25 Cute Short Curtain Bangs That Frame the Face Perfectly

Cindy Marcus
Cindy Marcus Hairstylist, Editor-in-Chief

If you are thinking about short curtain bangs, you may want something different to frame your face without the commitment of a full fringe.

The lesson that took me a while to learn, and I wish I could find someone who could have told me, is about the ends. short curtain bangs are dead without some good texture. you want light, moving pieces that will not hang in a straight line across your forehead looking like a blunt robot line that waits for instructions. Now, most stylists won’t say this, but I think it’s better not to blend curtain bangs too much with the side pieces because that contrast is what helps those bangs to have that nice lifted look, as opposed to the bangs all just fused together and losing their entire purpose. I once had a sweet client, who walked in with a photo of her ideal curtain bangs and her last stylist had blended the bangs so that they basically disappeared and by the second week, she was confused. And I still don’t know why she always looked nothing like the photo.

For clients with wavy hair growth patterns, ask for a dry cut. When hair is wet, it looks completely different. With a dry cut, their hair is at its natural resting position determined by gravity, and so when it is cut, it will look wavy. A haircut that is just above the eyebrow, or at the eye crease, can help with the definition of the cheekbones. You’ll notice a smaller hairline forehead, and be amazed by the difference that a dry cut can make. Using a small round brush and a little bit of heat will allow your bangs to behave the way you want them to. There are a ton of different bangs that are suited to different textures and face shapes so be sure to look for the bangs that you like and send them to your stylist!

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Chic Brunette Bob with Playful Curtain Bangs

#1: Soft Brunette Bob That Just Happens to Have the Perfect Bangs

Taking into consideration the genuineness that this style is emulating, it can be assumed that this is a great haircut. Above the shoulder bob haircuts with flips on curtain bangs really do open up the entire face. Models with finer hair and medium density are at an advantage as they get movement without everything going flat. If you have an oval or heart-shaped face this will be very flattering. Though the bangs will require a minute or two of brushing, it is well worth the effort, as it will create a soft, polished look, that will be long lasting.

Chic Textured Lob with Face-Framing Curtain Bangs

#2 Layered Lob with Bangs That Hit Right at the Cheekbone

I love how the bangs hit right on the cheekbones. And these bangs aren’t just for show. They do have a functional purpose. And soft layering has been done on the lob so that it has some dimension and it doesn’t look overly done. Because it is finer hair, there is a lot less weight so the whole look moves beautifully. I won’t pretend you won’t have to style this to keep that lightweight feel, but it really isn’t a high-maintenance cut. More of a 5 minute style to keep that lightweight feel, and you’re ready to go.

Textured Bob with Flirty Curtain Bangs

#3 Wavy Little Bob with Bangs That Have a Mind of Their Own

This hairstyle is amazing! The texture is perfect, and the curtain bangs are flirty in a good way. The hair is above shoulder length, and the subtle layers give it a look that says she doesn’t need to style it too much. Big shout out to whoever did the highlights because they add depth while leaving the cut itself unobstructed. If you have fine hair and have been concerned that bangs would cause your hair to look thinner, this is a great example of the right kind of layering because it creates the opposite effect.

Chic Textured Bob with Soft Curtain Bangs

#4 Loose Waves Meeting Wispy Bangs in the Best Way

I believe this look balances polished with a more relaxed vibe nicely. The bangs help frame the face without closing anything off, and the loose waves look like perfect day 2 hair, which is ideal if you’re not the type to want to style your hair every day. Thicker hair may require a little more effort to achieve the look you want at the ends, as a textured bob tends to look puffy instead of tousled if you haven’t put in the work to style it properly.

Chic Textured Bob with Face-Framing Curtain Bangs

#5 Textured Bob with Bangs That Grow Out Beautifully

I can see when a haircut is going to grow out well, and this one definitely has that. I can tell that even a few weeks after your trim it will still look intentional. I like the bob and the new texture and volume, the finer hairs look flat, but with the curtain bangs they sit nicely without having to adjust. Although you’ll want to keep getting bangs trims because once they start poking you in the eyes it’s not cute. It suits oval and heart-shaped faces and has a nice energetic youthful look to it.

Playful Textured Bob with Soft Curtain Bangs

#6 Tousled Bob That Practically Styles Itself

I appreciate how much this haircut accomplishes while requiring minimal effort. The soft curtain bangs provide perfect framing and the texturized bob makes the haircut so easy to style. Just scrunch in some texturizing spray and you’re out the door. It adds a lot of volume to finer hair without a lot of layering, and the bangs frame her face really well without being too obvious about it. I think this shape would require quite a bit of thinning and regular maintenance if you have thicker hair, but for finer to medium hair this is about as close as you’ll get to a wash and go.

