Curtain Bangs Are Staging a Comeback

Updated on Dec 19, 2024 at 8:15 PM

Bangs are a lot like baking a soufflé: make one wrong move and it can all go south. Curtain bangs, on the other hand? This style, which is split right down the middle and swept to each side of the face, is a little more noncommittal — and just as badass. Now, they're getting a big refresh this year.

"Curtain bangs hairstyles are making a comeback because of the '70s inspiration in the current fashion scene," Michael Bowman, says a stylist at NYC's Rob Peetoom salon, says. (Case in point: the recent shag haircut resurgence.) "A more modern twist would be to make the bangs a little shorter and textured in the center, so they can also be worn as a full textured fringe on days you want to change it up. This will also make it easier to grow out when the next hair trend hits."

Deciding to keep your curtain bangs longer is equally flattering, so it's entirely up to you. The best part is the cut works on all hair textures — from curly hair to pin-straight — and on any length to boot. Plus, while you might want to skip a straight-across bang during the summer months for fear of sweat, and they can get pretty static-y in fall or winter, but because curtain bangs fall to either side of the face, it's safe for any season.

Ahead, proof that standing divided can, in rare cases, look pretty damn good.

Curtain Bangs on Short Hair

Curtain bangs are cute on any length of hair, but if you're looking to switch up your style but don't want to go any shorter all around, we love some subtle curtain bangs.

Curtain Bangs on Shoulder-Length Hair

While we love shoulder-length hair, if you've kept it the same length for a while and don't want to grow it longer or cut it shorter, we'd suggest adding in a few layers and topping it up with wispy curtain bangs.

Curtain Bangs on Long Hair

While curtain bangs can be placed in a way that covers up the forehead, they can also be divided down the middle and be worn styled with the rest of your hair as with the example above.

Curtain Bangs on Curly Hair

Curtain bangs are a fun way to add even more texture and bounce to curly hair. However, if your stylist cuts your hair straight, make sure they take into account some extra length for when the curls shrink up.

Curtain Bangs on Straight Hair

Pin straight hair gets a bad reputation sometimes, but paired with curtain bangs, it's anything but boring.

Curtain Bangs on Afro Hair

Curtain bangs also look great on natural hair, no matter how you choose to style it.

— Additional reporting by Renee Rodriguez

Kelsey Castañon (she/her) is an ASME Award-nominated writer, editor, and content strategist with enough years of experience to warrant a retinol prescription. She is currently the senior content director at PS, where she oversees the Beauty, Health, Fitness, and Balance verticals while simultaneously stockpiling (and reporting on) everything from skin care to wine.

Renee Rodriguez (she/her) is a staff writer and social producer for PS. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts.