yet low-maintenance style. Add sea salt spray to achieve this tousled look. 

Ease yourself in to curtain bangs with this subtle, thinner style. Easily blendable but still making a statement, this style is ideal for those who want to test the waters of this trend. 

Add some layers to your 'do with this unique side parted cropped cut. Use a curl cream or gel for extra bouncy curls that will make your bangs pop. 

This style works perfectly with balayage or colour dimension to accentuate framing around the face. Create some beachy waves to add bounce. 

Who doesn't love medium-length hair? Long enough to put in hair up styles, short enough to be relatively low-maintenance. The only issue with versatile midi styles is they can struggle to make a statement, and that's where curtain bangs can help. 

Ultra-long curtain bangs with a beautiful blow-dry is such a classy look. The beauty of bangs this length is they grow out fairly swiftly into regular layers, so are a low-risk way to dip your toe into the trend. 

Curtain bangs and coils are a match made in heaven. Depending on your curl type your hairstylist may want to cut these in dry—this will ensure they hit a flattering length at their most springy.  

Showing how curtain fringes don't have to be a huge statement, this subtle beachy look blends long tapered front sections with face-framing layers and a subtle wave. 

Grown-out curtain bangs are a look all of their own. Try creating a bouncy blow dry and wrapping the front sections backward around a large vented brush to recreate this style. 

Shaggy, choppy with plenty of va-va-voom volume, this look has bags of je ne sais quoi. Oval, heart and square face shapes suit blunt cuts like this best. To achieve lasting root lift sprinkle a little texturizing dust into your fingers and gently tease the roots. 

We love this shoulder-skimming coily style with fairly full curtain bangs. It would suit oval, heart and round face shapes best, and works beautifully with a bit of shine serum through the curls. 

The choppy layers around the front give this style plenty of movement and texture. Try using a hair dryer brush to blow dry layers into a flicky, face-flattering style.

Gallery: Decorating with flowers – 10 pretty ways to brighten your home with blooms (Woman&Home)

Halle Berry is a curtain bang queen and has worked many iterations of the style over the years. Here, she teams softly highlighted and parted bangs with a chic messy bun updo for an elegant style. 

These blended curtain bangs are great for those who want some versatility when it comes to styling. Add some volumizing spray to the roots to add movement and dimension.

Elevate your medium length hair with this sophisticated up-do. Perfect for round and heart face shapes, this style also suits a variety of hair types and is quick to pull together. 

These shorter curtain bangs look great on curly hair, especially if you have a slightly looser wave. Adding texture without being too heavy, the cropped ringlets frame the face perfectly. 

With medium length straight hair it can be challenging to add dimension, but these stacked layers provide just the right amount of edge. Low maintenance and easy to style, this is the perfect cut to change up you pin-straight look. 

Long hair with curtain bangs is the iconic bohemian babe hairstyle. It's also probably the most high maintenance look here but if you're willing to put in a bit of extra styling effort it will be richly rewarded with flattering, flowing styles.

This beautiful, flowing style perfectly complements naturally wavy hair, or you can fake it by using large hot rollers and a misting of hairspray. 

Whoever said ponytails are boring had never seen a pony with a curtain fringe. This is a great option when you don't have much time, hike up your lengths and you only need to style the bangs. 

Farrah Fawcett eat your heart out! This is a real nod to the past and can be created with a large vented brush and the best hair dryer. Apply some mousse before drying to help the style stick.

This cool, bendy wave is best achieved by learning how to curl hair with straighteners, rather than a curling iron which creates a rounder curl. Center part your hair for extra contemporary appeal. 

Showing how clever curtain bangs can make fine hair look thicker, this flattering style combines a glossy fringe with sweet flicks and kicks through the ends. 

This ultra-thick and long hairstyle gets a 2022 update with heavy, flicky curtain bangs. Keep hair this length in great condition by using the best hair mask for condition and moisture. 

This style ramps up the glam factor on this generally relaxed style by creating a voluminous blow dry. Use a large round brush to emulate these gorgeous bouncy flicks then finish with hairspray.  

Softly tapered and gently parted, this long and layered curtain bangs style suits fine to medium, relatively straight hair. This cut also looks fabulous up in a ponytail, with loose tendrils framing the face. 

