There are many different options available when it comes to changing hairstyles. But until customers see the end result, they might not fully appreciate just how much freedom there is for interpretation. For example, one of my clients brought in a photo of Dakota Johnson from one of her red carpet appearances, as well as a photo of Brigitte Bardot from 1965. She said, “do French bangs on me like them.” The great thing about French bangs is how adaptable they are. They can be blunt and finish at the brow, or they can be curtain bangs. They can also be very voluminous and thick, or just a little wispier.
French bangs also have a more intentional look when growing out compared to typical side bangs. These bangs are supposed to have a just rolled out of bed look and be a little messy. They look great on just about any hair type, whether it be straight or curly, and the length of the hair can be just about anything as well. I have done them on long hair, short hair, pin straight hair, and even curly hair. If you’ve been contemplating French bangs, they really change the whole vibe of the haircut, and I’d love to talk about different options with you.
#1: Long and Layered with That Easy French Fringe
For clients who are wanting bangs but don’t want to cut any length, this is it. Everything is kept long, the layers do the heavy lifting, and the bangs just sit there, relaxed and effortless. If your hair has any natural movement, the soft bend through the mid-lengths will happen almost on its own. If you round brush it while you blow dry, you’re all set!
#2 A Soft Mid-Length Bob with Bangs That Blend Right In
I really appreciate the seamless look of the bangs. They don’t just stop; they blend. Melting bangs into the rest of the cut takes some intention. It’s not random. It’s purposeful, and to achieve that look, the fringe needs to be connected into the layers, which also means there cannot be any visible hard lines. With fine hair like this, it creates more fullness around the face without having to rely on excessive layering that would just fall flat. It’s very delicate.
#3 A Cool Gray Bob with French Bangs
The silver tone has depth and texture and reflects light beautifully. This makes it a great option if you have fine hair. The length just sits above the shoulders which keeps the look modern. The bangs provide a little personality to the look. If you’re contemplating going gray naturally, or suspect you might move towards more of a silver tone, this style will help it look intentional.
#4 Airy Shoulder-Length Layers with a Wispy Fringe
This one feels really nice and light. I love that there are just enough layers to break up the solid look without going overboard. The bangs are also cut thin enough to move, which is exactly what you want. This will be a fantastic wash and go for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of time styling in the morning.
#5 Tousled Short Cut with a French Bang
When going for a short look, we can keep some of the softness in the cut. The top has nice texture for that I-just-ran-my-fingers-through-it look, and the bangs prevent it from looking too harsh. A little styling cream and you’ll be good to go. I suggest returning for a cut in five to six weeks. Short cuts tend to lose their shape quickly.
#6 A Lob with Natural Wave and French Bangs
This cut does all the talking! With that natural texture, a lob with French bangs pretty much does the work for you. The length is in that perfect spot where you can still pull it back if you need to, but it looks just as fab worn down. I’d keep the bangs on the longer side here so they blend into the wave pattern rather than fight against it.
#7 Sun-Kissed Layers with a Soft French Fringe
The mid-lengths warm highlights energize this haircut. The cut is good by itself, but the color offers so much more dimension to the style that it turns simple into complex. The bangs are soft, and they sit right. If you have fine hair, ask your colorist about some framing pieces that will lighten up the area where the bangs are.
#8 A Sleek Chestnut Bob with Classic Bangs
It has a neat, polished style that looks good everywhere. The straight finish and deep brown hue are timeless. It’s my favorite thing that the bangs aren’t too thick. They let a bit of forehead show so it isn’t overpowering. You’ll want a flat iron to achieve this level of sleekness but for a bob this length, it shouldn’t take long.
#9 Layered and Loose with a Seamless French Bang
This haircut is special because the bangs and the layers are so skillfully blended that most people won’t be able to say where the bangs stop and the layers begin, and that doesn’t happen by accident. It takes a really good stylist to know how to blend the fringe and the layers so seamlessly. Light waves are added throughout the lengths to create just the right amount of texture and keep the look interesting. This is one of those haircuts that is versatile enough to look amazing for a Saturday night dinner out and for a Tuesday morning errand run.
#10 Long and Straight with a Gentle French Fringe
Maintaining simplicity can often be the most effective strategy. A good option is to grow very long, straight, healthy hair and have bangs that are subtle and do not pull focus. This looks even more blunt, especially with this much length. If your hair dries straight, this is really low maintenance. Just make sure to keep your ends trimmed so they look tidy.
#11 Sleek and Elegant with Soft Bangs
I love the way this looks; it really gives off the vibe that you have your life together! The hair being smooth and straight looks amazing, and it lays so beautifully. The bangs are cut softly so they don’t have that ‘hit my wall’ look. Also, this cut looks great because it is super easy – it doesn’t demand your hair to perform beyond what it can naturally do. This is all about minimal layers and maximum polish!
#12 A Textured Crop That Feels Fresh
This cut looks fantastic with messy French bangs! The combination creates a feminine and contemporary vibe. Having bangs that sit just above the eyebrows is such a great technique to draw focus to the eyes. Also, the subtle texture throughout the cut is a huge plus as it prevents the style from looking overly polished. In fact, haircuts like these get better with wear, and look even better on days two and three as the hair gets ach to relax.
