If you’re of a certain age, you can probably recount horror stories of bangs gone wrong. Whether too short, too bulky, or an awkward grow-out stage, bangs weren’t always exactly what you’d call stylish. But bangs are living in their 2.0 era, and vintage fringe styles are the industry’s current obsession. Birkin styles took over the beauty set during the fall, and now it’s time for Bardot bangs to take center stage. Billowy, voluminous and effortlessly sexy, the fringe inspired by the actress and icon, Brigitte Bardot, is the look to covet. Aside from their stylish appeal, Bardot bangs are incredibly versatile and are able to complement varying hair lengths and textures.
“Bardot bangs are all about embracing your natural texture rather than fighting against it,” says hairstylist Emma McJury. Unlike blunt or micro styles, the Bardot-inspired fringe is meant to be unexpected and not overly polished. Even more compelling is the fact that they are essentially an evolved look of everyone’s favorite curtain bang. Ahead, we chatted with two stylists to get their top tips on how to achieve the timeless romantic style.
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What are Bardot bangs?
Bardot bangs are all about low-maintenance ease. Effortless, lived-in and slightly undone, they’re the definition of casual elegance. “These bangs are defined by subtle elements and feature a light center part with a side-swept finish to blend seamlessly into face-framing layers,” says McJury. Though they have a similar look to popular curtain styles, Bardot bangs are distinctly fuller with more volume and a longer length to completely frame the face. Celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of The Beachwaver Co. Sarah Potempa explains that this element allows for more movement than a classic cut and gives the bangs a softer look. “Brigitte Bardot’s bangs were famously tousled and longer than traditional bangs, making them appear to be more glam and more lived-in,” she says.
How to get Bardot bangs
If you’re contemplating getting Bardot bangs, it’s a good idea to bring pictures to the salon for reference. Luckily, there’s loads of inspiration to choose from. Still, the experts recommend finding a few that feature a similar length and style to ensure you get exactly what you want during your appointment. Along with Brigitte Bardot, McJury says that modern takes on the cut, like those seen on Sabrina Carpenter and Suki Waterhouse, can be good examples that match different face shapes.
When you’re in the chair, the experts note that deciding on the overall length of your bangs will be essential to nailing a chic hairstyle. “Ask your stylist for bangs that are slightly shorter in the middle and get gradually longer towards the sides,” says Potempa. According to McJury, the bangs should extend to the cheekbones to frame the face in that classic Bardot way. The final step to achieving Bardot bangs is texture. To do this, Potempa suggests adding subtle textured layers with shears, which will give them natural volume and movement.
How to style Bardot bangs
The effortless look of Bardot’s iconic bangs is likely the result of some serious styling. However, it’s nothing that can’t be achieved at home with the right tools, accessories and products. Nailing the look begins with a good blowout. “You want to make sure that you create a lift at the root and add lots of body and softness into the actual bangs,” says Potempa. The idea is to create volume and shape so that your bangs fall naturally. “Using a thermal brush tool with iconic technology such as the Heatwave Pro Ionic Thermal Brush ($99) will help create soft, face-framing movement throughout the bangs while smoothing the hair,” says McJury.
Once dry, you can go in with a curling iron to give them that classic billowy style. “A large barrel iron, like the Beachwaver B1.5 ($99), will give you a more dramatic lift and voluminous curl,” says Potempa. She recommends adding large curls and then pinning them to allow them to cool and set as you would with a roller set. However, if you’re not someone who styles your hair with heat daily, McJury says that you can opt for air drying and simply touch them up with a thermal brush or flat iron every few days to maintain the soft, defined look.
