Styling Blunt Bangs: Tips & Tricks

I have been rocking roughly the same haircut for a little over two years. Yeah, that can seem dated, but I love it. In the beginning, I was going for a mid-2015 Zooey Deschanel, and I think it's been what I wanted. On that note, I've been through the bangs at all stages...too short, too long, just perfect...and I've learned a few tips and tricks to get the best bangs. Here are my top five.

1. Understand your hair type.

Learn how your bangs behave when left on their own. This is the best way to know how to make them do what you want. For me, if I leave my bangs totally alone to air dry, they dry sticking straight up and nothing can save them. Knowing this helps when it comes to getting them ready to style. Your own hair will behave differently from anyone else’s, so this is something you have to figure out on your own.

2. Think hard before trimming them yourself.

Sometimes I trim my own bangs. They grow so fast that this is just smart. I don’t have a ton of time to get to the stylist, so it can be easier to do yourself. Don’t enter into this lightly though. Use good-quality scissors, not your regular kitchen scissors. Also be prepared to make a run to the stylist to get them fixed if anything goes wrong. A lot of times these trims are free at your hairdresser, so take advantage of it!

3. Don’t use product.

For serious. My hair eats up product like there’s no tomorrow, but I avoid putting anything on my bangs if possible. Usually it’s dry shampoo only, and even then, that’s after two or three days. They sit better, and more naturally, in my experience, with nothing. If you need to use something in your hair, then definitely use it sparingly. This is not a place that you want a lot of heaviness or oil.

4. Reevaluate your face products.

Your hair is touching your forehead now, so this means that your forehead neds even more attention. Greasy bangs can cause nasty breakouts, and face products can transfer into hair making your bangs look bad. Go at it from both directions. Don’t use a too-heavy moisturizer, and make sure that you’re keeping your bangs clean and avoiding any breakouts.

5. Straighten in layers

My best bangs come from when I separate my hair into horizontal layers and straighten that way. It makes sure that they get totally straight and don’t sit funny. After straightening, I mess them up with my fingers to make it look a little more organic.

A lot of having bangs is trial and error, but with practice, you’ll look like Zooey Deschanel in no time. What are you go-to hair tips?