Classic Brunette Bob with Natural Curtain Bangs

#7 Clean Brunette Bob with Bangs That Know Where to Fall

The chin-length bob with natural flow curtain bangs is just incredible. It is also great to see how so many people can wear these bangs and look so good. The bangs create a neat frame around the face. This is especially great on oval and heart-shaped faces. The color is also really nice. The glossy dark brunette color looks really healthy and honestly does most of the work for you. The hair is straight and also has a medium density? This means it holds its shape without using any extra product? This is a great haircut to recommend to people who don’t want to put in too much effort because it looks so polished. The style grows out really well too, which is something that a lot of shorter styles can’t really say. If you want to do some balayage in the future, this is a great point to start, the clean shape gives you something to play around with without having to make a huge change.

Effortless Tousled Brunette Bob with Subtle Curtain Bangs

#8 Tousled Brunette with Bangs That Barely Try

I love the color and the depth and richness of it and the way it looks so easy. The way she mixes the color with that touchable hairstyle and the almost inaudible curtain bangs is really cool. The bangs are so subtle and hit the target. They are just enough to draw the attention to her cheekbones and eyes so that they don’t clutter everything. For curtain bangs, I’d say that’s the sweet spot. The face shape gets better and the texture adds length. If she’s got some natural waves, then she totally has a cut that does itself. This is great if your face shape is a little round because the height helps to elongate the look. More than that, this is one of the most effortless hairstyles out there. It’s meant for a nonchalant style and with the hands off look because of the texture. You might want to put some texturizing paste at the mid lengths to maintain the undone look throughout the day.

Effervescent Wavy Bob with Light Curtain Bangs

#9 Soft Wavy Bob with Bangs That Brighten Everything

While all elements of this hairstyle deserve praise, the one that caught my attention the most was the highlighting. It gives the illusion that there is movement and texture throughout the hair. Her highlights also don’t go overboard like most hairstyles tend to. Coupled with soft curtain bangs, the hair ends up looking very warm and approachable with the bangs and waves giving a nice, airy vibe. The collarbone-length pieces are perfect with her round face as they fall just right, and don’t cut her off at the widest points. The waves create enough interest that there’s no need to over style or add hair accessories. This little „do“ could easily be a low-maintenance, dream cut for anyone with nice, natural waves. Let’s just be serious here though — to keep the cut looking neat and intentional, regular maintenance is a must. Once a wavy bob gets out of that shaped look, it can appear more unkempt than intentional.

Rich Auburn Bob with Voluminous Curtain Bangs

#10 Warm Auburn Bob with Bangs That Actually Have Volume

I really wish more people could be as adventurous as this with warm colours. Look how much it brightens up her face! The layers in this bob are adding so much more bounce and body to what looks like finer hair. These curtain bangs look so voluminous, and in my experience, it can be pretty difficult to achieve that! You need the right layers and a great blowout with a round brush to get the bangs to fall just right. I really think a warm auburn would look stunning on someone with fair skin and green eyes. The warmth would make everything pop! I think this is the kind of haircut that will require some styling effort to maintain, but it is worth it! If you want to spend about ten minutes with a blow dryer, the haircut really will pay off.

Soft Golden Lob with Delicate Curtain Bangs

#11 Golden Lob with the Gentlest Curtain Bangs

I appreciate how cozy the soft brown color is and the curtain bangs are nice, but it doesn’t seem like they’re trying to steal the spotlight, more like they’re just enhancing everything. For mid-density hair, the lob length has that fuller look, and the new face-framing layers bring the versatility to go smooth and sleek or on the tousled side, so definitely won’t keep it flexible. This is the exact haircut for people wanting a change but not too much. One thing to keep in mind is that for the bangs to look their best, they’ll need maintenance every 3-4 weeks!

Charming Caramel Bob with Airy Curtain Bangs

#12 Caramel-Kissed Bob with Bangs That Move

This cut’s soft caramel highlights provide the bob the warmth and depth it deserves as they blend beautifully with the base color. The highlights grant dimension that is unmatched to any single-process color. Curtain bangs help draw focus to her face. The natural wave through the ends of the hair is a nice finishing touch that contributes to the effortless vibe, as it looks amazing without excessive styling. The ideal length for the hair is just above the shoulders so that it can be tied back whenever, and it also provides a nice polished look. Most hair types should also be able to keep this style fairly easily and without much daily maintenance. If you have very curly hair or fine hair, you may need to put in a little more effort to keep this look, but for the majority of hair types, this is an excellent, no fuss style.