#13 Warm Wavy Layers with a Breezy Fringe
The cut has beautiful natural waves and bangs that flow with the waves, which is just what you want. When the bangs align with the texture of the rest of the hair, it all falls into place seamlessly. The mid-length sun-kissed highlights, warm up and harmonize with your complexion. This is absolutely a “your hair but better” cut.
#14 Layered Curls with a Soft French Bang
I love cutting curly hair with French bangs, because the curl does styling work for you. The trick is to cut bangs dry so you can see where they spring up. The highlights woven through the curls will add some dimension, and you will want a good curl cream to keep everything defined without the crunch.
#15 A Clean Blunt Bob with Soft Bangs
Bobs are considered both modern and classic hairstyles. Softer bangs are not as stiff looking, giving the style a more relaxed appearance. The blunt ends add thickness to the hair for those with finer strands. Although this hairstyle may look hard to achieve, it really does get easier with practice.
#16 A Gently Layered Bob with French Bangs
Subtle is the keyword here. It looks like really really good hair. The softness in the layers and bangs, along with the overall softness, makes it incredibly good hair. The layers give life to the hair without going too extreme with the beach look. I would say this best suits someone who wants a change that is more noticeable than drastic. You will still look like you, just a more polished version.
#17 Long Voluminous Waves with Classic Bangs
I like all the volume in this cut and where it’s coming from. The middle lengths and ends look really nice rather than being puffy at the roots. The French bangs really mop up that volume and stop it from looking messy. I also really like the color dip. It is warm at the ends and that added depth shows even more when the hair is in motion. This cut is a statement without even trying.
#18 A Textured Pixie with Bangs
Thanks to the French bangs, this haircut feels really approachable, almost like it isn’t scary. The ear detail really compliments the cut and adds a lot of visual area changes from each perspective. A root volumizing powder should do the job of lifting and texturizing because it’s fine hair and volumizing powders at the roots are weightless. This looks like the cut is telling you to just mess it up and leave.
#19 Lavender Blunt Bob with Bangs
There is a lot to appreciate here! The lavender color is a big part of the charm, but the cut is also doing a lot of heavy lifting here. A chin-length blunt bob with straight-across bangs is already a strong look, but with the addition of the soft lavender, it becomes something unforgettable. If you are thinking of a fashion color, a cut this structured means that the color will appear more intentional and editorial than costume. Just know that pastels fade quickly, so color-depositing conditioner will help you in between appointments!
#20 Classic Long Layers with a Soft Fringe
I like how soothing this cut is. The layers are very subtle, and the bangs face frame without being ostentatious. That shine suggests that the hair is in excellent condition, which is honestly what is most important for a style this basic. With nowhere to hide, it is all about healthy hair. The length and layering here will be particularly advantageous for those with rounder face shapes to obtaining that lengthened look.
#21 A Polished Blunt Bob
This is your typical business bob. The shoulder-length blunt cut is clear, the bangs are intentional, and the overall look is one step away from a classic shampoo commercial. The very ends have some subtle layering which adds a little bit of movement to keep it from looking too rigid. If you are able to maintain consistent trims about every 6 weeks, this cut is going to reward you with an awesome look pretty much every day.
#22 Sharp and Glossy with Straight-Across Bangs
Glossing treatments or healthy hair can really elevate a nice cut. The shine on this cut is everything! Straight-across bangs can be a big a statement. They certainly don’t look soft or wishy, and I appreciate that. If you’re going to go for a strong bang like this, you have to own it. With cuts like these precise lines are everything, so go for a stylist who is really fussy about their cutting.
#23 Curly Bob with French Bangs That Actually Work
When I say, “actually work” I mean to say this is a common misconception. Most people believe bangs do not work with curly hair, which is completely untrue. With the right stylist who understands how to work with different curl patterns, you can achieve this look. These bangs blend with the curls to create a very soft, romantic look around the face. The medium density here provides the curls with the just the right amount of space to form nicely, without being overcrowded. This will be a stunning washday masterpiece.
#24 Medium Layers with a Playful French Fringe
I like this haircut because it’s casual and it isn’t trying to like super hard to impress. With this layered look, the bangs have a more piecey and relaxed look, and the entire vibe seems more like “I look awesome but I’m not stressed about it”. This style with medium-fine hair provides more fullness where it is necessary, but avoids the weight of most haircuts. It is the type of cut that makes people say, “your hair looks amazing,” while leaving them totally unable to pinpoint exactly what has changed.
#25 Warm Waves with Rich Color and French Bangs
The warm undertone looks lovely and adds to the overall effect. When your colour and cut complement eachother this well, the outcome is elevated to so much more than what each could do alone. The waves look very effortless and the bangs are so wispy. If you have naturally wavy hair, use a sea salt spray and let the waves do their thing.
#26 Bouncy Curls with a French Bang That Frames Everything
These curls are so bouncy, and the way they frame the face is perfection! With natural curls like this, the goal is to create a shape around the curls and let them do their thing. These bangs are intentionally cut to sit in the curl pattern, rather than skip over it, and that is what makes them look so effortless. The real investment is in the health of the curls, so to keep this look bouncy and easy to define, a good hydrating mask is essential at least once a week.
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