I have lost track of how many times I have suggested curtain bangs to clients over 40 who think their hair is just blah. I understand, I did that too at 43, and I would take salon mirror selfies thinking, “Who let this woman in here?” It’s crazy to me that curtain bangs are considered a trend, when they are really just a good way to add softness to the hair and offer some face framing instead of just sitting in front like most bangs do. I have watched curtain bangs completely change someone’s look in pictures and improve their self image every day.
Face-framing curtain bangs are especially fantastic for this age group as they help resolve an issue most women can’t even articulate. Beginning in our early 40s, there is a noticeable shift where hair that used to just fall to the side and look nice, now looks lazy and unintentional. The right curtain bangs add purpose to the look and framing to the face, draw attention to where you want it (which of course is everywhere you want it), and honestly gives the look that you are living your best life. Because let’s face it, that’s the goal. One of my clients from last year was with me for 11 years and told me she had not changed her hair in that time, so when I cut her curtain bangs she exclaimed, “Oh, there I am!” That’s what it’s all about, not being different, but looking like you, just with a little more thought put in.
#1: A Rich Auburn Bob That Actually Delivers on the Promise
With this transformation, I want to run and show every client that says “I don’t know, just a trim.” The long and unshaped hair is turned into a stylish auburn bob which is such a huge change, and it makes me so happy. The curtain bangs help open up her eyes more since the longer hair was kind of suffocating them. Plus, the new colour looks great on her as it makes the skin warmer which is a bit of an element that is often underappreciated. A bob like this will definitely require more maintenance and trims every five to six weeks if your hair grows fast, but honestly you have to pay this price to look this good.
#2 A Balayage That Doesn’t Look Like It’s Trying Too Hard
What I enjoy about this look is that it’s ideal for clients who say “I want to look good but don’t want anyone to know that I did anything” It’s always a fun request because I know it only needs enough layering to give some movement to the hair without making it look like you spent three hours in the chair, and the balayage is blended so it looks like highlights. The waves and body of the hair and creates that effortless look and so fabulous. It simply looks like you have great hair and you do most people are going to be jealous of hair that looks good even if you spent 20 minutes styling it or if you just let it air dry.
#3 Tousled Copper That Feels Like a Secret Weapon
This look is awesome because the color and the style are a good balance. The hair takes center stage and works with the color. The copper is a great choice because it is soft and not too bright. The tousled look is awesome because it tones down the polish. The bangs are beautifully wispy and frame the face perfectly without being too thick. I think the majority of people will love the copper, but I would recommend caution because it fades really quickly. I would recommend a color depositing shampoo to stretch the time until your next appointment.
#4 Chestnut Layers That Know Exactly What They’re Doing
These haircuts create a polished and sophisticated look; each individual detail flows together seamlessly, leading your eye to perceive a level of high execution. The chin length curtain bangs blend beautifully with the chestnut layers, and harmonized chestnut layers are surprisingly difficult to achieve. The cheekbone level layering is truly exceptional. Everything below the cheekbones is softened by the layering without narrowing or elongating her features. The rich color is beautiful and evokes softness rather than the heaviness that some colors can. The slight wave in this style and it’s undone elegance gives her the option to tie it up casually for dinner, or leave it down if she’d like. The versatility is what I believe best illustrates the level of thought.
#5 Caramel Waves With a Fringe That Disappears Into the Hair
If you want curtain bangs, you probably want something soft that will blend in with the rest of the hair, without a line of demarcation between the bangs and rest of the layers. I had to look closely to see how seamlessly the bangs flowed into the rest of the hair layered hair. They did a great job framing her face and making it look soft and natural. The caramel color added warmth but it was not too brassy. If you have medium to thick hair, it will be easy to create this look. Fine hair will be need to have some internal texture created by your stylist because you do not want the hair to fall flat. To maintain the look, regular trims will be necessary because the magic of the layers will disappear once the layers lose their shape.
#6 Sable Curtain Bangs With Waves That Have Personality
The image’s colors are inviting enough to entice viewers to look at it repeatedly. It’s a very pleasurable experience. The curtain bangs, I think, work really well here. They create a more inviting, softer look but without having to shorten the hair. Trust me, it works. More often than not, I see the framing bangs mistake where the bangs are cut too thick and too short and completely hide a person’s forehead. Textured waves give hair movement and keeps it looking youthful without crossing the line into the “trying to look 25” look, which I love to help my clients Avoid! If you live somewhere humid you’ll want to keep an anti-humidity spray in your bag because in the wrong weather this kind of texture can go from intentional to chaotic really fast.
#7 A Chestnut Shag That Practically Styles Itself
I have a real appreciation for shag hairstyles and this one is especially done well. The feathery bangs rest just above the eyebrows and shift the focus down to the eyes. The rest of the hair is designed to move around a lot, giving the impression that she just shook her head and walked out the door looking great. The choice of hair color being chestnut is very fitting, as it enhances the contrast around her face without taking focus away from the haircut. I think about that a lot, when you have that much texture in a shag hairstyle, you want the color to enhance the cut shape. Here, you want the layering to be quite visible, so I would suggest using a light texturizing cream on the mid-lengths. Otherwise, minimal effort is a good way to describe this style.