Charming Chestnut Waves with Face-Framing Curtain Bangs

#13 Chestnut Waves with Bangs That Draw You In

This haircut has a fantastic wave pattern that sets it apart from other styles. While many other cuts show waves that have been styled with a heated chamber, this one looks more natural. The organic flow that the layers give to the hair creates a natural movement. Longer curtain bangs that dip, curl, and fall right around the cheeks help draw attention to the cheekbones and eyes and divert focus from the lower part of the face. That is said to be the goal of all face framing. This cut is best suited for thick medium length hair because the control of the layers is what helps create flow. The chestnut base with lighter accents looks beautiful, and if you like to style your hair forward to cover your forehead, it might feel a little too open. If the aim is to have the face be the focal point instead of the bangs, this is a clever cut.

Soft Brunette Bob with Wispy Curtain Bangs

#14 Simple Brunette Bob That Lets the Bangs Do the Talking

Some of the best hairstyles are those that appear effortless, such as this brunette bob with subtle curtain bangs. The cuts have enough layers to break up the hair and give reasonable volume, while still looking soft and natural enough to draw emphasis to the models eyes and cheekbones instead of being too stereotypical. This is a great choice for fine to medium hair as the length is easy to manage, and the amount of styling required is minimal if any on most days. Keeping the length and layers looking stylish without needing to renew a lot of upkeep, light texturizing spray will make sure it looks good. Bangs like this should be trimmed every three weeks at the latest, as they will lose the curtain appearance and revert to being a lot of hair in your face.

Chic Tousled Bob with Soft Curtain Bangs

#15 Tousled Bob That Looks Better on Day Two

To be honest, this is the kind of haircut that genuinely improves as time goes on, and that may be the greatest compliment I can give to a haircut. The effortless, relaxed, tousled look is just a product away from being complete. The soft curtain bangs are at the perfect length to sit above the shoulders and provide just the right amount of polish to get the look. The combination of bangs and soft curtain texture is so nice because a longer style like this is super easy to wear and doesn’t come with the fuss and adjustments that shorter layers require. If your hair is of medium density, and especially if you have natural waves, you’re in for a treat. The trick is to stay on top of your trims to avoid that grown out look.

Chic Espresso Bob with Rounded Curtain Bangs

#16 Espresso Bob with Rounded Bangs That Soften Everything

This is the style I’d choose if I were to go for something basic yet still very eye-catching. Rounded bangs are great for adding softness to your features. If your face has more of a defined jawline, it can be really helpful to have a more complementary look instead of competing with strong structures. The espresso color is rich and more low maintenance for growing out your roots compared to other hair colors, especially when considering fine hair with medium thickness. The length of the bob will add fullness without requiring a lot of crazy layers. A little bit of product to enhance your waves and you’re all set. However, I want to point out that going for a shorter bob means you’ll have to get trims more often. So, compared to a longer bob, you’d have to maintain the shape every five to six weeks.

Textured Bob with Face-Framing Curtain Bangs

#17 Chin-Length Texture with Versatile Curtain Bangs

Chin-distance hairstyles are great for face framing because longer hair don’t allow for the close framing effect that shorter cuts do. This hair has a beautiful natural wave that add dimension to the hair and looks great with curtain bangs. This style works best with square and heart face shapes. The softer bang texture creates a good balance to the face without covering the bangs entirely. This hairstyle style suits a range of events and can be styled in a more polished and sleek way, or worn tousled and relaxed, which is perfect for more casual days. This style is also quite low maintenance aside from regular trims, and bangs will likely require more frequent trims to keep them at the desired length.

Chic Curly Bob with Curtain Bangs

#18 Curly Bob Where the Bangs Actually Work With the Curl

Most stylists demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency with a range of techniques and styles. An example of someone who exhibits more than adequate proficiency is someone who can style, and more specifically, cut bangs from curly or wavy hair in such a way that allows for the bangs to become processed and frizzy, or split into bizarre clumps. This is an example of the good stylists providing one of the more positive experiences in a service industry. A good stylist provides so much definition, so that the curls can have bounce without looking too ‘crunchy’ (i.e. over styled). Also, the bangs are integrated so well that people assume they have always belonged with the rest of the hair. Curtain bangs tend to suit roun and oval shaped faces. Those with medium to fine hair and of sufficient density will allow for enough volume to develop the curls, without being too heavy. Some curl defining cream is probably necessary to keep everything in order, though the haircut will be flexible and playful enough that not much effort will be required to keep the style.