These curtain bangs are as long and subtle as they come, which makes them brilliantly low maintenance—if you don't like them, they'll simply be layers in a month! Style them by drying outwards with a round brush for extra '70s style.

This super long style carries more weight at the roots and skims down towards the ends. The graduated bangs make this the perfect style for those with curly hair who want to keep volume without their hair becoming too heavy. 

This delightfully simple style is perfect for long hair that can be tricky to manage. Add waves to create more texture, or keep slick for a more formal look. 

If you love the idea of feathered layers but think that it can't be achieved on your long hair, think again. This style demonstrates how to incorporate the fun of the feathered style without compromising on length. For even bouncier ends, use a wide barrel curler. 

Keep long, thick hair light with this bouncy style. With bangs that skim over the cheekbones, hair will look full without being overbearing. Blow dry with a round brush for the ultimate sweeping layers. 

A curtain fringe + curls = retro-modern perfection. From loose waves to natural hairstyles with kinks and coils, those eye-framing sections at the front give a beautiful shape to a head of curly hair. 

Achieving beautiful curl separation is key to this look. Try following the curly girl method to achieve glossy, defined curls around the front of your hairstyle. 

The combination of cut and color makes this style stand out. Top achieve this sunkissed look ask for balayage hair in tones of warm honey and creamy vanilla.

This gorgeous natural hairstyle combines tight, coily curls with ultra-fine highlights in hair for a multi-tonal effect. A curl cream applied to the hair when damp will help achieve glossy separation. 

That curtain fringe add instant interest to this easy updo. Pull your hair into a super-high ponytail and rake forward with your fingers, securing with hidden bobby pins, then pull out a few flattering tendrils. 

This very sweet curly bob with curtain bangs is especially flattering on oval and heart-shaped faces. Use a diffuser when drying to gently shape your hair then ruffle with a little wax or pomade to achieve those modern, fluffy edges. 

This hairstyle is all about the cut—have your stylist create a rounded shape by layering into the bangs and sides, taking weight out of the ends. 

This classic style is cleverly tapered to give a beautiful, flattering shape, with shorter layers around the top and an eyebrow skimming curtain fringe. 

Volumized curls have a vintage appeal that's undeniable. If you don't have naturally curly hair, use a tong with a very large barrel to fake this glam look.

Longer curly curtain bangs make for a beautiful face-framing look with this piled-high bun. These defined curls can be created with perm rods or a narrow curling iron 

Accentuate tight coils with this halo-shaped bangs style. Ideal for dense curls, coils and waves, these bangs look best when dried with a diffuser. 

Use a curl gel to really accentuate this style. Ideal for those with a looser curl pattern, this cropped cut is effortlessly cool when combined with creamy highlights. 

Let your hair do the talking with this trendy take on curtain bangs. A winner for round face shapes, these loose curly bangs accentuate the cheeks and jaw for a youthful, playful look. 

If your hair falls somewhere in between curly and straight, this is the perfect style for you. Wavy hair often tends to be flatter at the root and gets more textured towards the end, so lean into your hair's natural pattern with this smooth side bang and bouncy ends combo. 

Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food, Banana 3-in-1 Dry Hair Mask Treatment | RRP: $4.40/£3.50

Cheap and cheerful, this 3-in-1 treatment by Garnier is ideal for all hair types and textures to add some much-needed moisture to keep curtain bangs glossy and healthy. The vegan formula also promises up to four times less breakage which is essential for heavily styled hair. 

Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer | RRP: $60/£39

For perfectly styled bangs on a budget, this tool by Revlon is all you need. The wide barrel creates full, bouncy body whilst the brush element makes hair perfectly smooth and tangle free. 

JVN Hair Complete Air Dry Cream | RRP: $24/£21

For low-maintenance bangs, JVN's air-dry cream provides everything you need to create hold without requiring additional heat styling. Formulated with hemisqualane, this product will also reduce damage and strengthen hair in the process.

Keep frizz at bay and define waves and curls with Ouai's pomade, designed to tame and style all hair types. To create that refined yet effortless edge to your hair, tousle a small amount of product through your bangs. 

woman&home thanks Ricky Walters of SALON64,  Jess Johnson of Charles Worthington Salons, Elidona Pjetraj of FEKKAI, Sian Quinn of Headmasters and Larry King, founder of Larry King Salons, for their time and expertise