#8 Brunette Waves That Bring Their Own Volume to the Party
If you are wanting to keep your length and color the same but want a haircut for a fresh feel, I would suggest this style. The bangs and layering do all the work. The slight volume on top is very flattering, and the bangs do a great job framing the face. Overall, her enhanced bright color that is a smart choice in working with what you already have instead of against it is awesome. Those who have hair that is on the finer side may need to add some volumizing mousse at the roots to achieve this kind of lift but if you have medium to thick hair this should come together naturally.
#9 Feathered Chestnut Bangs That Frame Without Fussing
I love how light these bangs are! They are feathered so they move with her which gives the whole look an effortless vibe that just isn’t achievable with a heavier bang. The chestnut is warm enough to bring some life into cool skin tones without going orange which is always my concern when warming someone up. The mid length waves have good body and the layers create enough dimension that you don’t just look at a solid wall of hair, there is depth. I will say that bangs this light and feathery do require maintenance, probably every 3-4 weeks, and they do need to be within that sweet spot to maintain the bangs looking right, but when they are right, they are right!
#10 Warm Waves With Feathered Bangs That Lift Everything Up
In my opinion, this specific blend of soft colors and feathered bangs gives an instant lift to the face and that’s not something you find in many haircuts. She has mid-length hair which provides just the right balance for movement without weighing it down and those feathered bangs are so light that they keep the whole style from being too heavy or overboard. You will have to spend a few minutes each morning with a round brush to get the bangs dry and the waves to fall into place and if your hair tends to dry flat, that will become second nature after you get a good routine down.
#11 Copper Waves That Make You Want to Rethink Everything
Watching people’s reactions when they see a coppery hair color for the first time is truly a unique experience. No matter how good a hair color might be, there will always be one person who doesn’t like the hair color, and these mirror moments tell us so much. With today’s appointments, we are all really excited about the way we paired warm copper with her skin. It looked like she just got back from a tropical vacation! The layers that were added around her face were just the right amount to take the edge off the contrasts from the copper and softer framing so that it looked like she stepped out of an editorial shoot. Relaxed, tousled waves can be the finishing touch to keep the hair looking styled and fabulous instead of just put together. It is unfortunate that some people see the messy bed look styling as a lack of care, but it is, in fact, the opposite. As for copper, it’s my job to be honest with clients because red does fade faster than other colors, which means more frequent touch-up appointments. A sulfate-free shampoo is a must and that is really the first step in touching up the hair color routine!
#12 Beachy Blonde With Curtain Bangs That Whisper
I call bangs this way “whisper bangs” because they’re so soft they look like they’re not bangs at all. All they do is taper around the cheekbones, doing a really gentle little framing and softening effect to the whole face. The blonde with the subtle root darker shade made the most clever decision, as it offers depth without the contrast, and your grow-out is sort of built in as it won’t work against it, saving time, money and mental health. The wavy texture gives just the right amount of body to stop it from looking flat, and I think this would be stunning on any fine to medium hair that wants something beachy and relaxed without the need to go to the beach or without having to genuinely relax to achieve it.
#13 Rustic Copper With Bangs That Know Their Job
Since adding additional weight to the hair is not a concern, this may be a good option for you as it provides a lot of volume regardless of the length. Medium length with feathered layers provides a lot more volume than any longer style would. I love how the curtain bangs touch the chin and frame the face. Also, it’s great how they are free enough to be moved around instead of just sitting there like a closed curtain. Compared to other colors we saw, the copper color she has is a bit muted. With this cut, I think I like it better because it allows the shape to stand out more and draw focus. To maintain that the hair feels lightweight and textured, a light wave spray would be my recommendation to hold the style in place.
#14 Cascading Chestnut Bangs That Make Busy Mornings Easier
This is the perfect style for a tossed on look. Almost no effort is needed, the hair just falls into place and begins working its magic. The bangs really give the style a curtain look and ease up some room on the face so it is not cramped. The warm chestnut color makes it look a little less on the cheap side, and the natural wave allows the hair to dry to bedhead hair level without a lot of effort looking like you just gave up. This style is great for hair that is medium density since it allows for the hair to move and not be weighed down. These bangs will need to be cut regularly since they will grow and get longer. Overall this style is awesome since it gives a lot of freedom and doesn’t require a lot of effort.
#15 Chocolate Waves With Highlights That Catch You Off Guard
These caramel highlights and brightening techniques used really show that the colourist considered how to best position the highlights. The twisted layers provide movement and lightness and stop the hair from looking like a typical shoulder-length cut. The waves are placed perfectly; they are soft enough to appear natural, while also being defined enough to look intentional. Hair that looks good in photographs is more valuable than people are willing to pay for, and I know how that sounds. The cut will provide the texture to your hair, and you’ll create that wave pattern with little effort. If your hair is straight, you’ll just need to use a curling iron or diffuse your hair to create that wave pattern.
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