Charming Ash-Brown Bob with Seamless Curtain Bangs

#19 Ash-Brown Bob That Looks Expensive Without the Price Tag

I appreciate the care taken with the ashy brown color. It’s a contemporary choice that feels intentional, and the tone isn’t ashy enough to potentially wash out anyone. It also looks expensive, which is a huge plus. The bob is a little above chin length which is perfect for highlighting a jaw. The bangs are so well blended that they look part of the whole cut and not just an addition. The slight layering helps move the fullness around. This is also a bonus if you have thick hair. The bangs will need some work to sit right, but everything else is pretty much wash and wear. This style is suited for any occasion.

Sultry Espresso Shag with Captivating Curtain Bangs

#20 Dark Shag with Bangs That Open Up the Whole Face

I’ve noticed a lot of shag cuts lately. Some are better than others but this one is a pretty good balance. The layers create volume where finer hair needs it most. I think she made a great choice with the color, espresso brown is a great color and super low maintenance. Her airy bangs really frame her face and highlight her eyes and bone structure. The length is perfect too because collarbone length hair allows for more styling options. You can do the soft waves as shown or let it dry straight and it will look great either way. Overall the style is super romantic and also very low maintenance which is great. I typically think shag cuts require a lot more maintenance than you would think. Regular trims are necessary to keep the layers from dragging down the hair so keep that in mind if you tend to let your appointments stretch.

Playful Chocolate Bob with Swooping Curtain Bangs

#21 Chocolate Bob with Bangs That Swoop Just Right

This chocolate brown is rich and warm with just the right amount of depth to not look flat and box dyed, and I love how it matches the sweetness of the cut. The swoopy curtain bangs are doing exactly what I want bangs to do, which is draw attention to her best features while softening the face shape. Those little swoops are especially good on oval and round faces. This is a versatile cut with medium length and density, and for everyday wear it’s genuinely easy. You really only need to do a quick brush through and put some heat on the bangs. With curtain bangs, trims will always be necessary on the bangs more than the rest of the cut, and while that’s a reality, it’s a great option if you want a change and don’t want to deal with the maintenance.

Vibrant Amber Waves with Delicate Curtain Bangs

#22 Amber Waves with Wispy Bangs and Incredible Color

The color is incredible and the photos don’t do it justice. The waves give it natural volume and the cut helps with it. The soft curtain bangs help soften the features without taking away from the current texture. This color and style combo is best for medium to thick hair. The style holds the shape in the waves and for thick hair, the color can really show its dimension. For fine hair, some volumizing mousse may be needed. The cut is also very flattering for all hair types and is very modern.

Luminous Tousled Bob with Subtle Curtain Bangs

#23 Tousled Bob with Bangs That Frame Without Fuss

Many people ask for this style, and while it looks simple, it’s one of the most difficult to get right. Every single piece is exactly where it needs to be, and the extra volume looks natural and not overly coiffed. The subtle curtain bangs that frame the face help to draw attention to the cheekbones, and if you have a wider forehead, these bangs will help to soften it. You don’t have to go to the salon to get this look, but you will have to maintain the “undone” look so that it has the right amount of mess, which also means keeping those bangs trimmed. It looks like it will require a lot of maintenance, but this is one of those styles that will make people wonder who does your hair. In other words, this is a style that gets the most out of every haircut.

Effortless Chestnut Shag with Feathered Curtain Bangs

#24 Chestnut Shag with Feathery Bangs and Gorgeous Movement

I believe chestnut brown is a nice warm color that goes well with many different skin tones. In shag cuts like this one, the color really shines, and some of the dimensions become more visible as the hair flows with the layers of the cut. Soft feathered curtain bangs can be styled in many ways; they can be pushed to the side, or let down, but no matter what, she looks good and that isn’t always the case with bangs. This layered shag works well for medium to thick hair and gives volume without the bulk so everything feels light. This style modernizes the overall shape of the cut but is not too trendy that it will feel outdated in a few months time. To maintain the styled shape throughout the day, a bit of product in the mid lengths goes a long way, but this is a cut that requires minimal effort to keep it looking good.

Breezy Chestnut Bob with Soft Curtain Bangs

#25 Chestnut Bob That Balances a Rounder Face Beautifully

Here is the bob I show clients with rounder face shapes who don’t want to go shorter. They usually like a shorter version, and the way the curtain bangs combine with the textured length makes a flattering, slimming frame that isn’t too obvious. The multi-toned chestnut color adds depth, and the bob is well textured, which alleviates some bulk — that’s usually the concern when going shorter for thicker/densely haired people — The length is cut just above the shoulders which is the sweet spot because it has swing without being too long that the shape is compromised. The movement is very structural and I think the only thing to consider is your natural texture. If your hair tends to be more polished, you will likely have to use a flat iron to create these soft bends. If you have any sort of natural wave, get ready — this cut is going to work with you so well.