How to Trim Bangs

Fringe Cutting & Trimming Instructions

       Whether or not a particular hairstyle includes bangs (known professionally as
'fringe') is largely a matter of what the person wearing the style prefers. Throughout the
decades of modern fashion, bangs have been an 'on-again, off-again' proposition, and
many people like to follow the trends. Your stylist, however, will generally have a diffe-
rent take on whether or not to include bangs in your particular hairstyle. This decision is
based on what you need to look your best.
 
       Bangs are useful in styles for people who have particularly high foreheads, or whose
foreheads are particularly broad. And in some cases, I've known women who had scars
on their foreheads to wear bangs to cover the scar. There are countless reasons, and
as said before, the biggest reason is preference.
 
       You want bangs. That's good enough, but you need to know some simple rules
about bangs and about hair in general, before you grab those scissors.
 
The Golden Rule of Bangs:
 
       "Once you cut it, it's gone." Always remember that you can cut more off, but you
can't add it back, so you must be sure of where you're cutting. You always want to cut
your hair when damp, because cutting dry hair causes it to fly everywhere, and can fray
the ends in some cases. But, if you have curly hair, your hair can shrink up to 4 inches
when it dries. Even straight hair can shrink as much as one-and-one-half inches.
 
       This means that when you (with wet, curly hair) cut your bangs to the mid-length
of your nose you could easily end up with a puffy little patch of curls on your brow,
instead of the bangs you were hoping for. Even straight hair can shrink enough to leave
you looking unfortunate if you aren't careful.
 
       Generally, the bangs area should extend to a point near the outer corners of the
eyes. There are also a number of shapes the bangs area can take, you'll need to
consider these when you're preparing to make the cut:
 
Half-Moon/Crescent:
 
       The half-moon shape curves toward the face, is
about one-inch deep in the center of the forehead,
and tapers to points on the outer edges. It's the
most common shape for the bangs area. To mark
out the half-moon bangs area. Comb your wet hair
straight back from the face, start in the center of
the forehead about one-inch back from the hairline,
and slice out a small section of hair and comb it
forward. Carefully carve the crescent shape to the
left and then to the right.
 
       Once the crescent shape has been established, comb the bangs straight down onto
the face, and determine the length you want for your bangs. Snip a small section to give
you a guide in the center of the bangs. Next, comb the bangs upward and hold them
between the index and middle fingers of the non-cutting hand, gathering them
together toward the center of the forehead. The bangs section should be about one-to-
one-and-one-half inches between the fingers and should fan out to the scalp. Once you
have the bangs combed together, cut them off in a straight, horizontal line.
 
       This will give you a smooth gently curving bangs line with a little bit of tapering.
 
Rectangle:
 
       The rectangle shape bangs area is especially
useful for individuals who have fine or more thinly
spaced hair.
 
       Follow the steps listed above for the crescent
shaped bangs area but this time, carve the bangs
area an even depth across the forehead. Comb the
bangs forward and snip your guide length in the
center. Then when you comb the bangs upward, work
with one-half of the bangs area at a time and cut the
bangs at a slight angle toward the shortest point
at the center guide.
 
       The rectangle shape gives fuller bangs for those people with thinner, finer hair.
 
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